I thought I would share some picture's of my spring plantings. I decided this was going to be the year to plant the things I've wanted for years. Time to bring the South to the North! Hopefully I can inspire others in cool/cold at times climates to challenge there dreams of having a tropical garden in the North, beyond what they thought was possible. Protection is a must for most of these plants, but I'm trying to simplify that so people will have greater success next year.
It all started with a long winter to think, and a 17' Penske truck full of tree's back from florida.
After I was home mid/late March still no leaves. Frost accured about eight times which was a challenge in it self. Actually it was really aggravating since there was so many tender tree's to cover. Once that was over I started dragging and digging.
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This was abit hard on me since the big palms easily weigh over 400+. Since I didn't want my girlfriend to get hurt by the Washy shark teeth I handled them on my own. She helped me a lot with everything else though.
Then the Washys all got a underground heat source to help in the winter and to refoliate in spring. 84 watts a piece.Here's a shot of the almost finished back. The area to the right in the second picture is reserved for the Basjoo grove, that is on the way from Geargia. I might as well stop on the way from driving my Grandmother home from Florida in early June.
The two needle palms are 3' each, in back is a triple Med. fan palm and the front diamond is Saw palmetto's. The two washy's have 4' trunks with the right being bigger with me being 6'3 standing next to them in previous picture's. Also 2 gardenia's and 2 hibiscus rescue's that will hopfully grow.
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The side and around the corner is Little Gem, 2 Sabal Minors, 2 Crape Myrtle Tuscarora's, and another needle. Than a row of Basjoo's and a Sabal Palmetto dig up from Florida hope it makes it. Parent tree looks similar to Birmingham but not I'm sure. Tree grows a lot slower than the other palmetto's and has way harder leaves, growing in Daytona Beach.
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Finally the front south side of the house. There is one Natchez, 3 Tibouchina's, 3 oleander Calypso's, 3 Windmills 2 left ones are new, Brown turkey fig, Zebra banana, Large unknown 6 ' banana, Umbrella tree in pot, 2 more Gardenia's, Little Gem, 1 large Saw Palmettto, 1 5$ sago rescue from Lowes, Sabal Minor, and finally 9 big blue liropes. All mulch is town compost 22+ yards worth, limed but makes plants crazy. Sounds kinda like me!!!!
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Last picture's are the 2 year in ground S.E. Mass. today. Here's the 20-20-20 Trachy that had minimal protection year 1,and flowered year 2 with good protection.
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Thanks everyone for reading such a long post. My protection strategy for winter will make everyone Happy for sure!!!
Keep you'll posted before the cold.
Bill
