Very nice. i see the leaves have fallen off all your trees, so I guess plant wise winter should have already begun, and yet summer is trying to linger.

I can get used to some 70s in Nov. :)

Fortunately we are getting some of that heat (or mildness) tomorrow by us. 60s during the day and lows in the 40s and 50s all this coming week. We had a frost this morning, but I guess it wasnt bad enough because only the cannas and elephant ears were damaged by it (all the other tropicals made it perfectly). Not bad for november!

Yeah, a year ago today the high was 32F. Right now its 67F outside and full sunshine with a few hours of warming left. Feels great. Not looking forward to winter. :(

Pretty amazing huh wx
We were in the 70s last year at this time too.
Trachys and other palms as well as my Agaves are still growing.
When I got home at noon today the temp in my Washy rain cover was 104F,needless to say I opened the flaps.
Looks like El Nino is in control now.Sure would be nice to have a mild winter after the last 2!

77F at my house right now!

I love the pictures, and thank you for sharing them. You must be blowing your neighbors' minds with your palm trees in November, in WI.! Amazing.

Many years ago [in early '60s] my parents and I lived in Calgary, Alberta, so I can really appreciate what you're doing. Good for you!!

interesting year so far. all the palms still uncovered and pushing fronds even my queen palm. Im like you guys letting them as long of a growing season as possible.

Thanks for the great shots of palms outside in Zone 5b. Is that a washy and is this the first year outside?

We should be pushing 70-71* in New York City and surrounding today. Its been in the sixties long hours yesterday and its precdicted thru Tuesday.

We did not have a frost in the city the past cold nites last week - temps hovered between 36-39*

Mike-
Me -3
I will only cover my palms from rain for now and that's only if its going down to the low 20s after(it's only hit about 30(F) so far)it rains.

My palms and cactus(esp the Agaves) are still growing well.

70-79(F)weather the last few days has the soil temps approaching 60(F)again.It's hard to believe after 6"+ rain in Oct that we need a little rain now! it's been so mild.
Nice to see Ma nature is "making up"for a very chilly/wet Oct! Yeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

We are enjoying some nice warm weather this week too. That may come to an end when the remenants of Hurricane Ida roll in on wednesday and thursday, but still lookign at 50s, 60s, and 70s overall.

We did get some frost on saturday morning. Heres how all the plants took it...

Elephant ears- damaged, but did not die back. Some of the flowers fell off, but the emerging ones had no damage.

Cannas- most were damaged, but some weren't damaged at all. The ones that suffered the most were unfortunately right by my pindo palm (so that is probably the worst microclimate in my yard, not too happy about that)

Orange tree- no damage whatsoever, and recieved no protection.

Bananas- were covered and sill recieved frost damage. My pineapple and my orange birds of paradise were under that same cover and had no damage (the pineapple did lose 2 of its lower leaves though).

Desert rose- It suffered enough from aphids and the frost made it worse (no protection). Good news is the roots still look somewhat alive so maybe theres still hope :)

Spindle and magesty palm- no damage whatsoever. they recieved no protection either

tropical hibsicus- both recieved no protection (one was in the middle of the deck) and they both still bloomed well that afternoon. They are stronger plants than I though and I was surprised to see them alive and well after the forst.

Spanish moss- I put some on my tree just two days before, and it had no ill effects at all from the cold.

sago palm- no damage at all (and no protection) but some yellow tips, probably from more of a nutrient problem than a cold problem).

Hopefully I will get the chance to bring them in this weekend because this frost was very light, but next time I might not be as lucky!

wxman81, is that you I see reflected in the window on the last picture? ; )

brooklyngreg - This is the washy's 2nd year in the ground. One winter under its belt so far. Same with trachy.

dln949 - Yes that is me in the reflection. Good catch!

T7-
Good call on the micro-climates
I also noticed from (more tender) plants the difference even a few feet makes,even if there is no obvious reason.
My Castor beans have provided the best indicator of differences in the yards mc(as far as frost damage goes)and the banana plants.The worst areas were west and southwest and after that anything away from overhead protection,roof,trees(which now are leafless) and even upper leaves on the same plant.I am not including the north side etc,because I don't grow any of my stuff in that area.
One nice thing is that the area I would try Tree ferns in is the best micro-climate in the whole yard,the last Castor plant resides there........

Thanks!

I dont know what I would do without microclimtes! im still tring to figure out all mine (some areas of my yard are probably zone 8b worthy and others 6b). Its really important to know where the "hot spots are for tropicals" and where you should be planting NORMAL shrubs. I defiantely think if your castor beans are still alive on that side of the hosue, a tree fern would do well there too. You might want to buy a thermometer before winter comes and see how low the temp gets there. You might be surprised and have a really good area for tropicals, or (worst case senario) disappoined and see temps there are similar to other places.

Good luck.

Waxman - cool. If one of my palms do not make it, I may try a washy since they are so hardy. How did you winterize it?

T7
I think once the real cold hits,the east side will be just as cold as anywhere in the yard.
What's nice is,that spot will be great as far as the light goes and will provide the most protection going into fall so,hopefully I can enjoy the leaves later in to the year.
Once it gets cold it will need more protection then anything else in the yard,basically house insulation and temps above freezing for the whole winter.