End of season update from Cheshire, England.

[Dave-Vero]

Seems a likable area. That old canal system is impressive. There were attempts to build similar canals in the early US, but the one up the Potomac River washed away periodically, one connecting across Pennsylvania (with a sort of boat lift for a short stretch) was undone by railroads. Only the Erie Canal connecting New York to Lake Erie peristed. it's still in use.

Partly because the Florida county north of us is very involved with surfing (and surfers tend to visit Costa Rica and come back wanting tropical gardens full of palms and heliconias), there's a bit of a connection between Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, and Cornwall. Not that our surfboard shapers are exporting any significant number of boards.

[JT in Japan]

Here is an update for the garden in video form and my first ever video in winter. I have used commentary this time so I hope I don't sound too stupid. We have had a pretty mild winter up until boxing day and then a cold snap with snow and overnight frosts for 4 nights, unfortunately this happened when I was away and was unable to protect my plants. Hope you like the videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWbgqC0Cir8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWbgqC0Cir8

Great tour, John. Thanks for the tour. Good to see late/cold seaason progress.

JT

[cheshirepalms]

Here's a spring update on the garden, a few new plants and surprises. My Musella Lasiocarpa is flowering and washingtonia robusta and a seed grown avocado both survived the winter. I've also extended my arid bed and planted Aloe Striatula and Aristata. Everything else is looking pretty good despite a cool start to the spring here in northwest England.

[Ryland]

I'm late getting back. Timber's principal book is Palms Won't Grow Here. They also have an Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants for Temperate Climates

Canary date palms survive serious freezes, but brief dry ones, in Florida, as far north as Jacksonville, at least. I recall seeing a big Canary in the town square at Arcata, California, and here they are. Google Street View. Don't ever recall seeing any in Oregon, although people there have grown our rather tough Sabal minor, which normally lacks an above-ground trunk.

Since I was looking up Arcata, also checked Ellesmere. An industrial facility being built that takes advantage of the Shropshire Union Canal? My gosh, we have hardly any commercial traffic on our Intracoastal Waterway, despite high bridges.

By the way, a lot of prickly pears (Optuntia) are quite hardy. Our common eastern Opuntia humifusa ranges to Massachusetts, and a small one gets into Alberta.

Having recently moved to Altrincham (in January) I have been looking for examples of people growing palms locally - it was a pleasure to see your photos, John. It's a very good use of the space you've got, and it is good to see that everything seems to come through the winter well. I'm currently renting but if I am able to buy a house in several years I hope to do something similar! Looking back on the posts in this topic, you mentioned some palms about 15 miles from you and added a few photos - unfortunately, I can't see the photos - I wonder where specifically these palms are?

Following on from your comment Dave - I used to live in Arcata, California and there were many happy Canary Island Date Palms. They also live quite happily all the way up the Oregon coast and I've heard a few of them are grown successfully in mild parts of Washington, where the climate is similar to England. Just for a little inspiration attached is a photo of a Canary Island Date Palm in Brookings, Oregon, which I took in 2008.

[Dave-Vero]

That Brookings palm is a bit of a surprise to me, but the southern Oregon coast seems to have a climate that's always about 10º C. Ocean would get a bit warmer in summer. Portland (where I lived) was too cold in winter for much of anything but Trachycarpus, though someone apparently had happy saw palmetto (Serenoa repens, from Florida) in Eugene.

I narrowly missed visiting Plant Delights nursery near Raleigh, North Carolina, which industriously sells warm-looking plants for climates where it can briefly get horribly cold. That's the pattern in southeastern North America. I remember Chapel Hill getting down to -17 or so. There's a Trachycarpus and Rhapidophyllum growing together in the botanical garden. The trachy is flowering.

[cheshirepalms]

I'm late getting back. Timber's principal book is Palms Won't Grow Here. They also have an Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants for Temperate Climates

Canary date palms survive serious freezes, but brief dry ones, in Florida, as far north as Jacksonville, at least. I recall seeing a big Canary in the town square at Arcata, California, and here they are. Google Street View. Don't ever recall seeing any in Oregon, although people there have grown our rather tough Sabal minor, which normally lacks an above-ground trunk.

