As a FedEx employee I'm seriously hoping that we get zero snow. I'm already beat up beyond belief, so shoveling might be life threatening. If this does happen, here at the Shore we will probably get it the worst. My trachy has been buried in snow many times now...so, no worries...

The cold will not be extreme but the winds can be an issue with those big Trachy leaves. Mine are protected by the house from a lot of the wind, but still. I do brush off the snow loads from the fronds. Well, the good news for you is that it shouldn't remain on the ground for forever as, currently, they're predicting warmer temps in the extended (upper 40's). Last night, the weather service had me on the fringes of the storm--now most of NJ is in the bull's eye for a dumping--along with much of the East Coast. Our snows tend to have a HEAVY water content so it is really weighty and potentially dangerous if you overdo the shoveling. Be careful!

Okay, now getting serious--blizzard WARNING in effect for NYC Metro. Batten down the hatches!

2 days ago every main weather weather model was saying we would only get a dusting and now we are getting 11 to 16 inches!!! Good thing I have an awesome new camera to take pics with! Ill be posting some pics when the snow starts!
Merry Christmas!!
-Alex

Hello Everyone...

We are having a serious Blizzard here in VB... here is the most recent pic...10+ inches here at my house!!! Yikes!!!
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Awesome pic! Definitely best to stay home though! Snow is starting here and we have close to an inch, maybe half an inch. We are suppose to get a foot with 16 to 18 inches possible in some locations! This is the second year in a row that we had at least 1 snowstorm with over a foot of snow! Lots of pics will be coming from me soon!
Stay safe everyone!
-Alex

Here are some snowy pics I have taken so far (with my new camera!) Right now we have about 15 inches and its still snowing! Sorry but I dont have any snow covered palm pics to share because of how cold it is tonight.

And a non snow pic of my ti plant flowering

Right now, I am still in the warmth of the house and watching the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Finches enjoying a feeding frenzy at the feeder on the front deck. Waiting perhaps for some sun to come out before venturing out and taking some pics--besides, still quite windy. My Trachys and Butias, and Sabals are covered by snow--some only have the leaf tips exposed. It might just be best to leave them covered with the insulating snow--also protects some from leave damage under windy conditions. The camellias will not mind the snow--tolerate snow loads well. I'm sure I have some M. grandiflora snow damage in the backyard--But it means trekking through a field of snow two-feet deep before getting to them (some cultivars of M. grandiflora have no problem with the snow, others just snap off all too easily). TZ, is that a hardy Yucca species you have in the pot or the tropical one? Difficult to determine snow depth as there is a lot of blowing and drifting. It is a relatively fluffy snow, so I imagine more insulating and maybe it'll help the more tender plants. They're still calling for some big time warm up into the 40's and 50's later in the week.--Less than a day, and I already feel cabin fever!

This is more snow than I have ever seen here in recent times! It is WAIST high out my door and their is a 6 foot tall snow drift in my yard. They say we got only 14 inches, but I cant find any spots with that little snow! Hard to measure the snow with all the drifting, but its an average of 20 inches in my backyard and even more in the front! All the palms are protected with 4 foot tall garbage bins and some of the garbage bins are completely buried in the snow and the rest are almost completely buried in snow!
Nj, that isnt a hardy yucca, but I wish it was! Its a yucca guatemalensis and they can handle about 20F so the one in the pic is still alive.
Looking forward to that warmup and hopefully it will melt most of this snow!

I measure about 15 inches here but so far I have not ventured too far away from the house. I spent a couple of hours digging out the car and driveway. There are 4-5 foot snow banks all over the place. Yes, I remember deep snows like this BUT NEVER THIS EARLY!--This is more characteristic of February and March (when arctic air interacts with expanding tropical influence from the south). I thought I would take more pics but it's so cold and windy and the snow is being lifted into the air like a dust storm. If I do post other pics, it'll be from my window. TZ, I would protect that Yucca immediately. Containers are much colder than the ground and offer little protection from hard frost for a tropical species.

