A toast to the new year 2006

[needmore]

Eric, is that a Hoosier Gigantea cultivar in the photo?

[Eric Layton]

Yep, I thought you might have recognized it! It was planted out in late summer after the new shoots had leafed out. Even the newest leaves are totally green. The Bisset bamboo that I got from you is planted a few feet away in a similar environment and all of the newest leaves have been scorched.
click thumbnail for a larger picture

[Thuja]

Probably it will take a few years to know for sure, but so far 'Hoosier' Rivercane does not like the badger state. Almost the whole plant is tanned out but the culms look to be still OK.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/ ... 1Small.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/ ... 2Small.jpg" alt="January 4th">
December was pretty hard. Now everything has melted and I'm worried we'll get hit in January w/o snowcover.

[needmore]

Eric, it will be interesting to see how your Bissetii does in it's second year. Mine topkilled the first winter and then help up to -12F the second. It will be very interesting to see how the same clones do in different parts of the country that share similar winter conditons but different growing season conditions.

Thuja, that Gigantea looks pretty cooked. Too bad. Come down for a visit in the spring and get some more to really see whats what.

[Thuja]

The 'Hoosier' is a 1st-yr transplant so it has a good chance of improving. Actually, I'm already impressed wih how long the foliage held out. It outlasted every other bamboo here. The only foliage I have now was protected under snow during December. The culms still look good and I will be a happy camper if they make it thru the next 2 months.

I'm still wondering how your 'Castillon' can be looking so good in Needmore. How can that be?

[needmore]

"I'm still wondering how your 'Castillon' can be looking so good in Needmore. How can that be?"

First off it is planted in a somewhat wind protected site - exposed to westerly winds but not east, north (a little north wind at times perhaps), or south. Last winter I really babied it through the subzero spells and kept it covered on sunny days when the ground was frozen regardless of the temperature - very important I believe. It not only came through winter unfazed it was the first time that I've had a new division that did not top kill in it's first winter. It then responded by producing shoots in the spring that were as large as the original division, also unusual. This year I have done nothing at all to protect it and it shows no damage at temps that have fallen below it's usual hardiness listing of +5F at least 3 times so far. This was a Fred G. trade plant and he did an excellent job with the original division - thanks Fred. (Fred, the Punctata divisions I made for you last summer all did not survive! I am still going to come up with another one for you but that species causes me more trouble than Gigantea in terms of viable divisions.)

Although it is way too early to claim that this species is hardier than generally listed, this is an example of why I try so many species, just to find out how accurate the hardiness data may actually be.

[Iowaboo]

bambooweb members- Let us know if 'hoosier' rivercane or any other cultivar of rivercane decides to run

Eric, looks like your decora is showing signs of wanting to impress us.

[Iowaboo]

My toast to new year 2007 will be on hold. 6 inches of snow has made some of my bamboo invisible.

[foxd]

I toast the new year with strong chocolate raspberry coffee of espresso strength.

[Thuja]

A toast to the thread that reappears every January.

No running Arundinaria gigantea here today, even though it's like spring, birds are chirping, wind is blowing. Well, maybe not so much the birds but the windchime is chiming.

[Brian_K]

Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima'
<img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/b ... ure801.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting">
Fargesia 'rufa'
<img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/b ... ure795.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting">
rubromarginata
<img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/b ... ure804.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting">
Arundinaria gigantea
<img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/b ... ure806.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting">
Phyllostachys aureosulcata
<img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/b ... ure807.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting">
Phyllostachys humilis
<img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/b ... ure799.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting">
Semiarundinaria fastuosa
<img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/b ... ure798.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting">

[CadyG]

Happy 'Boo Year to all. Surprised to see this thread from last New Year's was revived, but it's nice to see those photos.

This winter has been so mild, so far, that the plantings I put in during the past summer and fall have had more time than I thought they'd have to establish. That's been a big help for some of the stuff I really wanted to have a good head start, like the A. gigantea that Needmore sent. The ground hasn't frozen, and daytime temps have consistently stayed in the upper 30s and mid 40s. Even nights are staying above freezing for long periods, though we've had some 20s and low 30s here and there.

Dunno weather to worry or just be grateful that the 'boo is getting an extended run on the past growing season -- or a headstart on the next one.

May 2007 bring everyone many new rhizomes and shoots, but only where you want them.

[Markj]

Here's hoping that all new shoots are larger than last

Been amazingly warm here so far but sooooo wet and windy- I sure the wind and rain has caused more damage than the cold ever could here


Could not get a good pic here today, just to dark and to windy( well thats my excuse anyway )


Chimnombambusa Sp:




Phyllostachys bissetii:





Ph. vivax culms (foreground and background) blown over:

[Iowaboo]

Wow! Everyone's plants look toasty warm. Today, I have taken a couple pics of the frigid north and iowaboo.
Can you see the Phyllostachys dulcis?


Bejing will conquer Iowa.

[Markj]

I suspect a thirty foot snowdrift and once it melts......

At least it can't blow over....