Miracles never cease in these parts

[NMPalmjunky]

35 minutes ago, ABQPalms said:

I have 16 Rayado seeds, collected the end of October. I am currently germinating 5 of them to see if they're viable. I have about 80 Filifera seedlings going now, between 1-2 months old as well. More in the germination process.

@ABQPalms I would love to get some of your Filifera seedlings. You are also welcome to some of my Sabal minor seeds or seedlings. 

[jwitt]

35 minutes ago, NMPalmjunky said:

@jwitt I was not aware of the RR2 weather station location. I will need to look into the stats further. With that being said, I believe that there is a microclimate on the hillside between 528 and the pump station. The area has almost completely filled in over the last decade since I planted my first palms. 

I’m not sure if they are male or female, but I get these flowers on my two larger trachys. you are welcome to as many minor seeds (or seedlings) as you would like. 
 

Yes, I believe your spot situated as it is, is one of the best microclimates in the metro.  

I think that is why the NWS did a revamp. They did not believe what they were seeing, or did not jive with what they thought they would see.  My thoughts.

My Trachy sets seed, but I believe they are sterile.  I forgot what the actual term is.  

[jwitt]

17 hours ago, NMPalmjunky said:

@jwitt I made my way to the future palm oasis of central New Mexico. It’s about a mile from house and a beautiful walk ok this pleasant sunny December day of 60 degrees.  

 

I bet the temperature actually was pushing 70 at the bottom. Your not in Albuquerque anymore.  This is the reading at the top of the "oasis" (66f)

IYKYK!

Even warmer than the official Las Cruces reading(high temp 63f)

Rr2 66f

Sunport 58f

[ABQPalms]

15 hours ago, NMPalmjunky said:

@ABQPalms I would love to get some of your Filifera seedlings. You are also welcome to some of my Sabal minor seeds or seedlings. 

I'll send you a PM whenever I get the chance.

Here's just a handful of Seedlings that I have going right now. 

[CascadiaPalms]

39 minutes ago, ABQPalms said:

I'll send you a PM whenever I get the chance.

Here's just a handful of Seedlings that I have going right now. 

Nice little collection!  What is the different coloring of the top soil?

[ABQPalms]

@CascadiaPalms I actually sprinkle cinnamon on top of the soil to prevent pests and mold.

[ABQPalms]

8 hours ago, jwitt said:

I bet the temperature actually was pushing 70 at the bottom. Your not in Albuquerque anymore.  This is the reading at the top of the "oasis" (66f)

IYKYK!

Even warmer than the official Las Cruces reading(high temp 63f)

Rr2 66f

Sunport 58f

The Corrales station hasn't been reading since October. Hopefully it gets fixed soon. 

[jwitt]

Christmas eve eve in a microclimate of the ABQ palm zone. 

[jwitt]

Some ornaments above the trachy

Calm before the storm

12/24/2024

[ABQPalms]

22 minutes ago, jwitt said:

Some ornaments above the trachy

Calm before the storm

12/24/2024

Very nice! Merry Christmas on this gorgeous Christmas Eve day!

[jwitt]

Merry Christmas Eve!

[ABQPalms]

[NMPalmjunky]

4 hours ago, ABQPalms said:

Very nice! Merry Christmas on this gorgeous Christmas Eve day!

And a very impressive palm yard. It looks like you have a lot more room in your yard for more palms in 2025!

[ABQPalms]

2 minutes ago, NMPalmjunky said:

And a very impressive palm yard. It looks like you have a lot more room in your yard for more palms in 2025!

@jwitt

[jwitt]

5 hours ago, ABQPalms said:

@jwitt

The finger points to some young ones

[ABQPalms]

10 hours ago, jwitt said:

The finger points to some young ones

She positioned her fingers perfect with the piece sign! Filifera?

[jwitt]

11 minutes ago, ABQPalms said:

She positioned her fingers perfect with the piece sign! Filifera?

Reynado grove

[jwitt]

At least Easter is right around the corner!

[Ben G.]

4 minutes ago, jwitt said:

At least Easter is right around the corner!

Yikes 😬. Hopefully this is short lived for you. Happy Easter and may warmer weather make its way to you soon.

[jwitt]

Mid summer follow up. 

All my seedlings, 3 sets, (Reynaldo) died this past winter. We had 2 nights of 4f.  Rocks and leaves were not enough.

Except......

1 bunch survived.

They did happen to have the largest rocks.  Mixed in were some T or C seeds. I believe these are the actual 3 survivors.  So 3 (t or c) survivors continue on. I have upped the "rockage".  First pic is showing protection in winter. 

Reynaldo grove. RIP!

Other seeding in place have taken place this year.  Some Texas, some AZ ecotype and CA natural grove. 

