I think your windmill will be fine. Mine don't get protected either but are near the south side of the house in full sun. They did not suffer bud loss last winter either which was also very wet. So far this winter has been unusually snowy early in the year but like last winter is not too cold (minimum 18 above F--like last year). The year before that they went down to 4.0 F. and there was some sun scald but no bud loss--but is was drier. I do think you are right though about the problems this winter going to do on many palms in the deep South and milder portions of the East. But I expect the damage more of an issue for Butias (Pindo palms)--windmills seem to tolerate cold/wet better than Pindos. I know Needles are rated cold hardiest but I've also read that young ones may not be as cold hardy as windmills. But also remember, spear pull is NOT necessarily a death sentence for these palms.--Still, better not to have to deal with spear pull. Good luck!

If you do think there is a good chance that your moving next year, I would keep it in a pot for the summer and bring it inside during the winter (if you have an unheated garage, that would be a good spot to put a potted needle palm in the winter months since it would see cold temperatures, but probably not temperatures significantly below freezing. My garage is unheated and rarely gets below 40F even during the worst of winter weather). At least you have a year to save up for a larger needle palm. If you move to VA, it would be much happier there anyways. Palms hate being dug up so I wouldnt plant anything in the ground unless I knew it would definitely be there for a number of years. -Alex

Jim, I am really trying to like this palm! I spied a nice specimen in a local garden center (not a bad price at all--under $30.00). I didn't get it last week because I have a smaller one and it just doesn't seem to do anything. I know they need heat (and this has been a cool summer so far in the East), but heck, I get better growth on a lot of other more tropical species and this is no different from my experience with it other summers. In fact, I have MUCH better growth (this year) on some Sabals (texana, louisiana, even palmetto) Thinking of going back tomorrow to reconsider. First time I have ever seen this being sold locally. They were also selling another "cold hardy palm" and I'm ashamed to say, I couldn't recognize it, and it had no label other than being sold as COLD HARDY.. It had smaller silver, reddish fan leaves. May have been a cultivar of Serenoa repens or Chamaerops?? So far, my in the ground palms have been limited to T. fortunei--which I love. But I have to say, needles seem hard to love--and those NEEDLES do not help!!

Congrats on the flower! It definitely means it's happy! Only palms that have flowered for me is my Chamaedorea (flowers non stop all the time), my Sabal Minor (flowered last summer, but nothing this year its been in the ground for 4 summers now), and my Med fan palm (flowered this year for the first time and has been in the ground for 3 summers now). Its always a good sign when a palm flowers (unless it's a species that dies after blooming like fishtail palms!) -Alex