Hey there in Jackson. Your bamboo may look lifeless, but look for shoots coming up out of the ground very soon. I thought the exact same things the first couple years of owning bamboo. Once you get it established, even the yearling canes will survive, and you'll also get new shoots yearly. Try Michigan Bamboo, they have lots of types of bamboo and it's pretty hardy as well. Good Luck and keep us updated. Here is a link that might be useful: Michigan Bamboo

I am amazed at how difficult this plant seems for people. I have had it growing in my yard in Grosse Pointe Woods for 22 years and have not had that much of a problem with it. It does some spreading, but unless unattended for a couple of years, it has never been a problem. I either dig out the sprouts (only 8 inches or so below ground) or brush RoundUp on the leaves if they are in the grass. I have three clumps between my house and driveway, one next to the deck and 2 large clumps in side yard. It is fantastic in that it dies down every winter (but I leave the stronger dead ones for the birds to congregate) and comes up growing inches each day in the spring. It really fills out an area nicely, and has an unusual branching pattern that usually gracefully drapes down, but is odd to trim nicely if not shaped as it comes up and is left to do it's own thing until at mature height. It gets beautiful flower clusters almost always every Labor Day. People get nuts because bees and flies congregate around the clusters for 3-5 days, but they are up 4-8 feet and don't bother you unless you disturb them. I recommend them to anyone wanting to fill a difficult yard area, and do not have much time for maintenance. It actually takes several years for the root ball to produce the taller stems. I can see that it would be a bad idea for anyone that lived next to fields or wooded areas, since it would be unattended and obviously become a problem. But I can't see being scared of using it.

I posted this last week in the *Bamboo Forum* since I posted here, with hopes to learn from similar zone, gardeners ... I thought to post this update here, as well. Alan1 suggested to visit the sites I mentioned below ... 'thought would be helpful for those contemplating on acquiring some ... zone5 compatible Bamboos. to Alan 1, I responded to thank him, for his wise suggestion to visit Michigan Bamboo Co. as well as Needmore Bamboo Co. for more info, about Bamboo-growing in our more trying zones! Quoting Needmore: "The reality of Growing Bamboos in Zones 5 & 6" particularly ... I quote: "I've recently come to terms with my 'zonal denial' and I accept that most springs I may have to clear cut nearly all of the previous year's above ground growth".& "I live on the edge of zones 5b/6 and in an average winter the temperature will fall to at least -10F. At these temperatures nearly every species of my bamboo collection will likely suffer total leaf loss and in all most cases, total top kill of the culms." He also warns wanna-be or "new Bamboo growers" of other realities for at least 5 years! Reading through, I had to face the fact that at 72, I may not have the luxury of enjoyment, since I already have 12-16 high to near-high-maintenance, Garden Divas + a female Ginkgo tree to enslave to!!! Â:( ... I have several & love planting, remembrance/memorial plants that are meaningful & symbolic ... my baby brother lived in the Orient all his life ... what more beautiful & symbolic plant than a Bamboo, I thought!!! His name is Henry & July born, so my other choices are a *Clethra-Little Henry* or *Ivory Halo - Cornus Alba* red sticks in Winter (for July)! There were many encouraging Bamboo virtues ... "resiliency" particularly, but for the emotional/sentimental reasons in my search, for a meaningful & symbolic memorial plant, at this stage of my gardening life ... I'll have to forego, Bamboo! Sigh!!! Â:( FWIW ... Enjoy your successes w/ Bamboo plants & to all, Happy Holidays!!! Â;)

Well here is the newest pics of the front of my house in Macomb County. Front of my house faces south. http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm160/turbodan321/IMG_0672.jpg My 7 foot Trachy after I removed quite a bit of older fronds. After I planted it a lot of the older fronds started to die. Went into some sort of shock. New fronds coming out of the top and she looks a bit more healthier http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm160/turbodan321/IMG_0674.jpg Meditranean Palm http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm160/turbodan321/IMG_0676.jpg Banana and Sago's http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm160/turbodan321/IMG_0680.jpg I have a Dioon Cycad that I thought was on its way out. I chopped off all the leaves 2 weeks ago. Within the last 2 days I have new growth growing fast from this weather.