I don't have any experience in this matter (cymbidiums), but here's a link from the AZ Orchid Society (actually, I think it's OS of AZ) that sheds some light by way of Q and A. If I understand correctly, you have a snowball's chance in H*** of growing these outdoors unless you have a greenhouse. Your plants sound beautiful and it may be worth it to build 'em a GH so you can continue your father's legacy.

As for dracenas, it may depend on what you've got. I've had them indoors and out. If they've all been indoors and pampered, they may have a difficult time making a transition to an outdoor life. Got any photos?

Here is a link that might be useful: Some answers, perhaps?

Thanks for the link Tomato. I was thinking it was going to be way too hot there for the cymbidium from what I could find. But, they are a legacy thing, you are right, so I'll look into it more and maybe see if I can put a greenhouse on the property.

So - can you grow those tiny baby sugar grape tomatoes that I've only found in the midwest. Those are to die for. I can't remember the exact name but they were oval shaped like what I know a grape tomato to be, but were very small and unbelievably sweet. I miss them. I used to get them at a local farmer's market and they would hang on to two baskets for me because they sold out so fast and I couldn't get there until late in the day. Yum!

Dracena - largest is about 6.5ft.
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And speaking of legacy, this one was given to my mom by a cousin about 13 years ago. Mom passed away 3 years ago and I've had it since then. It lived in her house but I've had it out on the patio that doesn't get too much sun. It will be living in the house when I move to Tucson because I'm going to keep it alive. One of the others in the pic above was one my dad had had, and the rest I've had for 7+ years since they were small.
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The cymbidiums - and I was afraid the chance was slim to none. Dad gave about 20 or 30 away before I knew what he was doing and so I got the last 2 or 3 which I have divided. They are about ready to be divided again. Unfortunately there are only 2 varieties and I can't find the names right now.
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OK... off to check out the link and small greenhouses.

Oh, wow; what beautiful - and *big* plants. I'd be making a greenhouse, for sure. If you need one fast and relatively inexpensive, you might try Harbor Freight. Not a thing of beauty, but might work for your plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: greenhouses

Thanks Tomato! And thanks for the vote to make a greenhouse. I looked around a bit earlier at greenhouses and then thought I was crazy to be considering a greenhouse just to save the cymbidiums. But, I like to garden and think it might be fun for other things too. I guess I'll have to have a fan and a mist system to keep it cooler, and it would be easier to just give them away, but I think I'll plan on moving them. The worst that can happen is they will die. :(

But... if you divide them and give some to a friend in CA, you will have your legacy plants where you can always get more if your first tries don't work. I'd do it ASAP so they have a chance to get settled in before you move and not deal with added stress.

Do you know about swamp coolers, beeps?

Not a bad idea to leave a few here in CA for safe keeping!

I think my grandfather had a swamp cooler in his house on his ranch... the one with no running water and an outhouse. =) Where a fan runs through a thing with water in it? :) I'll go google it. Yep, pretty much what I thought.

That means I have to run electric to any greenhouse I might put in... which I would have thought I would put at the back of the property. >:/ Always somethin'....

They have reaaaallllly long extension cords, lol. There are also fans that have water sprayers on the front of them (see link below - BTW, they do come much cheaper than you can see on my link, unless you're going to go pro).

From past greenhouse experience, I'd put it as close to the house as you can. And if it's in a place that gets a lot of winter sun, you can heat your house off of it if you put it over a door or window that can be closed in the summer ...

I have Dracena's on my patio, they do fine all summer, it's winter they can't take. I'm in Casa Grande, hotter summers, colder winter's. My husband sorta shrink wraps the patio for winter (staples up plastic all around with flap for entry at the end) this worked like you can't believe, was cheapest gardening work around we have done. Mine look great and wintered fine. Don't really know what Cymbidiums are, will have to look them up..

The MOTH made a greenhouse one winter using a scaffold frame and heavy clear vinyl. It worked great! I may have to drag that thing out again this winter - if we actually have any winter.

Thanks for the ideas and info. It sounds like my HOA won't allow any structure on my property but if I can make something that will stay below the fence line (which is actually a wall so you can't see through) I can probably get away with it. So really almost 6' tall. I can deal with that.

So it sounds like Dracena will do ok in summer, may have problem in winter, and Cymbidium may be the opposite. Sheesh. Honestly the Dracena I could place in the house, the cymbidiums are too big so just need to keep them cool in hottest part of summer. Well, April - Sept maybe! :) But, they will be done blooming so could live in a small greenhouse or just with that shade stuff maybe. =) Sounds like I can make it work.

I looked hard for a place with no HOA, not easy anymore, and most sure aren't good to gardeners. Plant trees if you can, decidious, for sun in winter and shade in summer. If you have a covered patio you can turn that into a green house for wintering over. Good luck with everything..

I just did some research on the Cymbidiums, wow, beautiful! If it was me, I would bring some and try, sounds like cool is not a problem, but in the summer, maybe, on the patio(or shaded area) with a water feature nearby for humidity, you might just manage, worth a try for something precious.

Thanks quote. You are right - so hard to find non-HOA homes in a city area. They are nice so that you don't end up next door to the purple house with the pink trim and 4 broken down cars on the front lawn, but other than that I'm not a fan. But, there is one where I'm building so it is what it is, unfortunately. It sounds like they may get fussy about trees, but I'll fight them on that. The view isn't all that, frankly! And if only the cymbidiums and dracena weren't my mom and dad's they would be easier to part with. Because of the legacy factor I really want to try and keep them going. Kind of funny I feel that way, but I do. :)

My dearest, darling brother-in-law used to say the best way to beat an HOA is to get on the board yourself. He did that, and doesn't say that anymore, lol....

Really, beeps - qt-raven's idea is perfect, I've seen many patios converted to rather pleasant temporary greenhouses with just strategically places plants and plastic.

As for the cymbidiums, you might want to place a few plants with some of the gardeners here, too, knowledgeable ones, lol.... yeah, that counts me out, but I wonder if Grant couldn't unlock the secrets. I'm still struggling along with a Wilsonaria and a Beallara Marfitch "Howards Dream" with no luck at getting a bloom out of them *sigh*...

Thanks Pagancat, it did really work awesome. And it did keep the house warm, lol. We didn't have to turn on the heater all winter. So two birds. And fostering some out to the more expert among us is a great idea! Find out fast what trees you can plant and get them in, cool things down, the more green the cooler. I wouldn't mind a purple house, lol. But not the cars. Painted mine dark terracotta, thought the neighbors would all faint, now they say it's beautiful. Not funny you feel that way Beeps, I would feel the same, it's nice to have a family legacy of whatever kind. Wish you the best of luck with everything.

No HOA for me, now or ever. My ex-neighbors - architect/builders - painted their house and oversized garage barn red. Then they bought the small house next door and painted it mustard yellow and trimmed it in royal blue. There's not a redneck anywhere near with a house that repugnant, lol! Anyhow, the suggestion to plan an attached 'sunroom' is terrific. It could solve all your plant problems and save on your heating bill. Great idea!