A Sure Sign of Spring.....

[Knnn]

At least I am Hoping!

The Navel Orange in the GH is loading up with Blossoms




Another angle, This is sort of buried in the back.........

[Wes North Van]

I hope you are right. We are experiencing sunny clear days and nights. The lows are only going to -1C / 30F and highs around 8 to 9C / 47 to 50F. Still abit cool but it is getting better. I have really noticed the days are getting longer now.

[Kansas]

Steve,
I sure hope your family is more supportive of your oranges than mine.
Every Orange I have gotten, I am SOOOO proud of and I want to split the orange with my 2 boys and wife. Problem is they do not like Oranges. So here I am so proud of something I have done, and they wreck my joy
My Valencia had about 10 buds in December when we had the mild temps. Now it only has the one.
However I am very optimistic (sp?) because as you remeber last year the same tree I had inside the house dropped all but 6-7 leaves. It came back in teh Spring with many leaves and about 10 flowers, but none produced fruit. Somebody then informed me that in fact, even thou it IS an Orange tree, it needs a cooling off peroid with humidity. They advised to put it in the Garage. Not very sure, I did it. Well it must work as I have lost maybe 4-5 leaves is all. The flowers from December dropped but I am very optimistic.
SO if your Oranges make it, I'll come down and share one of your Oranges with you.

[Barrie]

A sure sign of spring can be seen in my garden today. I'll let the picture do the talkin'.
Cheers, Barrie.

[Knnn]

And ignore the snow on the ground.

Nice photo Barrie! All in all it has been a warmer winter here. 1*F /-17C as compared to -12*F / -24C for last year. Think after this next blast we'll start our slow warm up. I have been fortunate here ~ A lot of people have suffered with the ice storms in this general area.

Kansas,
If it sets fruit I'll save you some, most of my citrus came from the discount stores after they were frosted. Ran across 3 gallon Key Limes this year for $2.00 ea. Really hate to see what some of these places do to their plants, but it does make for some good bargains. My family if anything seems tolerant, Hoping my children will develop some interest as they get older ( actually they will have no choice.......

[Kansas]

Next time you see Key Lime for $2, go ahead and pick me up one.
Got a story about my Key Lime if you got time to read.....
About 4 years ago, my family went to visit our friends in Lake City, Florida. Along the way from St. Augustine to Lake City, coming back from the beach, there are 5-6 places to stop and buy fresh friut and they also sell trees. I bought a valencia and a Key Lime. The Valencia didn't make it but for about 6 months.
But the Key Lime seemsed to THRIVE even thou it was inside. Seemed to always have a bud on it. That Key Lime was my Pride -n- Joy and I LOVED that tree. Every day I babied her and my wife always commented on how I loved the tree more than her in a jokeing manner.
THen came the BAD BAD Ice Storm in Wichita about 2-3 years ago. I had to go supervise the cable restore. I had to go for two weeks and told her to water it and keep it in the sun in the window.
When I called home the day before I came home I asked her how the tree was doing. She answered "Uh OH". I asked what???? She told me she forgot to water it and had put it in the living room (NO SUN) and forgot about it. She said half the leaves were fallen off. WHen I got home I looked over at it and it was HORRIBLE. I went to pick it up and as soon as I touched it, the rest of the leaves fell off. She was a gonner That caused a HUGE HUGE arguement.
So if you can find one for $2, lemme know.

[Knnn]

Lowes, Wal-Mart, etc.
Most of the Citrus & larger stuff seems to get marked down in Nov/Dec.
Last week or so been picking up some Orchids & Misc Tropicals from .05 - $1.00, 50/50 chance with these, but the planters are at least worth the cost

[oppalm]

Steve - they don't sell stuff that cheap at my Walmart or Lowes. I may have to make a trip to Salina and get it all before you do. I was at Home Depot earlier this week and they really have some rough looking stuff and they have not marked it down yet. The have a majesty palm with 1 one frond (and on frond only) that's about 8 foot tall and they still have marked at $39.99. Its practically dead. The rest of their stuff looks just as bad, yet nothing is on sale.

[Alchris]

My local Home Depot has a bunch of Majesty palms in the 5-6' size priced at $16. They are not on sale and most are in Good shape.

Unfortunately they are not any good to me as they would be too expensive to winter.

Allen

[Knnn]

At my local Wal Mart..... Just in time for Groundhog Day.

Best deals I've found here have been at Lowes, The odd thing is what I have been picking up, ( BOP & larger Citrus), were not being carried here in the Summer. Maybe my local store manages the credits/returns for a larger area ?

Oppalm - You would be doing me a favor if you came and got it all before me...I don't know when to quit

Alchris - Keeping my Coconut growing inside thru the Winter is still easier than trying to keep a Majesty Palm going, I'd really like to know where these 8' tall specimens growing in 5 gallon pots are coming from, especially when they magically appear in the middle of Winter

[Alchris]

I will get the name for you.

I am pretty sure that I saw a label with the growers name on one of the majesty palms. If I remember right the grower is from Florida.

Allen

[Knnn]

Alchris,
Let me know if you happen to see the grower listed..............just a matter of curiosity for myself.
( I have yet to see any references to where these are coming from in the trade magazines,etc)


Thanks!

Steve

[Alchris]

I checked at 2 Home Depots in Edmonton. I guess that I got lucky when I looked at the tag on the palm earlier in the week. The Majesties have been re-labelled. The top label says product of Canada and is supposed to be from Rainbow Greenhouses in Chiliwack. This company is a wholesaler to to the Pacific Northwest originating in Washington State. I checked their website and they do not offer Majesty Palms. I also checked a bunch of the palm pots and found a few that had an 'underlabel'. I was able to peel one back enough to get the following before the label tore;
COSTA.

That could be part of the growers name or it could be part of an exotic's name.

That's the best that I can find out.

Allen

[Knnn]

Costa Farms in Florida, Quite a large operation ~ http://www.greenhousegrower.com/benchru ... costa.html

[Knnn]

Tropical Hibiscus starting to bloom, at least the increased daylight is waking some things up.
Now if it was just a little warmer......

[Wes North Van]

Days are getting longer and warmer. It is 11:00 am and it is already 10C / 50F warm and sunny. Spring flowers like crocus and snowdrops are in bloom.

[Alchris]

Spring is definitely here. It's -18 C, Sunny and last night's snow has completely covered one of my test palm protection bins.


Allen

[Barrie]

Wes (North Van) ... We pinned the thermometer at 14c (57f) here today in Lantzville. Nothing spectacular but a step in the right direction.

Cheers, Barrie.

[Wes North Van]

You beat me. I had 13.7C as a high
Great spring day

[DesertZone]

Been very spring like here, but we seem to go through this every year. I can only hope it stays, so nice i don't want ton go back to the cold

[tropicman]

I too had a couple blooming yesterday,and a passion flower blooming today,yep the days are getting longer,just whish the temps would,and stay there!!!!

[Knnn]

The thingy is starting to grow......... This is a sure sign



Orchids are waking up too....

[tropicman]

Sure looks like it to me too!
Another sign for me,sunburn on my arms from shoveling horse shet!!!!LOL