Some new,some old and some new growth.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:47 pm

Some of the new stuff

I am trying a bunch of different Colocasia/Alocasia this year.

First is probably Hilo beauty,Ele paio,Nancyana-
a leaf from my big Thai giant from last year is
in the upper part of the picture.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... lank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11026.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Chicago Harlequin and far left Jack's giant

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11027.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Alocasia "Frydek" and Oxalis regnellii triangularis Purple shamrock

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Ensete Glaucum (Snow banana)

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11031.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Tetrapanex coming up-soon to come up everywhere!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

One of 3 small Takil I have planted this spring

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Smaller Thai giant

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11029.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Basjoo are way behind last year!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

S.Louisiana-soil temp 4"

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Planted my T.Nanus

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Princeps-also planted one this spring

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11030.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11030.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Arundo donax(giant reed grass) coming up

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11033.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Sequoia is browned out from winter but is moving now,these grow incredibly fast!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

One of the Washys is opening a 3rd leaf this year already-maybe 20+ leaves this year!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Cactus blooming already-14 more at last count setting blooms!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11025.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Waggie

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11010.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Tree ferns

D.antarctica moving

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11017.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11017.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Both C.cooperi opening their second fronds

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11018.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Growth of Bananas,they have been in 7-10 days

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 1014-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 1014-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Abyssinian and Brugs-both overwintered in basement along with the other Bananas,Cannas etc.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -11019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Thanks for looking!

<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/IA/Fairf ... ipes"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... code=52556" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" height="90" width="160" /></a>

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:43 pm

Wow!
That cactus bed shows no sign of the trauma of the blizzard.

My Musa basjoo are ahead of yours, which is surprising to me as your soil temps are above mine--the warmest I have seen is 60 F at 4", and the 37 F forecast for tonight won't help.
Your palms all look good. My Washies, indoors in pots for the winter, look happy but only modest spear growth. It will be fun to watch yours grow--maybe time-lapse video?

--Erik

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:05 pm

GREAT collection of plants. Your big Ensete is HUGE! It's kinda cool to see burn on your Sequoiadendron. What was the low temp it saw?

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:22 am

Jim- You're off to a raging start! Your garden is going to be IMPRESSIVE this year!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:39 am

The one that stood out for me was the waggie, it just looks TOO good form being in a zone 5 area for winter LOL.

Arent you planting a bit to far away from last frost?

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:57 am

Everything looks great Jim. I see you have dandelions already which means your soil temp is way ahead of mine. Hope you have a long growing season for that stuff.

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:54 am

I will echo the sentiments. Looks very nice and by June it may be indistinguishable from the tropics. Or the desert. Depends on which angle you are looking.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 10:17 am

Me too.

With your warm weather, you may be gardening for the rest of us this year.

Your palms make me drool
Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 12:19 pm

Eric

I got lucky in that nothing really got smashed-

my Nanas are way behind last year!

Tim-(Mass)

Ensete will be fun to watch this year!
Also the Ensete Glaucum,I have wanted one for a while!

Sequoia-
-8F ,all I did was put a piece of plywood northwest of it

Paul

It will be fun to watch everything grow this year,I will have
to check that cactus flower against last years date.

Thanks Jesse
I didn't understand your comment

Arent you planting a bit to far away from last frost?(???)

Tim

Me too Tim,looks like some cooler weather the next week or 2
hopefully then more summer like weather!

Thanks Jack

I can't wait to see the Nanas/Thai giant take off...
my Banana plant last year flowered at a much smaller size.

Barb

Make sure you drool over those Washys so they get watered!

I think my palms are a little small for being drool worthy
but a few should be more noticeable after this year.....

Most people only see the Bananas,Thai giant etc.

After this year the Washys,Fortunei and Nainital should
show up on thier radar screens!

Looks like this one bloomed at the same last year-with in 3 days!

Look how much farther along the Basjoo were on April 15th of last year compared to this year...

(this years pics posted in 1st post)

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 12:30 pm

Sorry Jim LOL

Arent you planting a head of schedual? Your still due to ger some frosts arent you?

macario · Post by **macario** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 12:47 pm

The stuff really looks good your are definatley way ahead when it comes to growth. This year your gonna run out of yard.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:02 pm

my palms are a little small for being drool worthy

Nonsense.
Any palm that's already put out 3 fronds mid-April is awesome.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:44 pm

We have been truly blessed here Jesse and I mean it,the last hard frost was at the end of March.

It was 28F April 5th the night before I planted my Brugs

-it didn't bother anything as it
went up to 65F that day.

Avg last frost is April 15 nothing below 36F in the 15 day.
The weather pattern is so progressive right now it changes over to
fast to get really cold,it is a little cold some nights for the Nanars
and Colocasia but they needed to get out of the basement/house!-

They are actually better off outside....oh yea,the bananas did see 28F one night,
(April 5)not an issue since they don't have leaves....yet.

