Some Spring Pics

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 1:56 pm

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:07 pm

Looking good Paul

Those cactus really do have some spectacular flowers.

I think my Basjoo are about the only plant I
have that is where it was last year at this time...
it's been a cool spring.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:45 pm

Everything looks great, Paul! Especially the Paw Paw

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 4:43 pm

Nice! That cactus garden is cool, and so is everything else.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 4:59 pm

I agree, those cacti are amazing. Same with the PawPaw

Im more excited to see the Ledum! Great buy Paul! Is it the "Labrador Tea" species?

That Magnolia has HUGE leaves

Your Rufa looks immaculate! You dont protect it right?

Great job dude

Edit: I looked up a bit more on that magnolia.... that thing ends up looking sort of like Schefflera.... thats going to look sexy in a few years dude !

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:59 am

Jesse- the Ledum is 'Milky Way' (Rhododendron tomentensum (spelling?) 'Milky Way'). It's new, I don't know how it will do in my drier site... Might be a 1 year plant...

The F. rufa is not protected but is small enough to be covered in snow. It did have lots of foliar damage, but has recovered very well. I have high hopes for that Magnolia... Hoping for some 2' leaves on that one. I should also get a 'big leaf' since they seem to be pretty hardy, but the small ones I've been buying just end up being rabbit food.

Cameron- The paw-paw is native here in Ontario, but not as far north as my garden. I think that now that the thing is established, it should take -35C or so. There was 0 damage from -31C, and it bloomed for the second time this spring.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:53 am

I hope the Ledum makes it. Native "rhodies" are always nice to have....

Rufa even amazed me. I said Half the culms died back, but it isnt nearly as severe as I thought. Tough little bamboo! It looks like its enjoyed your cool spring!

When I looked up the Mag. all sites stated hardy to zone 5, reliably. Hopefully the rabbits dont go near this one. Mabey plant something the rabbits CAN eat to distract them from your other plants?

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:49 am

Thanks for posting these. Everything looks great.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:18 am

Sheesh, Paul, -31C and everything looks better than last year (except maybe the musa).
Also like your new yuccas.

Needle and Sabal had NO protection at all?
If so, pretty darn good!

Barb

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:35 am

Barb- The needle and Sabal had protection. There is little hope for those 2 unprotected north of a warm zone 6b! Even with protection they had damage here (0f, -18C, is DAMN cold for any palm!)

Jesse- I call it Ledum, but that guy has been lumped into the genus Rhododendron... The M. tripetala is ~5 feet high so is out of the reach of the rabbits (but no the deer!...)

Thanks!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:37 am

Paul, I had hoped they had no protection.
We can dream...

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:25 pm

Dream on, Barb. I didn't get as cold as Paul ("only" -30 C), and of course of much shorter duration, and covered my needles well. One died, one is down to pups and only one is growing now. Not to knock needles--they are pretty, and tough as nails.

Paul--gorgeous cacti. Another group of plants I need to learn more about; my one grows each year but has never flowered.
--Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:48 pm

I'm trying to love needles.
Not there yet.

Unless they prove to be bulletproof...really bulletproof.

Erik, Oklahoma will not see those temps again for 30+ years, I bet.

Barb

Okanagan desert-palms · Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:50 pm

Nice pics Paul. I really like your cactus yucca garden. It looks better every year.

John

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:31 pm

Great update Paul! Love to see all those cactus blooming for you! Your PawPaw looks great. I crossed Y. gloriosa x arkansana 'Moud City, Missouri'. I'll have to get some seeds to you since the Y. arkansana should make this hybrid more hardy for you.

zomble · Post by **zomble** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:45 am

Great selection Paul,

-31...brrrr..how do you cope? We froze at -13 and wonder will it be bad again for the UK.

I am really praying for a mild winter this year.