Palms and Garden Pictures November 28th (Massachusetts)

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 1:42 pm

Hey everyone,
Here's an update on what's happening in Massachusetts. Well after 4 nights in the mid to upper 20's still no protection yet, and I'm very happy with how everything looks. Looks like the washies are going to make it into December after all, nothing threatening in the 10 day either. Looking like el nino is turning out very nice so far, tons of rain though. Rain is a lot better then snow after all.

Here's my nanital with the washie panels in the back ground, eight foot wall already need a two foot extension. Gotta love that growth rate, they put out two monster fronds since I built those panels.

My biggest Trachy before I cut 10 fronds off of it, to prepare for winter palmhut.

Front off my house is a little bare after digging things up for storage.

My biggest washie blowing in the wind with 50 mph gusts today, the oleander in front was touching the ground at one point.

My biggest saw palmetto, my smallest sabal minor and my little gem S. magnolia with 7 buds left trying to bloom also a poor EE holding on for dear life.

My only viable seeds are these 2 needle palm seeds. S. Mag. little gem, 2 sabal minors, needle, and 2 crape myrtle tuscarora's.

Henry hicks magnolia virginiana, 3 burford hollies, and my largest S. Magnolia D.D. Blanchard (10 feet)

Back corner of yard shots. 2 washie's, 2 needles, 4 saw palmetto's, 1 med fan, and 2 gardenias one was damaged late summer by getting squished. The 3 others are still flowering, I keep picking them off and bring them in the house though.

Last but not least the basjoo grove a week ago before I cut them down, only 2 out of the nine main stems where under 8 feet, the biggest was just about 9 feet. Here they are today cut at 30" There is 31 of them at that height, and 30 more under it. Go Banana Fuel!

Hope you enjoyed my garden tour. Hopefully I didn't overload anyone, I hurt my foot and I can't walk to great, so this was the days activity.

Bill

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 1:48 pm

nice pics Bill ! we've also been experiencing a warmer/rainy November in Nova Scotia (a little further north of you)

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:28 pm

Look'n REAL good Billy boy
Those Washy's are a trip!
Love the Magnolia,I would love to plant one here-probably be toasty in a winter like last year!
Let me know if you run out of Banana plants- geez
I know you have more inside-don't let them over run you my friend!Take your life back-or make your fortune on e-bay
I always hear people crying they can't find any-we know who has them all now!

Enjoyed your pics-how many people in Mass have Washy's uncovered in Dec? NO ONE!

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 3:08 pm

Hey Bill... Thanks for following through with the special request! Looks awesome! Those washies have grown a lot this year! How are you going to protect the needle and palmettos? Leaf cage? I bet you could leave the needle uncovered but I am sure you might not want to risk losing it. Magnolias look great as well. My Mag was blooming just like that about three weeks ago but never quite made it due to the cold. What are you doing for the orleander over the winter?

Thanks for sharing Bill, always enjoyable!

Okanagan desert-palms · Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:22 pm

Thanks for those great pics Bill. Looks like El nino arrived just in time for your palms and bananas this year. How much did you pay for the palmetto`s? I would like to try a couple but doubt there are any in B.C.

John

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:28 pm

I can only wish my palms in southern Arizona will look even close to the palms you or John grow.

Good stuff Bill, thanks posting.

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:38 pm

Hard to believe you are in Mass.
My gardenias have stop producing flowers although if we could only get some sun they look like there are trying to produce some flower buds.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 8:28 am

Thanks Guys!

Cameron,
Good to hear your temps have been good in Nova Scotia, I have always wanted to make it to Digby to eat scallops and watch the tide rush into the Bay of Fundy. One of these days I hear it's a spectacular sight to see. It's a lot easier now that the cat boat leaves from Portland instead of Bar Harbor. I'll give you a shout if I'm heading your way this summer.

Jim,
I love them washies for sure, I hope they can stay out for another two weeks that would be cool. I think the nana supply is good, I didn't even post the picture of the monsters under my stairs in the basement. I think you might be able to get away with the semi evergreen Magnolia at your place if it was in a good spot there really nice too.

Scott,
The washies have gone mad this year, I can't even imagine what they'll do next year if we have a normal summer. I might have to chop the fronds off, they'll be fine like that I think, way easier too. As for the needle and minors I'll most likely do the wall-o-water thing like Troy in NH. We talked about it early in the year and I think it will be the best and easiest fit for me here. I'm not sure on the oleanders, part of me wants to leave them in and part of me wants to dig them up. I'll most likely leave them and build some kind of box thing over them with one 13 watt light bulb in each.

John,
El nino is my friend for sure this year, with good timing for sure. The palmettos were reasonable and they came from FLA, they grew better then I thought too. I'd give them a try if you could find some.

Aaron,
It's easy to make them look good when you buy big ones, John is the real winner!

Wes,
Yeah sometimes I fell the same way when I walk around the yard, it is really fun though. I love the gardenias there fragrance is awesome all summer long, I hope they make it ok. I think I have a good plan for them.

Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:05 pm

I think your yard looks better now then it did this summer(excluding the bananas of course!)-SORRY
But it's really nice to be able to see all your palms! Better keep an eye on the weather next week

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:11 pm

I just covered all three washies with HUGE tarps, where getting 2 inches of rain. I let them suck it up long enough, I don't want it getting to cold and freezing in the crowns. Thanks for the heads up.

Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:27 pm

Yea the problem is it rains usually before it gets cold!
With any luck our forecast will be valid and stay dry and even with highs just above freezing,I won't cover my palms unless there is rain in the picture.
It also helps to be able to cover them and not have them be wet before you protect-You are wise to cover them now!

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 5:00 pm

Great photos & landscaping

Those are nice Washy's, look forward to seeing how much they grow next season!