Mike

I know,I wish I had more room,I just bought a little variegated Holly off e-bay!

.....it's tiny though

Barb

Your right,the Washys are going to be something this year(not like Bill's

but
still...decent!),to bad there are so many Bananas planted around and in front(of them),
people always notice that stuff...some guy thanked me for doing all this the other day!

Really,that's what he said-"thanks for doing this"

-that's one of the cool things about having
everything planted in the front yard-only problem is people sometimes will mess with it-
there is a bar 1 block down and sometimes- these- soused people stumble by..........

That's what the cactus and Agaves are there for-the guards!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:55 pm

Jim,

some guy thanked me for doing all this the other day

About time, from what I've seen of the rest of the street's landscaping (yawn...like most neighborhoods).

Yours is spectacular and it's time people took notice, and said so.
Maybe he's keen to grow some exotic stuff too Jim

"soused people"...

Some of those 6 foot tall Agaves would be a nice hedge.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:27 pm

regarding the Sequoiadendron.......-8F is too warm.....there must be another issue. Perhaps your duration below 0F is seriously long or something. There's a 30' tall specimen in Greenville, Rhode Island....I'm sure they get down to -8F or so every year. I had one in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and it started out real small......I never had an issue........but your IOWA.......sounds way colder than here.

The growth rate on those are incredible.....here's what mine did in R.I.

April 1997: 6"
April 1998: 7"
April 1999: 1'-8"
April 2000: 3'-4"
April 2001: 5'-9"
Sept 2001: 9'-4"
Sept 2002: 13'

After I moved, the new owner cut it down

Photos

http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/s ... anteum.htm

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:52 am

WTF your last frost is april 15th?? LOL Thats not even fair

North carolinas last frost is april 10th.....

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:15 pm

That was funny Barb!

Tim

The issue here is the Arctic wind chill,these are undamaged to -18F
in my experience if completely protected from wind.

When they are small they do not have enough sap in their "veins"
to act as a protectorant/antifreeze,supposedly as they age this improves.

Mine doubled in size in the last year

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:05 pm

the Sequoiadendron sure looks better when green!

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:02 am

TimMAz6 wrote:the Sequoiadendron sure looks better when green!

I agree!

I love seeing it in it's natural blue green state!

It's starting to break out of it's dormancy now too.

As much as I don't like the cool rainy weather right now....
there is plenty of stuff that does-T.ferns,Sequoia,Trachys.

We really need the rain too-such a dry spring this year.

With any luck we get a few inches(+) of rain this week(+)
and next week the warm weather hits!!!!!

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:14 am

we already got 4.12" of rain this month.......things are real greeeeeeeeeeeeen!

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:10 am

An inch of hail and maybe another inch of rain this morning-arg!

2 more days and it warms back up again-hope my tropicals can make it!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:02 am

An inch of hail?

Sheesh.

You must live next door.
Come over for a beer.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:01 pm

Think I need to grab some.

Anything with tropical leaves on it was shredded-
all the palms look o.k. but one of the new T.fern
fronds was severed by a(mf) frozen marble

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:18 pm

Sheesh, Jim!

I'd invert cardboard boxes over them to let 'em recover from the carnage.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:14 pm

Barb

There is to much stuff to pick and chose what I would cover.

So far everything is holding up well to the cold and wet.

We had an inch of rain with the hail

and although the tropicals
are battered,they really haven't started growing yet.

Tomorrow more Colocasia and some other stuff arrive,
at least this stuff will have a warmer greeting than the last batch,
that said,everything looks good still.

You guys gotta check out some of the stuff I ordered.

C.Frydek has iridescent leaves with beautiful white highlights on the veins-
here are some links to some pics of what I ordered.

C.Chicago harlequin

http://www.floridahillnursery.com/image ... lequin.jpg

C.frydek

http://www.floridahillnursery.com/image ... Frydek.jpg

C."Jacks giant"

http://www.bananas.org/vbclassified/upl ... iq3bbc.jpg

C.Nancyana

http://www.wellspringgardens.org/catalo ... ylarge.jpg

C.Ele Paio

http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/2005/0 ... 18fa48.jpg

Oxalis regnelli triangularis

http://www.floridahillnursery.com/image ... ularis.jpg

Ginger alpinia vittata

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/ ... ittata.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/ ... flower.jpg

E.Ventricosum

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2670/367 ... 780827.jpg

Variegated Caryota mitis-("houseplant")

http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/2007/0 ... 458b1f.jpg

Variegated Osmanthus

http://www.smith.edu/gardens/bgilib/web ... -A_3_C.jpg

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:26 pm

Holy cow, Jim, you've got some great stuff ordered!

