My rainfall last year was 48.65 inches and I still had a very dry summer. This year our rainfall has been much less than normal (11.51 so far), but my garden has never dried out. This is because of the leaf cover that I put on it last fall. I don't mean just a couple of inches, I really piled them on. When I am ready to plant, I rake back the leaves and plant into the damp soil. After the crop is up a few inches, I push the leaves back over the ground again as mulch. The top of the leaf cover looks dry, but as I dig down, it is very damp, and the soil below is damp and filled with earth worms. The leaves were chopped, but didn't break down over winter. The lower portion that was near the soil appears to have broken down quite a lot, but the top portion did not break down much, but they did pack down. Most of my garden didn't even get tilled. I just dug a hole and planted. I also added compost in the Spring to some beds and to each tomato hole as I planted. Our county offers mulch, but the one load that I got was horrible. I think your best bet is from the tree trimmers if you can get them to leave it for you. They were cutting trees in my yard, and I asked for the mulch, but they didn't leave it. In my area they are private companies who have contracts with the electric providers. In the film, Paul says that it is important to have a mixture that was made from both leaves and wood. That makes sense to me. I use leaves every year because they are readily available, but this is the first year I have used them in this quantity. I think I have 14 trees so I have always used my leaves and sometimes a few from my close neighbors, but this year, my neighbors about a block away brought me theirs and said they would keep me in leaves every year. I don't have a years experience to see what the plants will do, but they seem to be doing great at this stage.

Well let's try this agian. I just spent 10 minutes responding only to have it wiped out be an error message. I do not take offence at all. I have read all of the failed attempts on the forum but I have also read several success stories (one person has been growing their dwarf in Chicago for 11 years). When I think about it logically I don't see why it cant be done (until it gets too big). My coconut soaks in full sun all winter and has a steady climate of 69-75 (69 when overcast 75 when sunny). I keep a fan on it 10 hours a day, I mist it a couple of times a day) These are ideal winter conditions for it. Even in Southern Florida they have stretches in the winter where it only gets into the 60s during the day and falls into the 40s at night). I've had my older tall for 17 months now and 8 of those were inside. It has never once gone dormant even in the middle of winter and it's been overcast for 10 days strait. It contiued to show daily growth. I have a palm that was 10 inches 17 months ago and is now 4 feet. I've paid real money for 4 foot palms in the past. It's human nature to want to do what can't be done. I'm not saying it's easy. I dragged that thing outside whenever the temperature would allow. I had all of my palms outside last Febryary for a couple of hours one night when it was raining and 59 out. Until I see with my own eyes it can't be done I'll keep going. When I see the rate of growth and know that next summer I'll have a six foot fully feathered tall, a four foot starting to feather tall, and a 3 foot starting to feather green dwarf it's pretty exiting. If I fail I'll eat crow but if it didn't die last winter I don't know why it would this winter. It's bigger and has more roots. My undersatnading is the older and bigger a palm gets the more hardy they get. Even now in these past few days when it has only averaged about 65 (high + low/2) not highs of 65 they continue to grow. They'd speed up if I brought them inside but I've decided their's no need now. Again, no offence taken at all. I will continue to try and show that it can be done. be cool, Andy

Angie!! Your photo is so sweet, it's so obviously he loves you deeply. *sniff* And you two are so beautiful together. Thanks for sharing ~ *grin* Jo - I have already started sharing daylilies with you, silly sister! FINDING BLUE - photo i showed you is Stamile's - is a 2006 introduction by Grace Stamile which they will ship to me in April. Wanted so many of their daylilies but chose that one above the rest. I gave you a link to their website at the bottom of my post. Most of the time I have to hit the refresh button for their site to load but its worth it.color> WHITE FLOWER FARM CATALOG!! If you don't get one in the mail this week, go the website & see if you can request one - it is filled with completely beautiful photos of mouthwatering new plants. I got mine this morning & may have to go curl up with a cat & a mug of cocoa and a drool rag while I wait for Sharon to load photos. SEEDS: I completed my 2006 seed collection at last! I scored (Black Mingo x Eyes of Blue) and (Victorian Lace x Eyes of Blue), as well as a Blueberries & Cream crosses collection, so here's hoping i get 100 fat little seedlings this year. And someplace to put them. Guess I'd better start reading up on vertical gardening before i read any more catalogs. Off to work marea Here is a link that might be useful: Stamile's website

Many of the tropical plants in Dennis HundscheidtÂs Subtropical Garden will be featured in displays and for sale at the: The Tropical Affair - Brisbane - Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens Auditorium Saturday 28th January 2006 8:00am - 4:00pm Sunday 29th January 2006 8:30am - 4:00pm The Tropical Affair will provide a wonderful opportunity for gardeners and the public to access tropical foliage plants, including alocasias, anthuriums, bamboos, bromeliads, calatheas, caladiums, cordylines, gingers, heliconias, kaempferias, palms and many other tropical foliage species. EFTPOS will be available Admission - Adults and Children 14 years and over: $3.00 Children under 14 years when accompanied by an adult: Free Dennis is the Patron of the International Cordyline Society and IÂm sure would encourage you to attend. Information on Members Sub-Tropical Gardens open through the AustraliaÂs Open Garden Scheme over the next couple of months will be available to visitors No Financial Interest Here is a link that might be useful: The International Cordyline Society