Cincinnati palms part 3

[donofriojim1]

This next post is about more established needle palms in Cincinnati and Northern Ky. I also want to show how much microclimates in the same metropolitan area can effect growing palms. The first two pictures were shared with me by another local Cincinnati palm grower. This is the locally legendary needle palm planted in the year 2000 at Mount Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati during the freeze of January, 2019.  Since the year 2000, this palm has never received any special protection what so ever. It laughed off the vortex winters with ease. It even produced viable seed yearly. However, sadly in the spring of 2019, this beautiful palm was cut down by a landscape crew by mistake. However it is growing back slowly from the roots.  The second picture is the regrowth as of early March, 2020. No winter protection of new growth was ever given during the previous winter. I guy who shared these pictures with me online is the guy who originally planted this palm. 

Now, I had lived for a couple of years in Boone co, Ky.  Paradoxically, a good chunk of Boone county, Kentucky actually tends to be noticeably colder than most parts of greater Cincinnati. Especially in the winter time.  In the town of Union, Kentucky one can find the Boone County Arboretum. It is a fantastic place for a garden lovers to visit. They have a locally famous stand of needle palm there as well. However due to their outlying location in the park, and Boone county being a local cold spot as well, these palms sadly struggle a lot more than other specimens north of the river despite receiving protective measures  that other local specimens do not receive.  The third picture is them protected for the winter in a cage of leaves. The forth picture is one I took of them in April, 2018 freshly uncovered and noticeably damaged. These are much more damaged than unprotected ones north of the river.