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I've been bragging that my large Butia has grown like crazy all Summer.
For reference, here is how it looked coming out of our coldest winter in many years:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1J ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S7VBb ... GP1297.JPG" /></a>

And here it is this morning:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/u6 ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/THFBc ... AG0166.jpg" /></a>



--Erik

Nice!

Has grown a lot though. Love the dog, must be a very good friend.

Thanks, Aaron.
Yes, a very good dog. He does his best to keep animals out of the palm garden. I've taught him that chickens are allowed but not goats.
This new horse is, of course, a mini. She stands about 27" at the withers (the shoulder) and so is actually not that much bigger than the dog. I put her feed bucket below the jelly palm this morning to get this photo. I let her in my palm garden occasionally as she leaves all palms and exotics alone but loves to eat weedy grasses that pop up. She even knows to leave ornamental grasses (Miscanthus, Phyllostachys) alone--only weedy grasses are food. Got to like that.
Despite her being a Mini, yes, the pindo palm really has grown well. And is in fact bigger than a horse.
--Erik

That Butia gets lovelier and lovelier.
Seems to be getting bluer too.

Now that your temps have dropped to 94F, the pool will once again be refreshing
Are you fully recovered from your near heat-stroke?

Loved seeing pics of the dog and horse.
Presume the goats have made their last trip down the road?

Barb

Yes, dropped to about 95oF now with a NORTH breeze! Main thing is the humidity is going down; dewpoint is 72oF so the heat index is a mere 103oF here at 2 pm. Tomorrow should warm up again, but the TV meterologist says we'll cool down by the end of the week. I really suffered at that horse show yesterday, so the idea of highs of 90oF sounds really appealing.

Goats head to the butcher Thursday. They have stayed entirely out of the palm garden since W installed that new fence charger.

Back to Butia: yes, fantastic growth. The old but small "avatar" Butia is doing great despite the cold winter. A Butia that can take 3oF with no electric heat (but good cover) is something to be proud of. The large one in these photos was in a palm hut with heat tape on the trunk but the leaves still saw measured air temps into the upper single digits oF several nights in a row, but it got above freezing in there each day (despite highs well below freezing) thanks to the greenhouse-type design. I think it is doing so well as a result of coming through winter in good shape. Plus good soil, some palm fertilizer and LOTS of water.

It is indeed a bit bluer than before. I wonder if they can secrete/produce more of that waxy stuff when it is hot?

Anyways, the pool is down to 90oF so I'm about to take the boys away from their video game and go jump in the pool with them!
--Erik

Nice palm Erik! That thing has grown a lot!!! Do many other people near grow any palms??

Thanks, Scotty. I will do that YouTube video you asked about. I'm planning to do it near sunset, but am waiting for a cooler evening.
No, nobody does palms here in Bixby. Musa basjoo and Colocassia are very common, as are Magnolia, Crepe Myrtle etc. but not palms. The main palm for sale around here is Wasingtonia robusta which does not do well here. Also Phoenix roebellini--ditto. I think a lot of people try those (often labelled "cold hardy" as local nurseries get shipments intended for Dallas, where those are marginal) and get frustrated.
The local Tulsa Zoo does great with Sabal minor, but no local nursery sells our native palm. From various forums, I know someone else up in Tulsa has a Trachy and a couple people have Sabal "Birmingham." Francko's book shows some examples. The big Washingtonia he featured on one plate died despite getting more protection than he implied.
I'm planning a road trip to "Amazing Gardens" in Oklahoma City soon. I'll try to find out more about what they grow there, about halfway between here and Dallas. --Erik

That's amazing how much it's grown-
even if that is a small horse!

It has doubled its size overall. Trunk is more than twice as big (too bad I didn't measure it last year). I have not counted leaves, but the majority are from this year. Every couple of weeks I have to raise my estimated needed palm hut height!
I always read that Butia are slow growers, and I guess they are in comparison with something like a queen palm in Florida, but I have been astounded by this one in zone 7. I guess they really respond well to heat + water. --Erik

That jelly palm looks great Erik!!! I bet you'll get some seeds next year if you protect it as good as last year.