Steve

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 5:44 pm

Thanks Steve,
I always value a true palm nuts opinion!

Bill

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:01 pm

I hope my yard looks as good as yours someday

Steve

rp4111 · Post by **rp4111** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:05 pm

Wow thats impressive! Those Washie's are really something. It would be nice if those warm temps we've been having here in MA stick around for the winter! I really jumped the gun and cut down and covered my bananas around Halloween. The big trachy in the ground just got closed up in it's box about two weeks ago and the smaller trachy is still uncovered. I just throw a tarp over that and turn the C9 lights on when the night time temps are below freezing. So far I've only had to do that a few times. It's been great.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:15 pm

Hey Bill, wow did your stuff ever grow this year.
Glad your weather's mild enough that you're not having to scramble yet.

Washies, trachies, palmettos, fan palm...and yes, the Banana Futures market!

Plus a ton more in the basement.
Plus magnolia, oleander, etc.

Q: Would it be "easier" on the Trachy to bunch up the fronds, rather than cutting off 10?
Just curious, although it doesn't look like any kind of treatment would hurt that vigorous trachy.

Good job.
Barb

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:12 am

Washintonia robusta look great. No way in hell can we grow 'em in the coastal PNW zone 8.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:52 am

Thanks Again Everyone,

Steve,
Thanks for the compliments man! A lot of work went into it this year, I can't wait to dig them all up when I move. That should be fun!

Ryan,
Yeah this weather has really been very mild so far, you never know last el nino Providence had a low of 16F, that would be really nice! It's better to be safe then sorry with stuff, I haven't covered the nanas just because I was waiting to see how many leaves I need for my washie huts, I pull a tarp over them when it rains at least. Good to hear you have the bug thing taken care of inside, two treatments with the neem should be good for now, spray it outside if you can or put towels down so it doesn't get all over everything.

Barb,
Everything did really explode this year, imagine if we had our normal summer heat! It didn't even warm up until July and still things went nuts. Banana futures market I like that one Barb

The fronds I cut off the trachy were all from early last summer, there's still tons on it now. I wanted to be able to see the trunk better since it's really starting to beef up. I cut 12 off the other two as well.

Thanks Barrie, you could grow one no problem, you'd just have to be a nut like me and build a greenhouse for it when it starts to get cold

Bill

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:36 am

Bill

I had to back off "clearing the trunk", although trunk "boots" look great especially on my Pygmy date palm trio.
Read somewhere not to rush it.

Your Nainital is a really nice specimen.
Odd pot. Originally housed a big orchid?

Barb

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:52 pm

That pot is a 30 gallon that one of my crape myrtles came in. They use vented pots in Florida for more air/growth. Way to big but it will be ok, I didn't want to dig it up when we leave here. I figured that's as close to planting it in the ground as I could get.

Bill

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:44 pm

Bill, if your Nainital grows like crazy, I'll punch holes in my pots too.

Barb

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:16 pm

Vented pot are supposed to make plants grow much better. Look into the Florida cool rings, it's not for looks for sure but there must be something online about why it works better for growth. I'm sure Todd see's them all over the place where he lives.

Bill

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:17 pm

Hey Barb, how do I get a weather underground under my posts?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:07 pm

Hi Bill,

Probably better to have slotted pots in areas where there's tons of rain.
I figured they were for "airy" plants like bromeliads, orchids and some of the parasitic ones that live up in trees in tropical areas.

Re the weather banner, go to wunderground.com , copy the code for the style you like, and paste it into your personal Palms North profile, in the box to the right of Signature (down the page a bit).
Precede the code with <img src=
then after the pasted code insert this one thing >
that closes it off.

Jim just did it and I think Jay helped him tweak it.

Looking forward to seeing your banner.
I'll send you the exact sticker link once I find it

Barb

OK Bill, found it!
here's the instructions:
http://wiki.wunderground.com/index.php/Weather_Stickers

I had to read the whole thing a couple of times, and still had to ask Jay for help.

I think you have to Register and create a account to find the weather sticker offerings. It's free.
By the way it's a neat site so you'll enjoy the pictures of your community that people post.

Good luck.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:33 pm

Thanks a ton Barb,
I'll take care of it after one of the best football games of the year! Can you tell I'm a Pats fan.

Thanks again,
Bill

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:51 pm

On the trachy, you don't need to put the lights on when it goes slightly below freezing. All my trachies survived a couple of nights at -10C last winter with no protection or without any heat. They suffered no damage at all.
Sometimes a little heat will get those trachies growing again even in the winter.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:54 pm

Ha ha, Bill, some Canadians are saying THEY just watched the best football game yesterday...when Sask. lost in the last 5 seconds because they had too many men on the field.
Something like that (you can tell I'm a fan...not).

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:53 pm

Yeah Barb,
The Pats looked awe full- good thing where afc not nfc! I'm still hoping for a afc game! Thanks Wes, my trachys are getting there first freezing rain of the season and I'm not in the least concerned. They will take some real cold here at my place before I worry. There rooted in pretty good and I believe in hardiness so they'll surely see teens before protection.

thanks
Bill

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:55 pm

My bad Wes you were referring to Ryan.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 2:50 pm

Testing banner

rp4111 · Post by **rp4111** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:00 pm

Hi Wes,
Thanks. I did have them out with no lights on a few nights that dipped into the 20's F. They are actually plugged into those "ThermoCubes". On at 35, off at 45.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:49 pm

My Trachys saw about 7(F) last winter.
They were hardened off as it was in Jan
I would advise covering them from moisture,esp early in the fall/winter season if temps are going below 25(F) after rain event.

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Palms and Garden Pictures November 28th (Massachusetts)

Palms and Garden Pictures November 28th (Massachusetts)

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