If you could move somewhere warm would you?

[DesertZone]

I think about this all the time in the winter here, I wish I could move down south. But then summer comes and I love it here. Even when I am down south I miss my plants/garden back home.

Part of what I like here is the challenge, I don't know if I would like to be where I could grow everything without thinking about it. Even at my place in AZ(8b) still gives me a challenge to grow palms and other things. I thought about buying a place in Yuma AZ, but in a zone 10 I would have a hard time pushing the limits.

[TerdalFarm]

...is where I'd move. As for the "zonal denial" thing we obviously like, I'll still have it there.
I added a rose to my tropical garden this year. People around here think that is a funny plant for a tropical garden: "why a rose?"
The reason is that my gardening buddies in Belize delight in being able to grow roses in the tropics. It isn't easy! However, every serious gardener in Belize has at least one pampered rose with a central place amongst the plants we think of as houseplants.
I am active on a Belize bulletin board. Expats (Canadians, mostly) who have retired to Belize delight in trying to grow things like roses, blueberries and apples in the tropics. It is a real challenge.
So, my long-term plan is to dig up my long-suffering palms, pot them and put them in a trailer for the long drive south. They'll retire to the tropics when I do. Then, I'll start a board, "Rosessouth.com the heat hardy rose forum" or some such.
--Erik

[hardyjim]

I agree Aaron,I like the challenge.
Would be nice to have a winter home somewhere warm but who would take care of the palms

[Paul Ont]

I've thought about this before... To me, I would think about maybe some place where I still have a similar climate, but perhaps with a less severe winter. Places with lots of cold rain are out. And the summer has to have some heat. Oh, and it still has to be a 'challenge' to grow plams there, or at least palms must be out of the ordinary. I'm thinking I could try So. Utah (or NM or AZ) , Maybe continental Europe, Maybe the US Atlantic seaboard... Or maybe just the Northern Shore of Lake Eire or Niagara!

So maybe not somewhere 'warm', but perhaps somewhere 'warmer'!

[TerdalFarm]

Paul. Continental climate. Growing palms is a challenge here but not impossible (see Francko's book, Figure 19).
Relatively good economy and relatively cheap real-estate. --Erik

[Paul Ont]

Erik- The problem I have with Dr. Francko's book is that the cold temps he lists as 'foliar hardiness' limits are WAY off. I don't know if these are based on limited samples (one or 2 years) or what. I can tell you that P. aureosulcata, even well established groves, will completely defoliate, even with a snow cover, at a temperature above -10F!

As for Oklahoma, I'd look at the Amazing Gardens website before Francko's book (their info is based on 20+ years of growing in that climate). I don't think the climate there would be to my liking (I'm scared to death of Tornados)!!!

[TerdalFarm]

does indeed have a fine website. Meeting them in person has been on my "to do" list for years but I just don't get to Oklahoma City all that often.
As for Francko's book, I drove by the garden with the Sabal in Figure 19 recently. It looks even bigger and better than in the book. That whole garden is amazing, actually. I hope to meet the owner some day. If I do, I'll ask his permission to post photos here. A few older photos of his garden are on the amazing gardens website: http://www.amazinggardens.com/john.html but it looks bigger and better now.

The Washy in Francko's Figure 20 (different owner) is dead, however. Too bad. It was really splendid.

As for tornadoes, I have lived here 12 years and never seen one. When I lived in Oregon, however, I felt earthquakes and saw volcanic eruptions. I think I'll stay here.
--Erik

[hardyjim]

The nice thing about Oklahoma is there comfortable summers too

[DesertZone]

Erik... if you do visit there (amazing gardens), please post some updated pics of thier palms.

[Victorian]

I like Hawaii. There are only two US states where there has not been an officialy recorded temperature above 100F (at least in the city). They are Alaska and Hawaii. Hawaii gets the best of warm winters and moderated summers (for the latitude). Near the coast there is usually a breeze. In my estimation you can tell where the nice climates are because they have hotels where the lobby doesn't have walls to the outside. That is true n Hawaii. This means the low and the high temperatures aren't far off room temperature and insects aren't a problem.

[DesertZone]

I'm thinking I could try So. Utah (or NM or AZ) , Maybe continental Europe, Maybe the US Atlantic seaboard... Or maybe just the Northern Shore of Lake Eire or Niagara!

So maybe not somewhere 'warm', but perhaps somewhere 'warmer'!

I think all those places would be fun to try.

[Jay-Admin]

Las Vegas for me. Seems challenging enough for me.

[lucky1]

Enjoyed reading everybody's replies.
Donna Dawson of ICanGarden.com moved to Panama a few years ago. She loves it!

Of all the places...maybe Hawaii, despite it being an island you can drive completely in 3 hours.
Did you know Hawaiians would give their gold teeth for a Blue Spruce?

Cabo/Baja is apparently a wonderful haven for Canadians in winter.
Some have moved there permanently.

I can handle the Okanagan's dry desert heat.
But winter is another story.
Too darn cold the last few years...plus longer winters than ever in my 32 years here.

