Poor bee and some pics

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:31 am

Amazing what you might find in the garden if you look close.......(day before)yesterday it was new spathes on the Needle palm and...........yesterday-this

I think he lost it in the high winds of the last few days!

What a way to go!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

You may have seen some of these plants before but...
they are new pics(grin)

My Castor bean plants have never been so large this
time of year...the trick is getting them through the(hopefully) few cold nights that are left...

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Has anyone tried a hardy(I think it's called "Hope") Philodendron?????

I found this at Wal-Mart for $10 but I am not sure if it is the same thing???????

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Amazingly-(for my area)these Washys have been uncovered since (at least)March 8th-just a few days(March 5th)after the snow and 5F at the airport event.

March 8th

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I was a little concerned they would get off to a
slow start since the leaves were all nuked last fall...........

I am not worried about that anymore(grin)

Here they are on 4-18-12

These leaves are freaking huge!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

These yellow flowers have an AMAZING sweet lemony smell-

_<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12038.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12035.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I wish I could get a good shot of how big this Agave is-I really love this plant!

Even after 2 years you could twist it on it's stem
but it is rock solid now and working on leaf #5 already!

"credit" card for scale.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12030.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12030.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12010.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Alocasia "Nigra" putting out it's first leaf-cool plant!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Calla "Hercules" also with it's first ("new home")-leaf.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12014.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Empress Wu Giant Hosta-first full season in ground.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

D.A. only T.fern left/growing right now.

There is a small chance the Cooperi's and Brownii will come back as they are still green.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Thai giant is coming alive

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Ran out of time but I wanted to post these too.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12017.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12017.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12018.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

S.McCurtain a.k.a. "little Larrick"

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12027.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12026.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Little bit more on the damage to the palms from the 5-12F cold and snow event of early March.

Only slight discoloring on the largest Fortunei.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12024.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The Waggie and smaller Fortunei had almost the same
level of damage...one leaf severed at the petiole
and the top of the next spear dicolored.

Waggie

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12021.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Fortunei

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12020.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Very close on the Nainital

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12022.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Leaves were partially severed on it-I think this shows how important spear movement/growth is.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12023.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:20 am

great plants Jim............your Washy's look great.........how big will those Hosta leaves get??

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:48 am

Wish seeing the such updates every week! Bravo, Jim!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:51 pm

That's called a Selloum Philodendron...I've got one.
Halfway down page here:
http://biologicalexceptions.blogspot.ca ... st-my.html

Great photo of that poor bee!
Very observant of you

Castor beans that big mid-April ????

Incredible!

Wow, those Washies after a month and a bit.
Spectacular size on the agaves.

Now put your credit card away...

your front yard already looks like mid-summer from other years

Congrats!
Barb

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 3:15 pm

Those Alocasia are going to look good.

I never heard of the "hercules" Calla. THAT is going to look good once it sizes up

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:03 pm

Great pics as usual, Jim! That Thai Giant should be huge this year!

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:34 pm

I always love seeing your pics Jim, you have an awesome garden, those palms are getting big.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:27 am

TimMAz6 wrote:great plants Jim............your Washy's look great.........how big will those Hosta leaves get??

Here you go Tim

http://www.empresswuhosta.com/

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:49 am

lucky1 wrote:That's called a Selloum Philodendron...I've got one.
Halfway down page here:
http://biologicalexceptions.blogspot.ca ... st-my.html

Great photo of that poor bee!
Very observant of you

Castor beans that big mid-April ????
Incredible!

Wow, those Washies after a month and a bit.
Spectacular size on the agaves.

Now put your credit card away...

your front yard already looks like mid-summer from other years

Congrats!
Barb

I can not see any difference in this one and the cold hardy ones.

I think the cold hardy are perhaps a more northern growing variety?????

That was a great article about how they raise there internal temps.......

it will need to tonight

James in Fleetwood · Post by **James in Fleetwood** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:14 pm

Awsome garden pics Jim. It sucks to be that bee though. :(

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:03 am

Hey jim, whats the pic above the arundo of?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:53 am

canadianplant wrote:Hey jim, whats the pic above the arundo of?

I believe that is a Peace Lily-one of those look what they had at Wal-Mart dealeo's!

The other obvious plant in the pic is Alocasia Amazonica

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:49 am

I wonder if a shrike impaled that bee? I'll see frogs like that on barb wire fence, and first thought is some demented person did it, but there's actually a bird responsible. Helps them hold it while they're eating, but I've seen many prey that was abandoned for whatever reason, and the birds never took a bite.

Your yards awesome, dunno how you manage. Must be a huge undertaking. That agave looks great and is an example of what is possible with great care.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:54 am

Holy crap... Ive never seen such wide leaves on a peace lily

As for the Amazonica, I kill those. Some people just cant grow somethings, and those are one of the few in my case

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:31 am

I think the Amazonica would already be on it's way out if I didn't cover it
everytime we drop below 40F....along with the Alocasia and Castors!

So far so good!

Look how far along these are in June-2010

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10018.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Mine have about 5 weeks until June 4(pictured)-it's not that important to get them started
early here...as these grew from the point they were in the picture-to over 6' in 3 weeks-actually 25 days............