Jack's Giant is sure named right.

Great color on the Oxalis, and the short fat "ventricosium" is a stunner.

My jaw dropped at that variegated Fishtail...
Might do better on the patio with some humidity than in the house.

You'll get a kick out of this email I received today:
INSTALLING SPRING...
███████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 44% DONE.
Install delayed....please wait.
Installation failed. Please try again. 404 error: Season not found.
Season "Spring" cannot be located. The season you are looking for might
have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.
Please try again.

Looking forward to seeing pics of everything planted Jim.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:40 pm

Holy cow-so true!

I am sure Kory / Tim will appreciate that too!

Jacks giant looks a lot like Thai giant to me.

I basically looked for the coolest looking stuff I could fine!

The Caryota will be outside until it's to cold...
not my favorite Caryota but I love the variegation!

The C.Frydek picture doesn't do it justice,the leaves
have a silvery deep green sheen to them-absolutely beautiful!

I basically typed in "variegated plants" on e-bay and fired away.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:54 pm

and fired away

You sure did...like it's Christmas again

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 4:52 am

Holy crap Jim did you ever go EE crazy this year!!!

Is that C Frydek as sensitive as the "Alocasia Amazinica"? IT looks damn close to it....

That ginger should do good there. That one is hardy to zone 7 right? OR at least dig it up? The consevatory here has a large ginger labled "zingiber officinal", yet, even im sure its that alpina you showed. Im hopeing they might do a trade. Its ginger, that stuff is hard to get rid of once its estabolished...

How many types of EE do you have now?

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:18 am

I'm also eager to hear how Jim grows his ginger. I like them, but have not been able to over winter in the ground. So, I dig them up each October. It gets harder each year so I'd like to try again.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:09 am

Jesse

I think maybe 7-8 Colocasia....maybe less after last night

we briefly touched 32F for like an hour at most(I just happened to wake up
at 4am and look),within about 45mins some clouds rolled in and it went back to 34F.

The Fredek looked fine yesterday,4 more arrive today/tomorrow.

This Ginger is probably 7 but more likely zone 8,Alpinia vittata is
a true white ginger and is fairly rare,there are some that look like it
but they are a yellow variegation and not true white.

This one is coming from Hawaii.

I need to see how the Colocasia/Snow banana(E.glaucum) did with the cold last night.

I will try and get some pics of this stuff when it arrives,pretty small at
this point but always fun for comparison later in the season!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:57 am

They should be alright

IF anything just set back a bit...... not sure about the ginger but.....

Thats a good number/mix of them, cant wait to see what they look like in a month or 2...

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:32 pm

Me too.

The ginger is coming from Hawaii so it will be a while
before it arrives/my other order of Frydek-Ventricosum and
Purple shamrock should be here tomorrow.

Everything looks o.k.
I checked them this morning.....
my tropical red Cannas and variegated Hollie arrived today-
the Hollie is quite a cute little plant,should be gorgeous as
it gets bigger-right now you need a magnifying glass to see it.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:19 pm

Funny, a friend wanted to know what this plant was ( in the UK), turned out to be a 5 foot variegated holly. Very nice plant.

Everything is finaly starting to go nuts. A few weeks ill be planting things like you.

Glad things handled the low, hopefuly you ( and me

) dont get any more!

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:43 pm

Or just me

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:29 am

Even visiting PN several times a day day to day have no chance clicking my head from every minute Russian to time to time used English. Anyway Jim would you please tell me if had any chance planting Alocasia wentii "variegata" in your front yard? I bought a couple of them today and were learned from Internet it"t pretty hardy for growing outside until the frost. Any ideas?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 8:40 am

That's a nice one!

Looks like it's root hardy to z8.

The Ginger and "variegated Holly"
have arrived,need a magnifying glass for the Holly

I will post a picture of the(Holly)-/- Ginger when it starts growing.

Still out are....Petasites japonicus 'variegatus' - Hardy Gunnera ,
Variegated Elk Horn Cedar Thujopsis Variegata,Palm "Caryota Mitis Lour Grade A" Variegate leaf

Variegated Gunnera

http://www.forestfarm.com/images/produc ... a547v2.jpg

Variegated Elk horn "cedar"

http://www.ioffer.com/img/item/169/685/082/El7o.jpg

Variegated Caryota mitis

http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/m/mRXOVgV ... WA/140.jpg

Can you tell I'm really into variegated plants this year!

macario · Post by **macario** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 10:54 am

He jim I noticed the variegated post. theres this varigated Colocasia I had looked beautiful you should ad that to your collection.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:17 pm

Thanks Mike

I did get some variegated ones,which kind are you referring too???

PalmsNorth.com

Some new,some old and some new growth.

Some new,some old and some new growth.

Stuff looks good

palms