Latest pics and other stuff that's going in

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 12:36 pm

I'm guessing at the end of this 15 day period coming up with highs generally above 60 and at least half upper 60s-80(f)
I will see some spear recovery on the ones that pulled.
Some of the other palms(Trachy that saw -2,both Naini Tals and of course the Washy)are already noticeably growing.
Soil temps should also rocket into the upper 60s,this will be a fun period with lot of recovery and a bunch of stuff going in.
There is nothing more fun then working in the garden again after a long winter.
Here are some pics of some of the stuff and some of the new projects to be updated as we go along this spring.
First-overwintered Basjoo
These are the 3 I overwintered after being cleaned up and cut back,I tried to save some of the P-stem-
looks like the 2nd one will for sure come back from the P-stem and pups on all 3 are alive,so are all the P-stems for that matter
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10005.jpg" border="0" alt="Middle Basjoo"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10011.jpg" border="0" alt="Cheating!"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10008.jpg" border="0" alt="West Basjoo"></a>

Next
You can see in one of the pics I am using X-mas lights to give the bananas a head start-
basically to keep them warmer at night.You can see in this next picture the little umbrella g-houses
I put over them,on sunny days they hit 90+(f) and the soil is right about 60 now which is causing them to break their winter
dormancy. The plastic is the little hospital tent(whats left of the cactus"house")it's covering the Fortunei and 2 Wagxforts that
spear pulled,it keeps rain out of the crowns and surprisingly raises the temp(on sunny days)20f
The cactus with white tags(11) are all new from Kelly Grummonds,all flower.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10009.jpg" border="0" alt="Cactus garden"></a>

Planted 5 tree ferns,so far-2 D.squarossa,3 D.antarctica

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... rns005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... rns005.jpg" border="0" alt="T.fern"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... rns006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... rns006.jpg" border="0" alt="D.squarossa"></a>

Here is some other stuff I am planting that I thought you guys might be interested in seeing,
if you've never seen Gunnera manicata-Google it and look under images,they get 8'+ leaves
so does the Colocasia-My yard will be crazy this year if half this stuff grows!

I will update this as needed and hope you guys will too!
There is so much cool stuff to grow out there!
Funny I was ready to give up after all the damage this winter-
haha,never!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

Arundo donax "variegata"
Giant reed grass-overwintered starting to come up!
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10013.jpg" border="0" alt="Giant (varigated)reed grass"></a>

Base of overwintered Fortunei,overwintered with styro covers,no heat, saw at least -12f
and the base is still green-still alive,unbelievable!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10015.jpg" border="0" alt="Fortunei-no heat over winter!"></a>

Butia-made it!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 12:55 pm

Jim,
lots of great stuff as usual from you.
Where to start.
The Butia at the end looks super. Should grow all Summer. I am used to my little Butia (avatar) needing all summer just to grow back what it lost in winter.
As for Gunnera, I love those. They grow well in Portland, Oregon, where I grew up. I don't plan to try one here in OK where we get such hot, dry winds all Summer. Iowa will be an interesting experiment. Good luck.
Musa basjoo: yours look like mine. I.e., dead to the round despite winter protection. Oh well. As you say, soil temps will be back up there soon. They are still <50oF here, but with overnight lows >50oF by the end of the week we should be starting them going. --Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 1:16 pm

Holy cow, Jim, that Butia looks great.
Glad the giant reed grass and fortunei are showing green.

Nice stuff you're planting...sugar cane and gunnera? You'll have to re-route traffic on the road past your place!

Soil temps have ramped up nicely. The nanas won't be long to shoot up.

Everything looks good!
Barb

PS--forgot to say those tree ferns are lovely!

Oh ya, my musa basjoo that overwintered INDOORS looks awful, but is sending some green up:

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 2:50 pm

good job

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 4:51 pm

Looking good Jim!! Glad to hear your temps are rising!!

serj · Post by **serj** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:44 pm

My fortunei is growing up!

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 4:29 am

Jim- Looks good! The basjoo will be pushing up really soon! That butia looks awesome. I'm jealous of your Agaves, I wonder if I could overwinter some if I bothered to cover them? hmmm... I had an A. americana in the palm hut this winter, but it cooked when the hut hit -15C or so. Funny that the needle and minor both look untroubled!

