There is nothing wrong with you cultivating torreya. In fact, I think its great that you are having success. That is totally different from "assisted migration". AM (aka Assisted colonization (AC)), which is the process of establishing new, reproducing populations of an organism in a new area where it wasn't found previously. AM is only a realistic option when a number of assumptions are met. These include: detailed knowledge of the biology of the species, detailed knowledge of the cause of its decline, research-driven approaches to introduction into new areas...and there are many of more. For the most part, none of these are/were known as AM was suggested for torreya and begun by the TGs. You still assume the pathogen is a soil-borne organism. It is not, it is very much capable of being transmitted on cuttings and/or seeds. I suppose since you are mis-trusting of academics and the leader of the TG group has stated that "there is no time to wait for science", we won't ever see eye to eye on this. In my view, this group is driven by emotions rather than empirical evidence. That is a shame, because much could be accomplished if forces joined. As for grant money, that is a ridiculous statement since there are basically no grant funds for this type of work since this species has zero economic value. I did manage to get $1500 to propagate disease-resistant individuals and test their resistance to the disease. I am hoping they may tell us something.

there is somebody in my neighborhood with what looks like 2-3 rather large kentias in the backyard that made it in inland jacksonville, they also have several large and perfect looking queens, some washingtonias, bananas, avocados, large bird of paradise, and senegal date palms, so they are obviously going for the tropical look! the kentias are probably 15-20 feet high including fronds! coldbeer: i separated/planted two caryotas (not sure which species because they were cheap from target or lowes) right before winter (in october) exposed in the open facing northwest towards the river in inland jacksonville (but by a pool) and while they look shabby for their first winter which seemed cooler this year (flurries in daytona?) are survivors and hopefully will put on some growth before next winter. good luck with yours they are such a rarety in florida!

GREAT QUESTION JIM! my first memory of palms was at my grandmas house seeing this very tall palms. at the time i didnt no what kind they were but ever since i was very young palms always caught my eye, though i didnt think much of it. my grandmas house is in the city of south El Monte about 15 mins. from downtown LA. i bet most no wut palm am talking about now, good ole mexican fan palm! i think i was about 12 or 13 but i remember asking my dad if we can dig one up at my grandmas house and bring it home since most got mowed anyway and if they made it to their 1st or 2nd year they ended up getting dug up and tossed in the trash, but he said no cuz they get to big & messy =( i never thought about them again. that is until i was 18. i was at my uncles house and a palm caught my eyes, the same one as at my grandmas(still didnt no the name of it.) which is weird cuz i no i came across tons of palms before now but i just notice them again. i started asking him questions about it like how long hes had it for & wut kind it was. he didnt no wut kind of palm it was and said it just grew there. i guess he sensed that i was intrigued by it so he said come back in spring and he'll help me dig it up to take to my house. this time i didnt ask, i just told my parents that i was gona plant a palm tree in the front of the house & that it'll make the house look nice lol! THATS WHEN IT BEGAN! ive been addicted ever since.i wouldnt call it a hobby of mine but a passion. & it kept me out of trouble for the most part. it kind of seems like they were suppose to be in my life in a funny way! i dont no wut i would be doing if they didnt come along & keep me busy. anyways washingtonia robusta were my first palms then phoenix canaries, brahea armata, then at 22 i tried germinating palm seeds for the first time. now 24 years old i grow (most) of my palms i have with over 30 different kinds of palms/cycads & totaling close to over 300. then finding this forum it started getting me into yuccas,cactus,agaves,bananas & now ive come to admire my native joshua trees! tune in to pics now that their starting to fruit!!! everyone on here opened my eyes to different plants. now i cant wait till spring/summer. i got alot to do & grow plus i cant wait to see everyones pics! its gona be a great year, not only does my girlfriend encourage my addiction but she'll buy me palms on my birthdays on holidays & out of the blue palm/seeds gift! wut more could a man want? besides for her to be as simple as me wen it comes to gifts lol! am slowly teaching our daughter everything i no about palms and plants so she one day might admire & love them as much as me but she definitely knows to stay away from the pokey ones & she even has her own palm! which is funny cuz shes only 2-1/2 & by the time shes in high school it'll be like 20ft tall! im looking forward to all those pics & ill post some come spring. i hope winters almost done for all of us(fingers crossed) so we can get back to our lives lol! jk nr!

Zone 6b southern Ontario. Just to let my local Canadians know XLB Palms is near Hamilton and Cambridge. He carries a lot of tropicals, check his Web page. I box my Chinese fan palm in with 2 inch of insulation, a thermocube, and C9 Christmas lights for heat. The temperature has not dropped below 3c and no higher than 10c all winter so far. I have a wireless Guage in the box that shows the highs and low Temp's. Check out Tropical Plant Zone Pushers webpage. My Banana Bajoo is out with no heat and will survive, 3 inches of mulch, with a garbage bucket filled with leaves over top of it. It is good to -26c.