Since I was looking up Arcata, also checked Ellesmere. An industrial facility being built that takes advantage of the Shropshire Union Canal? My gosh, we have hardly any commercial traffic on our Intracoastal Waterway, despite high bridges.

By the way, a lot of prickly pears (Optuntia) are quite hardy. Our common eastern Opuntia humifusa ranges to Massachusetts, and a small one gets into Alberta.

Having recently moved to Altrincham (in January) I have been looking for examples of people growing palms locally - it was a pleasure to see your photos, John. It's a very good use of the space you've got, and it is good to see that everything seems to come through the winter well. I'm currently renting but if I am able to buy a house in several years I hope to do something similar! Looking back on the posts in this topic, you mentioned some palms about 15 miles from you and added a few photos - unfortunately, I can't see the photos - I wonder where specifically these palms are?

Following on from your comment Dave - I used to live in Arcata, California and there were many happy Canary Island Date Palms. They also live quite happily all the way up the Oregon coast and I've heard a few of them are grown successfully in mild parts of Washington, where the climate is similar to England. Just for a little inspiration attached is a photo of a Canary Island Date Palm in Brookings, Oregon, which I took in 2008.

DSCN2795.JPG

They are on the Wirral, in West Kirby and New Brighton. Not sure why the pictures have been removed, it wasn't me for sure. These are a bit dated from November 2013, an update is in order as they are larger now. As well as palms there are Yucca Elephantipies and Agave Americana of some size in various areas. Its much milder there than at mine and even more so than Altrincham bare in mind. I protect my CIDPs during severe cold.

[Dave-Vero]

I recall a bed at the Harlow Carr garden in Harrogate with plants arranged by introduction date. Yucca gloriosa was early, from before English colonization (perhaps via Spain). It was thriving, despite being a mild-climate coastal species, mainly South Carolina and west Florida, where it's rare and some cultivated plants were recently "rewilded."

Last week, I was also at the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where there's been a fashion for planting Sabal palmetto, which is native as far north as (almost) Wilmington. I mostly saw corpses at Kill Devil Hills. They'd probably grow well at Cape Hatteras.

[cheshirepalms]

It would be really interesting to see how you bed those palms down for the winter. You say you wrap some? How about some pics of your prep, the how and the when...?

Lovely garden!

JT

I finally got round to finding a picture of my protection method, allowing for airflow and taken off usually daily as and when required.

[Yunder Wækraus]

Whereabouts in County Durham do you hail from?

[Ryland]

I'm late getting back. Timber's principal book is Palms Won't Grow Here. They also have an Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants for Temperate Climates

Canary date palms survive serious freezes, but brief dry ones, in Florida, as far north as Jacksonville, at least. I recall seeing a big Canary in the town square at Arcata, California, and here they are. Google Street View. Don't ever recall seeing any in Oregon, although people there have grown our rather tough Sabal minor, which normally lacks an above-ground trunk.

Since I was looking up Arcata, also checked Ellesmere. An industrial facility being built that takes advantage of the Shropshire Union Canal? My gosh, we have hardly any commercial traffic on our Intracoastal Waterway, despite high bridges.

By the way, a lot of prickly pears (Optuntia) are quite hardy. Our common eastern Opuntia humifusa ranges to Massachusetts, and a small one gets into Alberta.

Having recently moved to Altrincham (in January) I have been looking for examples of people growing palms locally - it was a pleasure to see your photos, John. It's a very good use of the space you've got, and it is good to see that everything seems to come through the winter well. I'm currently renting but if I am able to buy a house in several years I hope to do something similar! Looking back on the posts in this topic, you mentioned some palms about 15 miles from you and added a few photos - unfortunately, I can't see the photos - I wonder where specifically these palms are?