I've tried Gunnera (Canadians, you can get it from Hortico in Hamilton for cheap) but I think it's perished this winter. When I removed the leaves last week the ground was completely frozen. Not good. I'll try again! If you get one be sure to give it lots of food and excess moisture!

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:01 am

Jim,
Those basjoos are going to be huge this year, pretty soon they'll be rocketing into high gear! Those ferns did grow very nicely for you, mine most definitely need more humidity. I'm putting it in the new green house today if the rain slows down just a little, it's really humid in there and hot so they should love it.

Thanks for all of those links there are some interesting things like the Itinerans, sugar cane, and the Thailand Giant. I always wanted one but never had a good
spot since they get so huge. There's always giant pots right

The cacti you got will really be great once they start to flower in a few weeks. The high 70's low 80's in your forecast should really help you out

It's about time you get some nice heat your way, I take it when your done!

No washy picture? Everything looks great time for those spear pulled palms to wake up.

Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:03 am

Thanks for the advice on Gunnera Paul.
I have a spot picked out where it will get morning/mid-day sun,
only on this side is the soil rich enough and not cluster f'ed with tree roots
I have learned some things by mulching other plants,so I think I can get Gunnera through-
I will also add a rope light and remote sensor so I can bump temps if they drop below 35.
I think Gunners is a little tough to get through childhood

but once it gets going it should really move.

The bananas are already pushing up over an inch and it's not even been very warm yet but....
with 70-82(f) this week they should rocket and be breaking out of their g-house covers just as out "last"
frost/freeze date passes.

The Butia was a big surprise

Everything should do better this year as I have chainsawed 2 HUGE branches off the Maple
in the front yard,opening up 3-4 more hours of sunlight/which is all morning light

Bill
The cactus will probably bloom later this year-last year I left the cover on longer
and they received a lot of heat which had them blooming a month(?)early.
I will check that this year and see what the diff is.
Not much to see on the Washy but it should get going this week/as you said 70-low 80s will pop that sucker into gear
along with everything else! Probably be 150 in the Washy enclosure!

I am guessing if I really nurse the ferns they could have 3-4' leaves by this fall!
That is why I posted some of these pics now.

Erik-the Gunnera is from a grower in Oregon,they will be planted in the same area that produced
42" leaves on the Castors!

Lots of stuff to fit in,I really love these Thai black banana plants(see link)
they are capable of growing 20' the Itinerans to 40'

Should be fun-thanks for your comments everybody!

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 3:14 pm

I'll look forward to Gunnera photos from you. They are breath-taking plants. No, I will not try one here!
I am interested in trying sugar cane. Are any varieties especially hardy?
--Erik

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:39 pm

Erik

The lady I got this one from said you can mulch it and it will come back-

I grew this 2 summers ago,it got like 8' tall,it's the grassy plant behind the Castor bean plants-

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -08009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -08009.jpg" border="0" alt="S.W.side of house(castor beans)"></a>

Jova · Post by **Jova** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:59 pm

Looking good Jim! My trachy's are about in the same shape as yours, burnt leaves, no spear pull, and the bases are still green, so hope that mine and yours will both pull through. Interesting that you posted pics of your arundo donax, because I just bought a 25g pot of this stuff today (posted a pic on the 'other plants of interest" forum) The clump that mine came from gets around 15f tall every year, so looking forward to watching that stuff grow like crazy!

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:31 am

Me too Eric
I think the first year they establish their root systems,mine grew about 4'

This year I am guessing maybe 8-10' if they don't get to shaded by other stuff-
I have cut back a big Maple in the front yard which should open up 3-4hrs more sunshine!

One interesting thing about this plant is it can be grown in a water feature or be kept very
dry,quite a range,like most weeds

Okanagan desert-palms · Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:32 pm

Looking good Jim. Nice to see your updates.

John

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:43 pm

As I write this at 10pm I cant' believe it is almost 80(f) still!
This is like a July night when the temp stays around 80 for the low,the difference is that the humidity is only 38% and was down(humidity) in the mid 20s.
After a high of 89 today a lot of things are jumping into gear,the warmer temps in the basement were causing the Cannas to sprout.
I have really taken advantage of the warm spring this year.
I have never had banana plants in the ground in March before,even the beginning of April is early.
Everything is off to a flying start this spring!

