Photos Palms,Yuccas,Bananas May 2010

[Okanagan desert-palms]

I finally got around to taking photos of my palm collection today. I replaced three needle palms with two Sabal louisiana and one T. fortunei. I still have one more needle palm to dig up and replace with something before it croakes as well. I`m very dissapointed with the time and money I spent on these palms. "NOT" the most hardy palm in the world for me. Sabal minor planted two feet away is doing fine. I`m pretty much happy with how most of my other palms are doing. Here`s the photos.
http://okanaganpalms.multiply.com/photos/album/27


John

[DesertZone]

John,
As always, awesome palms. Sorry to hear about the needle-palms.

[TerdalFarm]

John,
fabulous collection. How many acres do you have for your palms?
The needle palm discussion caught my interest. I bought my first three last month. One palm enthusiast around here says his suffered no damage this winter, which was colder than normal. The new, small, needle palm at the Tulsa Zoo, however, which had a leaf enclosure, lost the main "trunk" although the pups on the side are fine. Tulsa Zoo Sabal minor (about 20 of them) came through the winter brilliantly with no protection at all.
--Erik

[ROBRETI]

John,

Great pictures, anyone could envy you for this collection. Nice, healthy plants. Congrats.

Rob

[hardyjim]

Everything looks great John.

I love all the Trachys!

[BILL MA]

John,
You really have a amazing collection going there!

I have a few questions for you.

What is all the weed fabric? around your palms. Is it really dry there like where Barb lives? If so I get it.

And my second question. If it is dry, and you protect your palms with a cover and not necessarily heat why did the needles croak? Did you leave them all out?
The trachys look to good for no protection. Sorry for the ton of questions but I'm not familiar with your climate.

I cover all palms here just in case need it or not I might be chicken about losing them.

Bill

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Thanks for all your replies. Erik we have 3/4 of an acre for my palm obsession. All of my needle palms lost their main spear after first winter and the suckers died the following winter. Maybe they would have done better if they were 15 gal. instead of the 5 gal. they were planted.Only Sabal`s and Trachy`s planted for me now. Bill I`m 40 miles south of Barb and yes we are very dry desert here with only 12 inches of rain yearly.Bill you must have misunderstood somehow that I don`t protect my palms in the winter. I use clear plastic with 2x2`s as a frame and heat with 200 watt infrared heat bulbs. The needles were treated the same as the Trachy`s and Sabal minor. The lowest temperature that all the palms experienced was -17.3 c near 0 f. two winters ago. here are some pics of my winter palm huts and photo`s from a couple years ago.
http://okanaganpalms.multiply.com/photo ... s#photo=11
http://okanaganpalms.multiply.com/photo ... ls#photo=1


http://okanaganpalms.multiply.com/photo ... ms#photo=1
http://okanaganpalms.multiply.com/photo ... s##photo=2

John

[BILL MA]

I recall now John, I'm don't know why I thought they stayed out. That would be too easy right That's weird with the needles then, they should go through no problem. I have one that somewhat crapped out too, not sure if it will come back from the main trunk. Babies are popping up fast so most likely not. Oh,well you win lots and lose little right

Bill

[Cowtown Palm Society]

Very cool collection John-thanks for the updated pics. So many beautiful plants and amazing diversity too! Keep up the great work!

Duncan

[lucky1]

Hey John, what a delight to see those palms and nanas and yuccas again.
Nice to see a yucca that's still blue, ha ha.

Sorry about the needles, doubly unusual because your microclimate is so good versus my "open land" situation with NO protection from hellish winds.
The place looks as beautiful as ever!
Glad to see your Bottle Palm is doing well too.

And yup...rain on my patio too.
We don't mind the rain (desperately needed), but the temps could be 20 degrees higher.

Don't forget to get the nana pups when you're driving through some time.
Thks for the pics!
Barb

[TerdalFarm]

When you bring Barb the nana pups, could you arrange for a photo of the two of you? --Erik

[lucky1]

Nah, Erik, we always just get drunk....(kidding).

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Duncan thanks for your nice comments. Keep us updated as to how your yuccas do. Barb The bottle palm kicked the bucket.I think it got to cold when I put it in the garage when I was doing some renos on the house in Feb. I really hate to lose such a nice palm or any palm for that matter.We will have to find a time soon when your not to busy for us to come and visit again. Thanks for the nana pups in advance. Erik I`ll see if I can get some pics of us after some cold beverages on a scorching hot day LOL.



John

[lucky1]

The bottle palm kicked the bucket.

WHAT???? Isn't that it at the left in the patio pic from your second storey window?????? Looked fine in the pic.

some pics of us after some cold beverages on a scorching hot day

No way. Pic BEFORE the beverages!
Tough to get a camera to take a pic UNDER a patio table, which is where we'll be
Looking forward to the visit.
Bring your sweetie...a super lady!
BTW, have you two set a date yet?????

To everyone: She's going to make an honest man of John and marry him. Attagirl!

Barb

[Okanagan desert-palms]

No date yet Barb.We are still living in sin LOL. She`s looking forward to spending time with you as well. That pic you refered to is not the bottle palm .I wish it was. Now we just need some heat to get real thirsty!




John

[lucky1]

still living in sin

you turkey!

We got one massive storm last night, really black clouds (again) at dusk.
Within an hour, lightning and thunder that you could feel in your feet.
And more rain.

Yep, we need heat.

I'm already practising being thirsty

Barb