Following on from your comment Dave - I used to live in Arcata, California and there were many happy Canary Island Date Palms. They also live quite happily all the way up the Oregon coast and I've heard a few of them are grown successfully in mild parts of Washington, where the climate is similar to England. Just for a little inspiration attached is a photo of a Canary Island Date Palm in Brookings, Oregon, which I took in 2008.

DSCN2795.JPG

They are on the Wirral, in West Kirby and New Brighton. Not sure why the pictures have been removed, it wasn't me for sure. These are a bit dated from November 2013, an update is in order as they are larger now. As well as palms there are Yucca Elephantipies and Agave Americana of some size in various areas. Its much milder there than at mine and even more so than Altrincham bare in mind. I protect my CIDPs during severe cold.

That Brookings palm is a bit of a surprise to me, but the southern Oregon coast seems to have a climate that's always about 10º C. Ocean would get a bit warmer in summer. Portland (where I lived) was too cold in winter for much of anything but Trachycarpus, though someone apparently had happy saw palmetto (Serenoa repens, from Florida) in Eugene.

I narrowly missed visiting Plant Delights nursery near Raleigh, North Carolina, which industriously sells warm-looking plants for climates where it can briefly get horribly cold. That's the pattern in southeastern North America. I remember Chapel Hill getting down to -17 or so. There's a Trachycarpus and Rhapidophyllum growing together in the botanical garden. The trachy is flowering.

Trachy and needle at NCBG.jpg

Thanks for the photos John - they look great! I'll have to go see those someday. Canary Island Date Palms are pretty tough but when it gets very cold a bit of protection can help. There is one I planted in my mother's garden in Ashland, Oregon where it survived (completely defoliated) -18ºC a couple years ago with a similar protection method to yours. Her Washingtonia robusta on the other hand is a towering 12 feet or so! I'll have to put some photos up next time I visit. I know there was at least one CIDP in Sheffield but I don't think it made it through the winter of 2010. I think northwest England might fare a bit better in the coastal areas.

Dave - yes the southern Oregon coast never gets hot but also never cold - ocean temperature ranges from 9-12ºC throughout the year. I used to go on holiday there at any time of year. Brookings' all time record low is -8ºC/17ºF. Nice winter daytime temperatures around 13ºC/55ºF so the CIDPs are a bit happier there than in the UK.

[cheshirepalms]

Whereabouts in County Durham do you hail from?

Born in Bishop Auckland, moved to Spennymoor, then Ashington and finally Cheshire. Newcastle United fan and a big soft spot for Darlo.

[Palm crazy]

Brookings is 9b/ sunset 17, and they get into the 70’s in January ever year. The upper coast in Oregon is 8b, middle 9a and lower part 9b. Where as Washington state is only 8b and small pockets (mid coast) are 9a. The worst thing for both states are very strong winds during winter storms.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Palm crazy

[Axel Amsterdam]

I'm late getting back. Timber's principal book is Palms Won't Grow Here. They also have an Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants for Temperate Climates

Canary date palms survive serious freezes, but brief dry ones, in Florida, as far north as Jacksonville, at least. I recall seeing a big Canary in the town square at Arcata, California, and here they are. Google Street View. Don't ever recall seeing any in Oregon, although people there have grown our rather tough Sabal minor, which normally lacks an above-ground trunk.

Since I was looking up Arcata, also checked Ellesmere. An industrial facility being built that takes advantage of the Shropshire Union Canal? My gosh, we have hardly any commercial traffic on our Intracoastal Waterway, despite high bridges.

By the way, a lot of prickly pears (Optuntia) are quite hardy. Our common eastern Opuntia humifusa ranges to Massachusetts, and a small one gets into Alberta.

Having recently moved to Altrincham (in January) I have been looking for examples of people growing palms locally - it was a pleasure to see your photos, John. It's a very good use of the space you've got, and it is good to see that everything seems to come through the winter well. I'm currently renting but if I am able to buy a house in several years I hope to do something similar! Looking back on the posts in this topic, you mentioned some palms about 15 miles from you and added a few photos - unfortunately, I can't see the photos - I wonder where specifically these palms are?

