Yes, the climate is the same, except the temp for New Port Richey is taken at the Exec airport 5 miles inland from me, where it gets colder w/frost. I am less than a mile from the Gulf. Even the neighborhood east of me is colder, as I can see some damage there that doesn't exist round my 'hood! I grow Areca (as does everyone) because they are clumpers which will come back from freezes. I also grow Caryota mitis (currently 20') but was 35' before the hurricanes took my trees and smashed it..it was leveled when they fixed the house and came back from roots. I have a mature Triangle (30'+) and trunked Crotons in the front (they have 2-3' of wood trunk and are over six feet high) but my front is well protected by trees. I currently have a Heliconia latisphata 'Mexican Gold' in full bloom. The clump is about 8' wide with mature stems 12' high, with a count of 11 open claws each a foot or more long. So, its possible. Just be aware that a mature frozen palm will be killer to remove and the void it leaves. Greg who is STILL waiting folr the rainy season (yet the radar is lit up everywhere else) waking up to 79.8F at 630am...

I was at the sale this morning as well and scored a nice thick trunked Brewster Lychee at a bargain. I'll post a picture of it tomorrow. I also noticed some unusual Thai and Vietnamese varietes of Mango that I was tempted to get but due to my cars limited backseat space for the ride home could not get. They were a few huge Jaboticaba for $30.00 each that if I had a pickup truck would have went with me. I really enjoy The Palm Beach Rare Fruit Council sales, they always have nice trees and if you look hard there are some at real bargain prices.

Is this a typical cost, etc. for a crafts show in the Florida area? Does anyone know if the prices are about the same across the country (I'm in Oregon)? Allison

In a day you can cover City Place, Clematis and Worth Ave in Palm Beach. They are all within minutes of each other. It's already getting real HOT. Wear comfortable shoes and cloths that do not show sweat marks. Keep travel baby wipes & travel deodorant in your purse for quick refreshers if you want to dine later in a nicer restaurant. Don't wear pants or you will die. A little further south is Antique Row which used to be great but is not so great now. Still if you had an extra day to kill you never know if you might get lucky looking through the junk. I would start at City Place and then walk to Clematis. From there you used to be able to take a water taxis across to Palm Beach. However, the off season is coming so I'm not sure about the boat. City Place & Clematis West Palm Beach... http://westpalmbeach.com/cityplace/index.html Worth Ave. Palm Beach... http://www.worth-avenue.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=directory.main Antique Row, used to be good but now there is lots of over priced Junk. If you have the time to spend you might find something but you need to know your stuff in this area... http://westpalmbeachantiques.com/recent-press-south-dixie-antique-row-west-palm-beach-florida/47-southern-accents