I have planted almost everything I wanted too and will finish tomorrow-for now!
So far I have planted-
Abyssinian(1)
Rowe red bananas(4)
Siam ruby(4)
T.ferns(5)3 D.antarctica-2 D.squarossa
W.filifera(1)
Bismarckia nobilis(1)
Thai black (bananas)2
Itinerans(bananas)2
Dahlias(20?)
Moon flowers(20)
Cannas(Cleopatra,Picasso,Stuttgart,Musifolia)20ish
Colocasia Thai giant!(1)
Orinoco(banana)(3)
12 cactus plants( flowering barrels) 2 pads(Opuntia)
G.manicata(2)
Tetrapanex(steroidal giant)2
4 o'clocks(100s of seeds(-:
Brugmansia......

O.K.enough already,there is still alot to plant/do and I don't know where I am going to fit some of my favorites like the Elephant ears and Castor beans!

I will take some pics tomorrow.
The yard will be insane this year-what am I doing!
Spring fever has hit really hard and I am VERY sick!(-:

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 10:15 pm

Oh yes, Jim, very sick! I can hardly wait for the photos to come.
You are way ahead of me in planting. Soil temps (4"/10 cm) in my area are 56oF (http://www.mesonet.org/) which I am not used to until much later.
I may have to work hard to catch up to a planter from much farther north. --Erik

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 6:31 am

Erik
I did not check at 8" but yesterday at 5pm the 4" reading was 65f
lows around 60 the last 2 nights and strong sunshine all day help.
The Basjoos are unwinding like twisting telescopes,I will have to get a pic.
It really is amazing how much soil temps play a
role in growth,you would thing 115f(that's right on the ground next to the nanars)
would shoot those banana pups through
the little greenhouse roofs but the soil temp is the key to lift off.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:46 am

You're a very sick man, Jim.
Next you'll be ripping up the sidewalk for planting.
Where on earth did you have all that stuff in the house!
Need to see pictures of each leaf unfurling...anything green with sunshine behind it.

That planter up north, Erik, is regretting it and wearing longjohns again!

115 next to the naners...that clear plastic sure works!

Enjoy the good weather folks.
Leg suntan race...mine will have the Stanfield's (longjohns) dimples

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:57 am

I headed out to work this morning (casual Friday, right?) in sandals, shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. Now I'm freezing as a cold front hit!
No, not really freezing, but I guess I got ahead of myself. --Erik

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 1:18 pm

First a couple of reference pics from last year.
First pic is Siam ruby,one of my favorite Banana plants!
2nd is the Abyssinian
3rd is Orinoco(I think)Tetrapanax in front and Brazilian fire tree/Mexican tree fern to the left of that.
Arundo donax( var giant reed grass)behind railing on steps-
4th T.fortunei-right to it's left is Rowe red banana
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09006.jpg" border="0" alt="Siam Ruby/A.americana"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09034.jpg" border="0" alt="Abyssinian"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09006.jpg" border="0" alt="Looking East"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09021.jpg" border="0" alt="T.Fortunei"></a>

Some pics from today-
Siam Ruby,Bizzy and Agave and 2 very small Thai black banana plants

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 0011-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 0011-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

ABYSSINIAN-already lost most of it's leaves from the wind but has grown 2" the last day or so.
In the back ground is the overwintered(in basement) Orinoco,you can just make out the center pushing up in only 2 days!
Also behind the banana is- Tetrapanex,Siam ruby,T.ferns and another Orinoco + more stuff.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

HEAVILY damaged Fortunei did manage to save a few leaves and should see some sign of recovery this month if all goes well-

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

In the background-Rowe red bananas,Orinoco,W.robusta in umbrella g-house.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Colocasia Thai giant,G.manicata,Arundo donax,whats left of the Wagxforts,Basjoos popping and W.filifera and M.Itinerans.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10010.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

CACTUS GARDEN ALL CLEANED UP AND BETTER THAN EVER DESPITE THE CARNAGE!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

THANKS FOR LOOKING!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 1:50 pm

That last year pic of Siam is soooooo nice.

Cactus garden looks good after all that renovating...

No barefoot pictures yet?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:24 pm

I did all the planting in a bathing suit,to hot/fat to fit into anything else!

Wednesday was 81,Thursday was 89-state high temp and a record for the date

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:25 am

hardyjim wrote:Wednesday was 81,Thursday was 89-state high temp and a record for the date

Thats awesome! Enjoy it while you can, it snowed here last night.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:53 am

DesertZone wrote:
hardyjim wrote:Wednesday was 81,Thursday was 89-state high temp and a record for the date
Thats awesome! Enjoy it while you can, it snowed here last night.