June 29,2010
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Did you notice how small the Bamboo was then??????

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:27 pm

Wow Jim.

Impressive. Do you find removing the castor beans in the fall to be a pain in the ass? I grew them one year and cursed at the woody stumps and roots.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 4:41 pm

No,I just wait until Spring but your right,they
can be a major pain as they become small trees over the summer!

This year I have a little forest in the area on the west side

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:42 am

Mine definitely did not get that big, that fast LOL. I just left the stumps, theyll be great for vines to grow on top of.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:19 am

A few more pics.....

The bee from the other side

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 012006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 012006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Love this color-they may open today

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 012002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 012002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The purple Castors

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 012004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 012004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

One of the green C-beans

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:07 am

Oh, my G..! Your cactus is a real bee killer!

zomble · Post by **zomble** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:18 am

The poor Bee,

I love the yellow and pink plants Jim.

I found this for the size to expect of the Cala Hercules in case anyone wants to know.

http://www.strangewonderfulthings.com/107.htm

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:31 am

Thanks for the link-

thats basically why I bought it-love big leaved plants.

To bad the blooms are not as cupped as smaller versions but....

I think it more than makes up for that in other areas.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 12:07 pm

lucky1 wrote:That's called a Selloum Philodendron...I've got one.
Halfway down page here:
http://biologicalexceptions.blogspot.ca ... st-my.html

Great photo of that poor bee!
Very observant of you

Castor beans that big mid-April ????
Incredible!

Wow, those Washies after a month and a bit.
Spectacular size on the agaves.

Now put your credit card away...

your front yard already looks like mid-summer from other years

Congrats!
Barb

Hey Barb

I just found out that the Philodendron is for sure "Hope"-the hardy one

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat May 05, 2012 2:21 pm

Good that you've got the hardy one Jim.
Mine's not

Wait till you see the caudex that forms as they age...would make any cycad jealous

If I ever get through reading all the missed posts,

will post a photo of mine.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat May 05, 2012 3:23 pm

Thanks Barb

Glad you saw this!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat May 05, 2012 6:52 pm

Always love visiting your place Jim.

The photos give us all hope for a great growing season.
And your palms' comeback from spearpull is phenomenal.

This spring, I couldn't keep clover alive...

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue May 08, 2012 6:42 am

Yea,I just noticed a bunch more are pushing up their spears with authority now!

T.Tesan,if I can keep the WSM off this one it should be a beauty by fall-

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Tue May 08, 2012 6:49 am

Jim- I've probably asked this before, but what fungicide do you use?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed May 09, 2012 8:51 am

A timely question indeed-I was just noticing that almost every spear has come back
and all have pushed a big lug of blueish fungicide up with them.

Copper/slaked lime based Bordeaux

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri May 17, 2013 4:27 pm

In powder form.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri May 17, 2013 7:22 pm

Tesan isn't a good hardy candidate?
Or just prone to fungus?

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat May 18, 2013 7:27 am

lucky1 wrote:Tesan isn't a good hardy candidate?
Or just prone to fungus?

Barb

The palms are just so small-I have Tesan that are undamaged too.

I was looking at this last night because I was trying to see where the
Castor bean plants were at this time last year...they were already a foot
tall in April

....wow-because mine right now are a couple inches tall....

they do grow fast though

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat May 18, 2013 11:10 am

have Tesan that are undamaged too

That's encouraging, Jim.
Mine looks pretty good after winter in the cold building.

Castor bean plants were at this time last year...they were already a foot
tall in April

Your blistering heat started in March last year...no wonder they had such a start.
Remember you said it was too hot to go out and water?

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat May 18, 2013 3:06 pm

Yep-your right about that .....for sure.

more rain these days.......heres a shot of the Princeps

May 18th 2013

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/user/orbea6 ... a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... b24c2a.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 100_6447_zps39b24c2a.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/user/orbea6 ... b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... b0cccb.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 100_6431_zps87b0cccb.jpg"/></a>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat May 18, 2013 3:23 pm

That's incredibly beautiful, Jim.

Love the underside color.

If I recall, we both bought our seeds from Garry...good quality!

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat May 18, 2013 4:46 pm

Thanks Barb

I am enjoying watching it grow

This one is from Steve in Alabama.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat May 18, 2013 4:54 pm

This one is from Steve in Alabama.

Ah, yes, Steve has very fine quality plants.
Can't wait to see its size by September...as mine limps along its 2 year old puny stage.

Barb

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Sat May 18, 2013 7:19 pm

wish steve had a few more of them I just got a waggie from him and it was in fine shape also would love to have one of his princeps

RyanNiagara · Post by **RyanNiagara** » Sat May 18, 2013 8:49 pm

Nice update. Everything looks great.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Sun May 19, 2013 4:30 am

Its funny with this weather, all of my ever greens are exploding. where last year they stayed dormant. So far we have only had 2 days over 85F and my perenials love it. My ferns have never looked so good.

After seeing your princep again I had to go out and have a talk with mine.