Bill

With the right conditions I am sure most plants that get what they need will not be slow growers-
as many of the peeps here on this forum have demonstrated!

I heard/read that A.parri was a slow grower but 20+ leaves this year squishes that!


......and that Butia!

Erik the cold winter it had might have sparked some survival growth this summer. Very nice palm. Thanks for the pics.


John

Hmm...I had not heard of "survival growth." What is it?

The near death cold scared the hell out of it! Plant hormones gone wild . But seriously if you have ever seen some palms that have been near the brink .Most will go into overdrive the next spring and summer.I have a Butia that had near spear pull this winter, spring2009/2010 15 gal. It has far out grown the healthy Butia that is the same size to get back to equilibrium.They were transplanted also at the same size and time this June. 1st pic near death Butia now pic. 2nd pic it`s sister butia. 3rd pic update on the large butia on steriods,one month of growth.
http://okanaganpalms.multiply.com/photo ... 28#photo=8
http://okanaganpalms.multiply.com/photo ... 8##photo=9
http://okanaganpalms.multiply.com/photo ... ##photo=10


John

Holy cow Erik lots of growth over the year, that's awesome! I'd love a Butia, they're so beautiful.

Heidi

Wow, John, that's ONE MONTH growth???

Came back gangbusters.

Did you give the recovering Butia the same amount of fertilizer as the healthier one?

Barb

Heidi,
definitely try a Butia. I think it would look great in your backyard, and you have the climate for it. Maybe plant it where it would get the most heat/sun. My avatar Butia was a 1-gallon plant from a nursery in Oregon, so I know they are being sold in that part of the continent. I do suggest getting the absolutely largest one you can. I love my little avatar Butia (US$18 ), but it gets lost in the landscape unlike the 15 gallon size (US$125) Butia I planted just 15 months ago.

John,
I still need to read more about survival growth. I had a great visit with Bryan of "Amazing Gardens" yesterday and we talked a lot about winter damage/recovery of palms. I do not understand much of what I heard and saw. I'll start a new thread on that topic, and we can chat more there about "survival growth."

--Erik

Hey thanks Erik, I'm definitely tempted. I did call our nurseries in search and lots of them haven't even heard of the variety of palm. SOO..I'm continuing on my mission...thanks again Erik!

Heidi

Heidi,
it is a quest. I did a long road trip yesterday to get a palm. Maybe you can drive to Seattle?
My big Butia came from a Home Depot. They had no idea what it was. I assume it was meant for Dallas and got up here by mistake.
My favorite locally-owned nursery is not much better. Their plant buyer is from California and so keeps ordering Washingtonia robusta and queen palm as that is all he knows.
--Erik

It is a frustrating mission I tell you. I just might have to make a trip to the US one of these days.

Home Depot does get a lot of cool plants in. I will try there too and hopefully come across a fluke find like you did!

Thanks again, I'll keep you posted! Oh what a party that will be when I get one! LOL

Heidi

Heidi,
It wouldn't hurt to ask at your local Home Depot. They are so big that they ought to be able to send up a plant there intended for somewhere else.
If you do take a road trip south, consider a visit to Cistus Nursery in Portland, Oregon if you go that far. They have great plants (but not cheap) and very knowledgeable staff.
There is probably something similar in Bellingham or Seattle, but I don't know that area well. --Erik

Thanks for all your great info Erik! Good idea to call Home Depot too. Also, Bellingham is way closer to the border so I'll check it out there too.

Heidi

Barb I gave them both of the Butia`s a dose of hydrogen peroxide and root booster after they had new growth. If there is a next time, I will do that and treat the crowns better before they show signs of new life. Erik that`s great you can visit Alligator alley. I have several Sabal louisiana six year old seed grown and now planted from A.a. Alligator alley is a legend in cold hardy S. louisiana and other palms grown in Oklahoma. Hopefully one day mine will eventually be as large as the original palms from them. Heidi if you want a Butia capitata and many other palms there is a guy near Victoria "Tropicole trading". Here is where I found it originally on another palm board . I would just ask the board members about him.
http://www.cloudforest.com/northwest/archive.html

John

Hey thanks John that's very helpful! I'll keep you updated!

Heidi