Following on from your comment Dave - I used to live in Arcata, California and there were many happy Canary Island Date Palms. They also live quite happily all the way up the Oregon coast and I've heard a few of them are grown successfully in mild parts of Washington, where the climate is similar to England. Just for a little inspiration attached is a photo of a Canary Island Date Palm in Brookings, Oregon, which I took in 2008.

DSCN2795.JPG

Hi, there are even two old queens growing in Arcata. They are probably the most northernly growing syagrus in the US i think.

[Dave-Vero]

A hotel in Seaside, Oregon spent a lot on palms maybe 5-10 years ago. Could be interesting to do an update.

[Ryland]

Oregon's coast is a good example of growing palms in cool climates. I think overall it will be a bit harder here in Northern England because whilst the summers are like the Oregon coast, the winters are cooler and frostier - though still remarkably mild for this latitude. Ellesmere Port is definitely a better place to try than the northeast though!

Just for interest I've found a few more photos in my library of palms doing well on the Oregon/Northern California coast. The first is the northernmost Archontophoenix cunninghamiana that I know of in Brookings, Oregon, with the edge of a Syagrus (so they get at least as far north as Brookings). Next is a large Butia capitata in Eureka, California, followed by the two Syagrus in Arcata, California mentioned by Axel Amsterdam.

[Yunder Wækraus]

Whereabouts in County Durham do you hail from?

Born in Bishop Auckland, moved to Spennymoor, then Ashington and finally Cheshire. Newcastle United fan and a big soft spot for Darlo.

[Yunder Wækraus]

Wow! I lived in Ashington for two months in 1997, and I commuted to Bishop Auckland every six days a week from Newton Aycliffe (can't remember the spelling) in 1998. (And I once watched a musicl performance in Spennymoor!) I didn't think I was in palm country back then

[cheshirepalms]

A summer update with some commentary, I hope you enjoy it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOgRuhkR3J4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxQ-MDKRDt4

[_Keith]

Nice to watch a story unfolding. Keep on posting.

[Dave-Vero]

I'm reminded of a great big fig near my house in Portland, Oregon. It may have benefitted from the sunny, dry and vaguely warm summers. A typical afternoon might reach 26.

At the time, Portlanders were big on trying to grow Hebe from New Zealand, which proved a bit tender for the climate. For Cheshire, I wonder about Yucca gloriosa (seems happy in Harrogate) and Yucca filamentosa, a smaller and less nasty plant with the potential for impressive inflorescences, not that mine have bothered. Perhaps I should set fire to them--they do grow in fire-prone Florida pinelands.

[cheshirepalms]

I'm reminded of a great big fig near my house in Portland, Oregon. It may have benefitted from the sunny, dry and vaguely warm summers. A typical afternoon might reach 26.

At the time, Portlanders were big on trying to grow Hebe from New Zealand, which proved a bit tender for the climate. For Cheshire, I wonder about Yucca gloriosa (seems happy in Harrogate) and Yucca filamentosa, a smaller and less nasty plant with the potential for impressive inflorescences, not that mine have bothered. Perhaps I should set fire to them--they do grow in fire-prone Florida pinelands.

Yes I have a Yucca gloriosa in the back and a Yucca gloriosa variegatea I the front, both in the videos. Very hardy beyond -15c and don't seem to mind my wet winters.

[cheshirepalms]

Its not been a great summer, but its certainly not been horrendous and certainly nothing unusual. Just normal summer conditions we'd expect in the UK, some cool periods, some wet and some warm or even hot days on a few occasions. Far too much whingeing about the weather, it is what it is. We'd don't live in the Med so where the expectations for endless days of hot sunshine come from I'm not sure. . Anyway rant over, today has been warm and sunny so I've done a video update for the garden. The palms are certainly growing quicker than any year so far as is the Musa Basjoo. I've not had the time I've had in previous years and it is a little rough round the edges. Hope you enjoy the videos and that your gardens are flourishing!  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejz7bMBdBzg

[Ben in Norcal]

Looks great!