Here's a picture of one of the Trachys after I brushed off some of the snow.--I'll post a picture of the same palm in a few days and you'll be amazed at how different it looks once it's milder.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I will probably bring the yucca in now and give it some warmth, but Im not really expecting it to survive. They are pretty easily replaced and I have way too many plants that arent as easy (or cheap) to replace that take the best spots indoors. The good thing about yuccas (or at least these yuccas) is their ability to have their roots die! The roots are probably frozen and dead, but the good news is that if the tops are green and alive, you can still take cuttings. I had some bareroot in my garage last winter and all the roots died, but I took some really nice cuttings from it that did great the following year.
I also have one of these yuccas (a small one) protected with my oleander and they are both doing great so far!
Great pic of your Trachy in the snow! It probably would have been completely buried if it was over here! I measured 30 inches of snow on my sidewalk and I think the official snow total is somewhere around 24 or 25. A lot of people are saying that this is the most snow they remember seeing here, and I have also never seen this much snow here! The 2 and a half foot tall bushes lining the walkway to my house is COMPLETELY buried in snow. You would never know their were bushes under their. THe front yard is just all flat snow!
Good luck everyone!
-Alex

Well, here at the Jersey Shore, we got clobbered. My entire backyard is roughly a 4 to 5 ft. snowdrift. We probably got about 2 and a half feet without the gale force winds blowing it all over and affecting the totals. Major roads around here are shut down. I shoveled last night, then gave up. This morning...could not open either the front or back doors, and am still digging out the cars (which are literally buried). Took photos last night of my trachy, but cannot get around the house to take one of him now. You can see the fronds blowing around from inside my family room (this guy is pretty tall now...5 feet plus of trunk). Snow covering him up to the fronds. A photo op for sure if I can get out back to take one. Bottom line...this was one hell of a storm that got us right betwen the eyes. A diaturbing trend in recent years...storm comes up the coast and we get killed. And they all are doing just that. When they come from the West, we're fine. Enough already.

Just checked some more recent weather reports regarding snow totals and we got 29 inches! Might be the most snow ever, and it is definitely more than enough to keep you from going ANYWHERE today. The snow is light, but still very very difficult to shovel!
Good luck everyone!
-Alex

We've had a recent history of incredibly intense winter storms which are kind of like hybrid nor'easter hurricanes (with snow or rain depending on how cold it is)--to the point that these storms show banding squalls, thunder, even an "eye". PS., Getting some really strong sun now in the front of the house and my Trachys look happier already!

Hello Everyone!!!

You all up north really were hit extra hard...I can't believe you have 4-5 feet! Unbelievable weather..

We did hit a record for VB, 14 -15 inches...and every thing is shut down...back roads are still a mess..the main streets are still down to one lane....

Trishmick...I know what you mean about working for FedEx, my brother and I had a small franchise with Airborne Express 10-15 years ago...and had 10 or so routes. Those years were the best that i can remember..as far as being in great shape!
My hat is off to you and what you do for us...hope the snow melts fast for you, but with that much snow it will probably take a while. Be extra careful all of you up north

Thinking of all of you on this snowy day!!!

Laura in VB

3rd to last picture really tells the tale!!!!!

Now get ready for the flippity flop next week!

Well, here are some pics. They are not nearly as impressive as the ones from Va Beach, but hopefully demonstrate the bombing we just endured.

First view of my trachy yesterday around 12:30PM

This is about 3 hrs. later

Finally got partly around the house to take this one just an hour or so ago.

And just for some reference. The bar top is over 4 feet above the ground.

That storm only dropped about 4-5" here,supposed to be gone by Thursday night.

It was quite the scenic X-mas eve with steady light snow for 24 hours.

This morning we woke up to rime ice on all the tress....beautiful!!!

pictures don't do it justice....all this is supposed to be gone by Thursday with 50s possible!

Time for an early January thaw!

Thanks Jim! The snow was really coming down in that pic! I think 2-4 inches an hour around that time! Looking forward to seeing the exact opposite weather next week. Hopefully flooding wont be too bad with the rain forecasted for New Year's.
Hope everyone is safe from the snow!
-Alex

I just realized that I missed some of your pics! Great shots trishmick and Jim! I really like the snow-covered trachy and the ice on those trees really is beautiful! Definitely much less snow on the ground in Iowa than here in NYC and much of the mid atlantic and new england after this storm!
-Alex

Hey Jim,

Love that shot of the ice covered tree!!

Quite impressive!!!

Take care everyone...

Laura in VB

I measured about 7" this morning. I'm guessing about 9" fell, with settling and melting on the above-freezing ground. I think the snow insulation allowed the warmer soil to thaw the frozen surface. Here's a Dunstan grapefruit in it's first winter.

Man,the depth of that snow is crazy!

I guess you won't need to water your Trachy for a while -LOL