Yuck
Snow doesn't last long this time of year,this time last year we had 5"
it was gone by 4:30pm

mnpalms · Post by **mnpalms** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 6:13 am

Looking great Jim! We got that similar weather this week, just my high Thursday was only 82. We had more overcasty kind of haze mixing in which kept us down a little here. low-mid-upper 70s all week otherwise! Back to reality this weekend with 60s but at least it is full sun and upper 40s/low 50s overnight. I'm 97% confident we have seen our last frost already. I usually put veggies in last week of April to about May 1st. I'm thinking if the 15-day Accuweather still looks good by this time next week, it's game-on for the veggies too! Seeing your bananas in has me thinking also. As you probably remember, I dug all mine up last fall and wintered a ton of them indoors at home and at work. Got even more pups in pots to plant now. My mature basjoos saw mid-upper 30s last fall before I dug them out. I was thinking I'd put them back in, along with all their offspring once I'm confident we won't go under 40f. I wonder... My soil is in the mid 60s now and even higher in places where I have forced the issue.

The new trachy we talked about...
<img src=http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww29 ... C00588.jpg>

<img src=http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww29 ... C00593.jpg>

Talk about roots! Weighs 110 pounds, 37" trunk, 6.5' overall height. Not a bad find for about a hundred and a half bucks!

<img src=http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww29 ... C00594.jpg>

It will fill out nicely this summer. The seller had to cut off 7 of the lower fronds in order to ship it and fit in the box. Only downside I guess. With all the roots intact I think it will take right off. Zero soil fell out of the pot, it's all roots. This thing should be so happy to be in the ground.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 8:23 am

Mnpalms,
that is indeed a nice Trachy. Start a new thread sometime to show it being planted, thriving over the summer, surviving next winter....
Jim,
I was going back through your photos this morning. Did say you planted a Bizzy?
--Erik

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 9:21 am

Kory
That thing is massive!-a giant soil sucker

I didn't know "they" would ship that big,where did you say you ordered it and what
company ships that large?
Did you also say the shipping was like 200?
I really hate digging and mixing soil,it's the one thing I am lazy about with so many
things to plant.I mixed in coffee grounds and Milorganite with about everything I planted.
That Trachy has a nice kink in the trunk,you got a good one-John in Colorado strongly believes that the
Trachys with strong SFH trait like your new one are a few degrees more hardy-good score.

Erik
I did plant my bigger Bizzy,it's just to cool/not really bright enough/ in my house over the winter.
I think I would lose it inside eventually.
One of the things I like about having some plants that are"expendable"is we can experiment a little.
Next year I will go with a more minimalist approach to my protection,shut them down,
don't worry about sunlight use less power/heat and keep them 35-45 with a thermocube-
basically refrigerate and store for the winter!

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 9:30 am

I'll follow your Bizzy with great interest. I love them (who doesn't?

) but always assumed I couldn't have one until I retire to Belize some day and can have this in my yard:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9S ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S1tRi ... GP0804.JPG" /></a>

The closest I plan to come is to try my Brahea armata in the ground this winter.
--Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:50 am

That's a real beauty, mnpalms.
Worth the price.
From the look of the roots, it's been potted for a long time; should really take off by the end of summer.

You definitely belong here...spending more on shipping than the plant cost

We all love bizzies...
Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 5:55 pm

The better this Bizzy does this summer,the more protection it gets!

mnpalms · Post by **mnpalms** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 5:47 am

Actually the shipping was just under $100 for Fedex Ground. Still, I would have paid $200 if that's what it took! It shipped out of Riverside, CA to my business in Eagan, MN. Packed and shipped late Monday afternoon, in my hands on Friday at 10:00AM my time. Not bad! I saved a little on the residential vs commercial delivery address. Also I gave the seller my Fedex account number to use which bills me for the shipment so the shipper does not have to mess with it. That saves a few more percent also. Beats the heck out of UPS cost for the same size shipment from the same place. 110 pound box! I got the tree (this one and last year's two) from a lady who sells mostly fruit trees on Ebay. She also sometimes sells 5-foot trachys with 2 to 2 1/2 foot trunks on Ebay. I work with her outside of Ebay for the best deals. It is my understanding she gets these windmills from a wholesale grower, while not actually growing them herself. Jim- let me know if you want her contact info, she is a great lady to work with.

