Some Pics

[Paul Ont]

A few pics from early August... Didn't have any time to take any this weekend, but it's about time that I posted something!

Miscanthus gigantus:
<img src="http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/46604 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="181">

Yucca pallida recovering nicely:
<img src="http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/47458 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="182">

A few cacti:
<img src="http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/44157 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="188">

Seedling Yucca gloriosa (or recurvfolia) that I mass planted to select for the hardiest... It didn't work since we had such a mild winter:
<img src="http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/45072 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="190">

Yucca 'elata':
<img src="http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/44323 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="187">

Yucca recurvfolia x filata #1:
<img src="http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/44822 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="192">

#2:
<img src="http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/25511 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="193">

Paw-Paw:
<img src="http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/39249 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="197">

Musa basjoo... Disappointingly small...
<img src="http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/46566 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="204">

Phyllostachys aureosulcata (regular and spectibilis) with needle and minor in the foreground:
<img src="http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/43899 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="207">

Bamboo test bed... The Hostas will be moved into the woodland eventually, but they help keep weeds down for now:
<img src="http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/22114 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="206">

Gotta love elms...
<img src="http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/4971/ ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="211">

[BILL MA]

I've wondered what you've been up to Paul!

Good to see some pictures, that grass is giant. How tall is it?

You have a very nice cacti collection. Are the barrel cacti hardy or do they need a cover to keep them dry?

The bamboo up against the house has gotten bigger too, do you think it will still need to be bent down or are they getting thick enough to stay upright?

Nice Job!

Bill

[Paul Ont]

Bill- In the pic the grass is perhaps 9 feet, it's over 10 now. The barrel types that I grow are 100% hardy, nothing in that bed gets winter protection. SOme of the larger Opuntia types are taken in since they're still in pots... My plan is to, eventually, cross these with some of the bullet proof. I tried my first this summer which is humifusa x stricta (I think). Interested to see if the seeds take!

The boo's are still able to bend to the ground, AND, as a bonus I can bend the spectibilis down on top of the test bed for extra protection!

Thanks!

[TerdalFarm]

Paul,
thanks for sharing.
That is a huge Miscanthus! I just have M. sinensis, and after seeing yours want to try the gigantic one.
Lots of great yucca and cacti. I've set aside space for some in the future but am still doing research, so I enjoy seeing what can be done.
I also want to try bamboo again. more research....
My Musa basjoo have also been a bit disappointing this year. Not bad, just not what I'd hoped for. For what its worth, yours look better then mine do here at 35oN latitude.
The needle and S. minor palms looks fine, but of course I'd like to see more of them.


--Erik

[Paul Ont]

Erik- Get M. gigantus, it's the most rewarding plant that I grow!

Here are a few more pics of some various Magnolias I'm trying... Most of these are borderline/not-hardy:
Magnolia tripetala:

Another M. tripetala showing the large leaves up to ~2 feet (sorry for the focus):

BBB:

Cactus bed overview from the East:



Needle, it almost looks like a palm:


Magnolia 'biloba' - gets leaves to ~2':


More interesting than exotic is the only Canadian native Magnolia, M. acuminata. This one is grown from Canadian seed so should be fully hardy!


Bonus pic: heptacodium, the Crape Myrtle of the north!
http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/8609/ ... 500Q85.jpg

[hardyjim]

Cactus bed looks terrific!

How did you protect your Needle last winter?+ looks good!

[Paul Ont]

Jim- The needle was in a 'Palm House' which will be insulated this coming winter... I add water jugs and mini-lights to keep the temp above -15C.

Thanks!

And hey- I am starting to come around about the seedling leaf thing in Trachycarpus. I looked over 100 T. fortunei (B.C. source) and the number of ridges is fairly consistent. Of the 100 seedlings I counted 98 had 4 ridges, 1 had 3 ridges, and 1 had 5 ridges! I'll just have to do the same counts of other species to convince myself!

[hardyjim]

I think in some cases there could be a genetic weakness/under-developement....
but it's pretty reliable so far as far as who's a 2 ridger and who's not-some ????'s
as far as hybrids go though.


Garry's findings with Winsan are very interesting too!

He is in a unique place to observe these palms as he basically can walk out his front door
and whoop,dair it is!


Have you tried any Tesan yet?

Very unique growth habit, will be very interesting to see a mature plant up close.

[DesertZone]

Nicely done Paul.

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Paul thanks for posting those pics. I really liked the desert theme you got going with the cactus and yuccas. La nina is predicted for this this winter. I hope our plants survive what should be colder than normal temps.



John

[hardyjim]

It could be colder than normal here and be warmer than last year


Forecast from here to the Northeast is warmer than normal this winter-

that would be a welcome change!

[Paul Ont]

Welcome change? What are you talking about? I had a much warmer than normal winter last year... I really hope it's not colder than normal, I dread the next -30C (-20f) event.

[TerdalFarm]

I relied on the El Nino this time last winter; all we got was above normal precipitation from it, while that AO I had never heard of before brought the temps here down. Still, it was a zone 7 winter despite being the coldest in many years. So, I tell myself that even with Lan Nina, it has to be better than last year.
W has schemes for winter protection based on life in Michigan, but that is for another thread. As for this thread, again, well done. With all the watering I'm doing lately, cacti and yucca seem very appealing about now....
--Erik

[hardyjim]

It could be colder than normal HERE and be warmer than last year


Forecast from HERE to the Northeast is warmer than normal this winter-

that would be a welcome change!

PAUL,I HIGHLIGHTED THE WORD IN THE SENTENCE THAT HELPS EXPLAIN WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT-HOPE THIS HELPS you UNDERSTAND.

[Paul Ont]

I focused on this part: "Forecast from HERE to the Northeast is warmer than normal this winter-" because I hope it's right!

I do hope you're warmer than last winter Jim... As long as it doesn't mean that my area has to be colder!

[BILL MA]

Nice Mags Paul!

That's a good way to get them established by starting small and getting them used to winter up there.

Bill

[lucky1]

Hey Paul that desert bed has sure filled in over the last couple of years.
Nice specimens that look so healthy, obviously great siting.

Huge miscanthus! bet you wished it was in the fenceline border

[hardyjim]

Paul

If the last few years are any indication,the cold has been staying(in winter) where ever it
sets up in summer(we'll see),this may mean out west.

Of course this could be wishful thinking on my part(when isn't hoping for a mild/warm winter wishful think? )
but it has worked out that way the last 3 years.

It would be nice to have a more moderate winter so my plants could get a nice jump on summer/2011.