WINTER 1999-2000

This years winter has been generally kind to the garden. The lowest temperature being -7 but this only for a short period. It has also been wet and windy but thankfully we havent had any prolonged frosts and the garden has come through unscathed.

Palms....

• Trachycarpus Fortunei....no damage started new growth in April.

• Butia Capitata....no damage continued growing all winter.

• Brahea Armata....no damage started new growth in April.

• Chamaerops Humilis....no damage started new growth March.

• Phoenix Canariensis....no damage new growth yet to start.

Tree Ferns....

• Dicksonia Antarctica....no damage, fronds remained green all winter on both plants. New fronds starting to emerge at the end of April.

Bananas....

• Musa Basjoo....the bananas were protected for the winter in November after a cold spell, and uncovered in March. They are now putting on good growth (the ones in full sun noticably more than those in shade).

Protea....

• Protea Cynaroides....planted 1999 and still very small, was protected in November with a wigwam of canes and covered with polythene. Some scorching of the leaves has occured but looks to have come through mostly unharmed. Hopefully it will fill out more this year and be stronger for next winter.

Agave....

• Agave Americana Variegata....was left out in its pot unprotected for the first time this winter, in hindsight not a good move. It seems to have stood the cold ok but not the rain/snow. The central leaf at its base has turned brown and seems to be rotting. Time will tell !
• Agave Americana....several small plants stood out all winter in their pots with no damage.

Opuntia....

• Planted in the garden with plenty of grit added to the soil no damage.

Cordyline....

• Cordyline Australis....now standing aprox 12ft tall with many branches no damage.

• Cordyline Indivisa....still small, seems to have come through its first winter ok with no protection.

The garden has remained looking rather exotic throughout the winter lifting your spirits on those dark cold days. The bonus of this type of gardening is that the basic form and structure remains all year round. Now well into Spring, and everything is once more bursting into growth ready for the summer spectacular.

Rheum Tanguticum

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