Summer PNW Updates

[Zach K]

While I enjoy seeing whatever is going on over in Texas or S. Carolina, are there any garden updates of the PNW that you all want to share? Maybe some cool progress shots or garden changes? Cheers!

[Las Palmas Norte]

Funny you should ask. I have started on a Ravenea rivularis (Majesty palm) planting complete with provisions to erect a winter shelter. I have to backfill and landscape this area to finish this project. Panels to be constructed this autumn.

 

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[SeanK]

The lower members are pressure-treated, right?

[Zach K]

That looks incredible! Best of luck on that. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

5 hours ago, SeanK said:

The lower members are pressure-treated, right?

Yes. I'll use it also constructing the winter framework. Aside from the difficult dig of the main planting hole (many heavy boulders), level, square and plumb are time consuming.

[teddytn]

11 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

Funny you should ask. I have started on a Ravenea rivularis (Majesty palm) planting complete with provisions to erect a winter shelter. I have to backfill and landscape this area to finish this project. Panels to be constructed this autumn.

 

Some pics refuse to load correctly.

Just had a majesty palm that size hanging around 🤣. Very cool seriously 

[Las Palmas Norte]

On 7/29/2023 at 4:05 AM, teddytn said:

Just had a majesty palm that size hanging around 🤣. Very cool seriously 

I grew it on from a store buy 3 years ago. So "Just had" ... does that mean you no longer have it? Did you sell it?

[teddytn]

2 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

I grew it on from a store buy 3 years ago. So "Just had" ... does that mean you no longer have it? Did you sell it?

Sorry that wasn’t clear. I was stunned by the size majesty that you planted, incredible. We had 2 in pots at work that frame the front entrance outside and then inside during the winter that I took care of. They ended up always being infested with mealy bugs and scale. They were maybe half the size of yours after a few years

[Las Palmas Norte]

It's grown quite well. The lower fronds are yellowing prematurely this year. I know they're somewhat prone to that in the early years of development. It's now planted in an area where it's out of the late afternoon hot sun. The trunk is triple the size it was 3 years ago.

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

I cut and installed corner braces and sprayed herbicide to clear growth. I'll fill in the gaps and back-fill with soil.

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[Las Palmas Norte]

Well, I think I'm finished. The enclosure panels for winter will be built later into autumn.

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by Las Palmas Norte

[matthedlund]

Seattle checking in here! For the most part, the garden's looking great. I have too many palms to share here without spamming folks, but here are some highlights. Not shown are Chameadorea microspadix, Chameadorea radicalis, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, Trachycarpus princeps, Parajubaea cocoides x Jubaea chilensis, Trithrinax campestris, and additional Butia odorata and Jubaea chilensis. The only notable damage was my larger Butia odorata got really bad cosmetic frond damage the last two winters. 

Butia odorata X Parajubaea torralyi

Jubaea chilensis 

Butiagrus nabonnandii

Butia odorata 

Mystery hybrid. Bought from Patrick as Jubaea chilensis X Syagrus romanzoffiana, but might actually be Jubaeas chilensis X Butia yatay.

[NWpalms@206]

Slow but steady progress Vashon island WA. Still Got a long way to go!

[Foxpalms]

On 7/29/2023 at 12:45 AM, Las Palmas Norte said:

Funny you should ask. I have started on a Ravenea rivularis (Majesty palm) planting complete with provisions to erect a winter shelter. I have to backfill and landscape this area to finish this project. Panels to be constructed this autumn.

 

Some pics refuse to load correctly.

What temperature do you plan on keeping it at over the winter? I'm Interested to see how this goes as I plan at some point to try Ravenea rivularis unprotected.

[Las Palmas Norte]

9 hours ago, Foxpalms said:

What temperature do you plan on keeping it at over the winter? I'm Interested to see how this goes as I plan at some point to try Ravenea rivularis unprotected.

Well I'd hope to keep the temperature no less than 40°F / 5°C during the coldest periods. If you're in a frost free area, you should have a fair degree of success. Good luck.

[Foxpalms]

11 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

Well I'd hope to keep the temperature no less than 40°F / 5°C during the coldest periods. If you're in a frost free area, you should have a fair degree of success. Good luck.

