So do those banana trees grow that tall every year or did it take several years to attain that height?

Mike-My sabal minor is doing fine. It's in the ground, and it will stay there. I'm going to protect all of my larger in ground palms by stacking bales of hay around them in very cold weather. The least cold hardy palm I have is my windmill, which will be protected with a large plastic bag and some supplemental heating. That palm is planted too close to other bushes to use bales of hay stacked up. My Musa Basjoo is still standing as well. We've got down to 30 degrees a couple of times so far, and it hasn't shown much cold damage, but it's tattered by the wind. I'm not sure if i'll protect my yuccas. I have those 2 aloifolia I got from you, along with a gloriosa and a rostrata. I'll probably just protect the rostrata with an umbrella, if that. I'll protect my smaller sabal minors with straw mulch and overturned planters to keep them dry.

How's your palmetto doing? Did your needle ever come back?

Mike
Freeze headed this way too. all my plants are protected I think... hmmmm .

sgtksw05 these grow like that every year. This year I made the mistake of putting them out to early and they got hit by that early frost and died all the way back.

islandbreeze, the needle is still hanging on and the one palmetto that made it has 2 and a half leaves opened up on it. If it makes it through the winter next year should be good for it growth wise.

topher2006 we keep dodging the first frost here. goodluck

I cut my grass Sunday for the first time since late September. ironically it was the thickest and greenest it's been all year. I think it will look super next summer. Sabal Minors in the ground are doing fine.

Andy are you going to cover the sabal minors?

We had a heavy frost this morning. Went down to 27 over night. And forecast down to 32 again tonight. Then warming back up. I pulled all my potted plants inside but will put the big trachys back outside for another few weeks of full sun. The Majesty palms are probably in for the season because its just too much hassle to move them back outside. One of them has really gotten big and heavy.

Really looking forward to raking leaves every weekend for the next month. NOT. haha. But I hear its good excercise because it stretches your back and lateral muscles that you don't often use.

Also I'm really looking forward to all of your reports on palm progress through the winter. Especially you northern experimenters who have them in the ground.

Later,
Doug

Mike-
I will wjhen there is a threat of freezing rain or single digit temperatures. I will cover the ground around them with leaves to try and keep the ground from freezing. I was amazed at how a few inches of leaves kept the ground from freezing last winter on all but the coldest days and nights.

Cool lookin garden there! I imagine that summer in it must be BEYOND fun to sit under the bananas!

I was doing yard work yesterday--as the snow started to fall it was very surreal for someone who used to be a Florida gardener (and still is at heart). I don't have any palms here YET, but you guys inspire me!

I was mostly planting the hordes of perennials, groundcovers and shrubs that I used in my container gardens this summer. The Knock Out roses are thrilled to have a place in the ground, as are the many coral bells, ajugas, gaillardia, and hydrangeas.

Great day...I had forgotten how at this time of the year all you hear is HUSHHHHHHHHHHH :) and there was actually time to hear myself THINK.

Nice pics Mike -I see you out there in your yard smokin a stogie listening to the Cuban all stars...lol -Lots of nice plants - What do the kids think of all the plants

My wife and kids love it in the summer but in the winter I am on my own lol. Its funny you mention that I do listen to the afro-cuban all stars, all summer !! And I watch them sometimes live on satellite. :)

We have a thing in London called Sunfest and it brings in cultural music acts from all over the world. I went to it about 10 years ago and was exposed to Cuban music. now I have about 10 gigs of salsa and Latin Jazz.