Mini Preview... what does 11F do to a palm garden in the pnw?

what does 11F do to a palm garden in the pnw?  that was the question I was dealing with after some nasty cold that swept through the Fraser Valley.  Thankfully, most things are looking really great.  This was actually a really great test for me.  It kinda legitimizes my dreams of a tropical oasis actually.  It also goes to show just how hardy certain plants like trachycarpus fortunei actually are.

Like I said, all looks great, but time definitely will tell.  I really don't foresee any problems with them given how good everything looks.  I gave the central growing spears a good tug and they appear happy and healthy which is really what is important.  With palms however, damage can often take a long time to show itself, so I will keep checking up on them.

One of my greatest surprises was this little aloe aristata.  I had no idea how hardy it actually was.  Most websites claim it's zone 9a hardy but I have read that they have survived fine in some zone 8a locations in the US south which gave me some hope. There were some old school christmas lights turned on in close proximity to it which would have moderated temperatures slightly which I am sure helped it along. I am really excited about this one.  As for the echeveria glauca nearby.... it survived too!

Sadly, it's twin, just a few feet away has turned to absolute mush!  Stay tuned for some more updates... all the good bad and the ugly :P (yes, there is some ugly)!

Winter Hiatus!

Well it has been quite some time since my last post.  Truth be told, winter is not really my friend.  That is, the cold, the rain, the sleet, the ice, and pretty much everything else associated with winter seems to slow me down.  Fellow PNWesterners should know what I'm talking about.  Up until a week ago I was hoping that this year would be the winter without winter.  Boy was I wrong.  One foot of snow, and record cold of 11f later, and well, my winter hopes and dreams are shattered.  But you aint gonna crush my palm and exotic "ish" plant loving heart ( I say "ish" because I'm well aware llf freak show kinda temperatures inhibit truly exotic plants... oh but a person can dream!).

For those who read this, Christmas was GREAT and I hope it treated everyone else good too. Can you believe it was a month ago? Santa brought me a new camera, so hopefully it will limit gritty slightly out of focus iphone photos to a minimum.  Also, check this beauty out .... This wonderful planter was a christmas present from a great friend of mine! I was literally speechless!!

A close up.... this little sempervivum is a new favourite! I love the colourings! I hope it makes manny little baby sempervivums in the spring to scatter throughout my yard :)

On the subject of Christmas, I have another epic addition to my collection of beautiful things.  I picked up this treasure at Southlands nursery in Vancouver...  hanging in my christmas palms, it certainly feels right at home :)

With some agaves tucked inside for the winter, all was going well into the new year.... but the inevitable cold broke out with a vengeance.  Check back tomorrow to see what 11F can do to a palm garden in the pnw.... will things look the same?!