palm safari in point loma,CA

[happ]

(LJG @ Oct. 07 2007,14:14)

QUOTE

I have never seen any other USDA map showing zone 11 in CA. That is the first and only one. Maybe that one was just more detailed. I read online that the USDA did not put any Zone 11 in CA - so I must have read wrong or something old. I still can't see true Zone 11 palms and tropicals succeeding here long term like they would in HI or FL Keys. I understand it is not a comparison of climate and it is only an average low, but I beleive even these great microclimates will still freeze at some point in history where HI and FL Keys in general would not.

Hey, where did you see San Fran has a 365 growing season? I went and looked at Sunset just for fun and it was not stating that.

I find all this weather stuff interesting too.

http://www.floridata.com/tracks/misc/FrostDates.htm

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/CALIFORNIA.htm [its in there somewhere

NSW-SF

I still can't see true Zone 11 palms and tropicals succeeding here long term like they would in HI or FL Keys.

Len

I wish they would  

In my most pious sincerity, I beleive togographically that the Santa Monica range from Malibu to Montebello is the true "banana belt" of California  :cool:  and the most reliably warm in winter/all year compared to immediate coastal gardens .  But the lack of humidity coupled with gusty offshore winds create another problem  

Mike/NakaB

How about some more fine photos of other San Diego gardens?

[paulgila]

yeah,mike

[MattyB]

Speaking of bananabelt....uhh...nevermind.  

Len, I think that the zone 11's that occur in SoCal are so tiny, and far and few between that they don't officially recognize them on the USDA map even if technically they qualify.  As you noticed, the maps aren't made in a super high resolution format that you can zoom into and check your block ala google earth.  It's a general overlook.

A good example would be my area near Dictionary Hill.  There's a thin thread of land that hasn't dropped below 40F-43F in the last 15 years.  Last year it was 37F but I think it still qualifies as Z11.  Also, there are no offical weather stations/fire stations up here so the USDA has no official data from us just the Spring Valley fire stations which reported mid 20's this winter and are just a few blocks away.

[MattyB]

Just a blurb I cut out of a hardiness zone map page.

"It's important to remember that Zone information is a guideline. Within any region there are different climates due to various factors, like topography, water masses, canyon and mountain landmarks. These can cause airflows to be altered locally which can be enough to raise or lower your lowest temperature, thus possibly changing the appropriate Zone for your garden."

[happ]

(MattyB @ Oct. 08 2007,12:24)

QUOTE

Speaking of bananabelt....uhh...nevermind.  

Len, I think that the zone 11's that occur in SoCal are so tiny, and far and few between that they don't officially recognize them on the USDA map even if technically they qualify.  As you noticed, the maps aren't made in a super high resolution format that you can zoom into and check your block ala google earth.  It's a general overlook.

A good example would be my area near Dictionary Hill.  There's a thin thread of land that hasn't dropped below 40F-43F in the last 15 years.  Last year it was 37F but I think it still qualifies as Z11.  Also, there are no offical weather stations/fire stations up here so the USDA has no official data from us just the Spring Valley fire stations which reported mid 20's this winter and are just a few blocks away.

Matty

Here's a closer look at USDA in California but it isn't much better

http://mgonline.com/zm_ca.jpg

You are right about USDA 11 being difficult to identify but as more people move into the foothills with weather instruments it is becoming easier to locate the zone.  It actually covers much more ground than what is shown on the maps since most hilltops below 2000' are zone 11 in the Santa Monica range.  I believe we will be better able to map these zones as technology improves.

I have neighbors who have lived up here for decades & claim to have never seen frost  

In-fact, the probability of frost is actually higher in So. Florida than in these USDA zone 11 in So. California [believe it or not???

[LJG]

I always thought that there were no "Zone" 11s in SoCal, but rather great "microclimates". Since it was so small an area, it could not be a zone. I think I am putting too much emphasis on the word "Zone". Plus I got it beat into me no Zone 11 in SoCal by a few long time palm and plant growers both in person and online. I am sure you could guess who it was online.

Matt and you both seem to have two great areas as far as SoCal goes for limited freezing temps. I am amazed you did not hit below 40 through all that crappy weather last year. I am glad matt does not live in the banana belt in SoCal because he would then find it OK to wear a banana hammock.

[BS Man about Palms]

Eeewww.

[elHoagie]

Thanks for keeping tabs on me :laugh:.  Dean, Bo, and Al, thanks for taking care of us while we were enjoying the tropics... I should be on top of Mauna Kea, but technical problems brought me back to LA.

I hope my new place in the Santa Monica foothills has an average minimum above 40F, I guess time will tell.  

It is a totally different climate in these foothills though. We went looking for houses right after the "big freeze", and it was amazing. In the valleys and LA basin pretty much every banana was defoliated, the tops of the Ficus trees were burned, etc. In the Santa Monica foothills the bananas all looked flawless.

Also, in the foothills I noticed flowers on some tropical trees that I had never seen flower in my five years in the valley....

[Kim]

Wow, Pohonkelapa, how did you and Pogobob happen to find those luscious Hyophorbe verschaffeltii in Point Loma?  Nice photos.  Thanks!

[paulgila]

bob was working at a house around the corner from them,kim.he spotted those & the place with the big c.gigas,also.

[Palmy]

Thats the hugest travellers I have seen in california, anybody know of any more? Very nice pics.

[paulgila]

yer right,palmy.i don't think i've seen any bigger than that in SD.

glad you enjoyed the pix.bob is a good "scout"

[Scott]

I love that shot of the residential street in Point Loma in post #3. What a great neighborhood.

If I lived there, I'd be able to grow all those I hear you guys talk about.