Yeah Jim, I hate mixing the soil too. It was a pain but I think it worked out well. I mixed in some Milorganite, mycorrhizae (Micogrow soluable powder), some bone meal, and I used a small amount of root hormone. Soil mix was mostly mushroom compost and "Moo-nure" brand organic/manure compost. I added about 20% coarse sand mixed with a bit of pea gravel and about 5% original meduim clay (original dirt from the hole). I also threw in a fair amount of perlite and a bit of peat moss for good measure. It was a bit of a job!

Actually the lady I got the trachys from did/does sell bismarcks also. Her prices are very good but I don't quite have the stones to try to grow one here outside. Very cool trees though. One of my favorites, one I admired every day at the place I stayed in PV in Feb of this year...

<img src=http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww29 ... C02818.jpg>

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 6:57 am

Yea
Bizzy's are one of the coolest for sure.
I think they can handle the moisture here in summer but need some extra help staying dry from about
10-1 on.
We'll see would be really cool to see this grow 6-8 leaves this summer and be able to start from there next year-
however unlikely I will give it a try,it's not a house plant and only cost me $20,so why not give it a try?
At that price I could just throw one in every year-but I wouldn't do that to one of my favorite palms-we'll see

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 10:49 am

mnpalms, nice job with the soil mix.
Mushroom manure? wow, that's one spoiled palm

$20 for a Bizzie? Jeez, I paid almost that for the SEEDS (none of which made it).

Barb

anttisepp · Post by **anttisepp** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 1:53 pm

Nice pics, Jim, as usual, full of energy and enthusiasm!

Did you care the stem of basjoo by some fungicide?
As for Gunnera it grew very well but didn't survive winter in the garage.

Your yard soon will be the best in all your state.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:30 am

anttisepp wrote:Nice pics, Jim, as usual, full of energy and enthusiasm!
Did you care the stem of basjoo by some fungicide?
As for Gunnera it grew very well but didn't survive winter in the garage.
Your yard soon will be the best in all your state.

Thanks Antti
Yes,I sprinkled copper fungicide on it an fall/wrapped in house insulation and covered with a trash can full of mulch and plastic.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:53 am

Here's the latest and the "greatest" so far

First the ferns-
D.antarctica beginning to open spring croziers

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

D.squarrosa opening croziers

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

C.cooperi has grown a lot this winter,it's sitting on a railroad tie and is bigger then it looks in the picture/that pot is 15" tall<windy day!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Arundo donax var(Giant reed grass) coming up

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10010.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Orinoco(possibly blue java)this was a 6' tall section I overwintered in the basement(there is a pic in the same spot from last years pics)
I cut it down because the top was a little mushy-it's already busting out of the center!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Small Rowe red

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Overwintered Basjoos opening there first leaves

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Canna musifolia from Dennis(statenisland GWF)

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Planted my Princeps last week-not fully recovered from WSM damage but well into growth mode-should be beautiful by fall!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

My other 2 Princeps-what a beautiful Trachy Princeps is!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Thanks for looking

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:08 am

Jim What's the plan with those Tree ferns? You going to plant them out?

Bananas are bouncing back nicely!!

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:20 am

I'm curious about the tree ferns as well. I've killed one D. antarctica in the winter and one in the summer and so plan to give them all a pass until I move to Belize someday.
My other question is about the Arundo donax var(Giant reed grass).
I have an area where I was thinking of putting bamboo, but it gets really wet as we discharge pool water there, and it doesn't drain well.
A. donax seems to grow well around here without getting weedy (as it does further south). Local nurseries don't carry it because of the bad. rep. it has. What do you think of it?
--Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:49 am

Erik, discharge area for pool water...chlorine? saltwater? neither are good for plants.
Maybe pick a spot on the north side of house.
Ferns like very little sun (filtered, if any, i.e. understory) and moisture/humidity.

Jim, agree with you on the Princeps palms.
Very very beautiful.

That Orinoco is huge!
Dump some water on that Rowe red...

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 2:46 pm

Tree ferns are planted
Erik
Arundo donax can be used in a bog setting or kept dry,very diverse.

Barb
It was the wind that made it look dry.