I have other raveneas other than ravenea rivularis and rivularis is supposed to be hardy to -5c, hopefully if I try one -2c on the worst winters and around 0c on a more typical winter should be fine. What I'm more interested in is if they can handle months of cool weather like archontophoenix can, which is why it will be interesting to see how this one does. 5c is the average winter low here for Dec,Jan,Feb.

[BeyondTheGarden]

My garden is in the process of being reluctantly abandoned.  Got a couple family photos done in the garden last month though.  

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

@Jesse PNW "reluctantly abandoned" sounds like a move to me. Would I be correct in making that guess? Looks like a lot of hard work has gone into the creating your exotic garden.

[BeyondTheGarden]

@Las Palmas Norte yes, moving across country and into a townhouse so no gardening for a year.  Except for some container palms that are going with me. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

That's going to be tough on an avid gardener. "One year", does that mean you'll be back to the PNW again?

[BeyondTheGarden]

Seasons of life, sometimes you have to make drastic changes to get from where you are, to where you want to be.

Anything's possible, but moving back to the PNW is not the plan at this time.  There are a lot of things I like about the PNW, and will miss.  There are also things I don't like (nowhere is perfect).  Our plan is to end up in Florida in 3 to 5 years.  

My in-laws are all up here and I've lived here basically since 2010, so part of me will always call the PNW home. Even when I'm hopefully lost in my own Floridian Jungle growing things that I never could up here. 

[ZPalms]

On 7/31/2023 at 8:45 PM, Las Palmas Norte said:

Well, I think I'm finished. The enclosure panels for winter will be built later into autumn.

 

 

 

What are those concrete things, I love this method of protection, It looks super doable!

[Manalto]

18 minutes ago, ZPalms said:

What are those concrete things?

They're called "deck blocks."

[ZPalms]

1 hour ago, Manalto said:

They're called "deck blocks."

Thank you!

[Las Palmas Norte]

2 hours ago, ZPalms said:

Thank you!

AKA - pier blocks. The biggest part of setting these in place is getting them square, centered, spaced equally and level. Like any foundation, the more accurate it is, the less trouble you'll have with the top construction. The center square hole accepts 4x4 posts.

[Trustandi]

Finally, I got some time to snap some pics from my garden in Bellevue, WA. I got some spear pulls on 2 butias (odorata and eriospatha), chamaerop, and butiaxparasunkha.  I didn't post photos of my other palms. *Wine bottle for scale. 

Spear pulled butia eriospatha

My other flawless butia eriospatha

Super mule x syagrus schizo

Filabustas

Sabal Riverside 1

Sabal Riverside 2

Butia x Jubaea and (butia x Jubaea)x syagrus

Brahea armata

Jubaea chilensis 

My biggest Jubaea chilensis

Twin butia odorata

New addition this year Patrick's Jubaea x (ButiaxSyagrus)

Butia x parajubaea cocoides 

My medium size brahea clara & butia x jubaea Wilcox hybrid

Butia x Parajubaea Sunkha got spear pulled but recovered already

Parajubaea x (butiaxjubaea)

Group photo of trachycarpus - butia odorata - sabal minor - brahea Edulis

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

It's a shame these in a local public park don't get regular watering. With extended drought the crowns don't fill out properly. I think the Musa basjoo is getting the lions share of the watering.

 

[Chester B]

A few shots from the back garden tonight. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

12 hours ago, Chester B said:

A few shots from the back garden tonight. 

I never completely give up on Washingtonia either. I've seen some get to a pretty decent size that have been winter overhead sheltered.

[Las Palmas Norte]

Now that Summer is officially over, it's time to start getting ready for winter events. I started on the enclosure framework for Ravenea rivularis. I'm going to design the roof today I have the 4 insulation panels ready to install when needed.

 

[BeyondTheGarden]

@Las Palmas Norte you probably mentioned this already, but what are you planning on using for supplementary heat?  Will you be monitoring temps in there?

[Las Palmas Norte]

37 minutes ago, Jesse PNW said:

@Las Palmas Norte you probably mentioned this already, but what are you planning on using for supplementary heat?  Will you be monitoring temps in there?

I'll  be using a string of C9 Xmas lights on a Thermo-Cube operating between 38°F to 45°F. (2°C to 7°C). I have a remote sensor if the need arises.