OK...Hawaii it is, despite Mauna Loa's incessant spitting.
Barb

[Ezekiel93]

between Nice and Menton for me, South of France. zone 9b/10a
Or maybe around Barcelona or Valencia (Spain) z9b/10a
Or Reunion Island (z11/12)

Or HAWAII ! But it will be difficult, I'm not an US citizen

[Okanagan desert-palms]

I love the Okanagan from March till October. I have always wanted to be somewhere warm for the winter months.Costa Rica is where we will have our winter hacienda.
http://www.anywherecostarica.com/destin ... costa-rica

John

[jimmythesnake]

Its a beautiful country, dry forest, tropical jungles, cool cloud forest, beaches on both sides and active volcanoes in the middle. About the size of Louisiana. The people there still like the U.S. Palms everywhere you look.
Coud forest.

Moss covered tree

Costa Rica, start of the green season,

Jim

[BILL MA]

The Savannah Ga area would be my choice, Tybee Island has a very nice climate.

Bill

[lucky1]

active volcanoes

Maybe southern Italy...Etna's been quiet for ages!

This pic from Italy.


Barb

[oppalm]

I like the Florida Keys. only been there three times but it seems very laid back.

[Wes North Van]

Maui is the place for me.
I can grow anything I want there.
I have seen roses there if you like them.

[Kansas]

1) Pensacola (Fl.)

2) Indian Rocks Beach (Fl.)

3) Lake City (Fl.)

4) St. Augustine (Fl.)

5) New Iberia (La.)

[Jova]

Well... I wouldn't move... I like the situation that I have here, but I really wish that I was just 1 zone south of where I am right now. I'm 6a, and if I was in 7a or 7b, I could probably get my needle palms, trachy's and crape myrtles through the winter without much protection. That would make my life so much easier:) Right now, I've got everything covered in a nice leaf mulch pile, and I'm hoping that everything will pull through (at this point, all is well) but if I was a couple hundred miles south, I wouldn't be worrying so much... BUT, then again.. if I was a couple hundred miles south, I'd probably be trying much more difficult palms... instead of needles and trachy's, I'd be doing queen palms and washy's... so there ya go.. it never ends... If I lived on the edge of a volcanic mountain in the middle of a zone 15 climate, I'd probably be trying to raise plants that only grow on the 15th level of hell... that's just how I roll I guess:)

[lucky1]

middle of a zone 15 climate, I'd probably be trying to raise plants that only grow on the 15th level of hell.

[hardyjim]

Well... I wouldn't move... I like the situation that I have here, but I really wish that I was just 1 zone south of where I am right now. I'm 6a, and if I was in 7a or 7b, I could probably get my needle palms, trachy's and crape myrtles through the winter without much protection. That would make my life so much easier:) Right now, I've got everything covered in a nice leaf mulch pile, and I'm hoping that everything will pull through (at this point, all is well) but if I was a couple hundred miles south, I wouldn't be worrying so much... BUT, then again.. if I was a couple hundred miles south, I'd probably be trying much more difficult palms... instead of needles and trachy's, I'd be doing queen palms and washy's... so there ya go.. it never ends... If I lived on the edge of a volcanic mountain in the middle of a zone 15 climate, I'd probably be trying to raise plants that only grow on the 15th level of hell... that's just how I roll I guess:)

Good points,we would be trying Washys(oops,I already am)Bizzy's and Coconuts.
The weather here sure has been a lot rougher then it was a few years ago when I wasn't growing this stuff

[yuccaland]

I think that one always wants something he does not, if I lived in Africa and I would enjoyed growing pine trees and poplars around simply because they grow. once I was on vacation in grand canaria (island in Spain) and we went by car to the highest mountain Pico de Teide, there was a small house with a garden outside the old man cared for the trees when I came closer, seeing that it was an apple tree, and how it was proud of him and others envy it. This is our problem, I am glad that I live in the area 6a in central Europe and grow, I grow plants from the USDA 8th

[yuccaland]

further demonstration of my garden last year I had a -22 ° C and this year was to be -19 ° C
http://www.yuccaland.cz/web/zajimavosti ... 8/2008.htm

I wish everyone much success in the cultivation

[lucky1]

Yuccaland, what a beautiful garden you have.
Wonderful palms, agaves, cacti, and trunking yuccas.

Interesting that you're in 6A and grow zone 8 plants.
You've done a wonderful job.

Please come back to the Palms North website again!
Barb

[hardyjim]

Yuccaland, what a beautiful garden you have.
Wonderful palms, agaves, cacti, and trunking yuccas.

Interesting that you're in 6A and grow zone 8 plants.
You've done a wonderful job.

Please come back to the Palms North website again!
Barb

DITTO!
Very nice!

[Barrie]

1) Pensacola (Fl.)

2) Indian Rocks Beach (Fl.)

3) Lake City (Fl.)

4) St. Augustine (Fl.)

5) New Iberia (La.)

Aren't most of those places in a freeze right now? Crop and citrus damage.
Cheers, Barrie.

[BILL MA]

All of the above are. There still very nice places to live though! Things will bounce back there they always do.

Bill

[Cowtown Palm Society]

San Diego, CA

One of the most livable climates on earth, beautiful and can grow virtually anything. Mild winters and comfortable summers- 19c from December to March and 25c July, August and September.