2 month old babies in situ and liners.

Shout out to @Ltapia for some seed and 2 AZ ecotype filifera 2 year olds! They are taking off! Note the spear damage grow out in pic #2. 

 

More to come....

[Ltapia]

9 hours ago, jwitt said:

Mid summer follow up. 

All my seedlings, 3 sets, (Reynaldo) died this past winter. We had 2 nights of 4f.  Rocks and leaves were not enough.

Except......

1 bunch survived.

They did happen to have the largest rocks.  Mixed in were some T or C seeds. I believe these are the actual 3 survivors.  So 3 (t or c) survivors continue on. I have upped the "rockage".  First pic is showing protection in winter. 

Reynaldo grove. RIP!

Other seeding in place have taken place this year.  Some Texas, some AZ ecotype and CA natural grove. 

2 month old babies in situ and liners.

Shout out to @Ltapia for some seed and 2 AZ ecotype filifera 2 year olds! They are taking off! Note the spear damage grow out in pic #2. 

 

More to come....

I believe that was caused from fertilizer lol oscmote. Here is the same palm AZ ecotype I gave to my mom lol she gives it the yellow miracle grow it’s gotten huge .

[Ltapia]

Here is a Rayado that my buddy planted in his yard that I grew from seed .

[Desert DAC]

On 2/14/2024 at 8:14 AM, SailorBold said:

I water everyday from March until November and shut off the watering system Dec-Feb..  I have 3 Sabals.. 2 of which are on the same drip system.. I dont have any trachies.. the water is fairly alkaline out of the tap..   I upped the water last year with good results but I wouldn't attempt to grow any palms here without supplemental water..  im working on the rain barrel harvesting system..and even with that I wouldn't change how I water....that will be the extra for nutrient/fertilizers intakes.. thats just me.. soil types vary..where I am its sand..so really no water retention either.. 

Wow, Sailor. That's all very nice, I mean bold - I don't recall seeing your entire front garden before, or at least from that angle.

Your Trichocereus terscheckii isn't bad at all!

[SailorBold]

On 8/27/2025 at 6:19 PM, Desert DAC said:

Wow, Sailor. That's all very nice, I mean bold - I don't recall seeing your entire front garden before, or at least from that angle.

Your Trichocereus terscheckii isn't bad at all!

Thanks Dac...  everything is doing alright.. stay tuned for updates!  The Terscheckii is approaching 10 feet..with 6 arms/feet...  im leaving it be.. I dont ever water it either.  I was almost going to protect it last winter.. as i wasnt expecting it to get that cold.. if the duration was longer I might have.. but it didn't even blink...

[jwitt]

Filiferas ready for winter.  Although, winter is about on par with 1980, which was virtually non-existent.

2 year old

 

1 year olds,

 

6 month seedlings. 

[jwitt]

Good microclimate on a gorgeous winter day

[UK_Palms]

37 minutes ago, jwitt said:

Good microclimate on a gorgeous winter day

 

That Filifera looks half fried already. How cold have you gone down to there so far this winter?

[SailorBold]

1 hour ago, jwitt said:

Good microclimate on a gorgeous winter day

Really beautiful weather this entire month!  What temperature was your thermometer reading there??  Filifera looks great!

Great map of New Mexico.. you can see the continental united states (minus hawaii/ kialuea) youngest lava flows..

[jwitt]

2 hours ago, SailorBold said:

Really beautiful weather this entire month!  What temperature was your thermometer reading there??  Filifera looks great!

Great map of New Mexico.. you can see the continental united states (minus hawaii/ kialuea) youngest lava flows..

Showing about 76f

That map is showing the temp in "Rio Rancho"(double eagle), KABQ, and El Paso.  My high temp corresponds to El Paso. 

Neighbor hood microclimate.

[jwitt]

4 hours ago, UK_Palms said:

 

That Filifera looks half fried already. How cold have you gone down to there so far this winter?

No fry . Lower left leaf is browning due to age. Your probably seeing sunlight thru the leaves, maybe something not seen so strongly in Great Britain. 

Saw about 24f. Still got blooming petunias and impatiens on the patio(rare here, this late). 

Filifera leaves brown once the leaf  hits about the 90 degree angle.  Hybrids can hold lower

Removed the "fried" leaf

[NMPalmjunky]

It looks like the southern Rockies protected us from the arctic blast. Check out the difference in temps just to the east.

[NMPalmjunky]

Just now, NMPalmjunky said:

It looks like the southern Rockies protected us from the arctic blast. Check out the difference in temps just to the east.

 

[jwitt]

 Sandias did the protection

And a microclimate definitely helps

40f in ABQ

41f double eagle

20f Moriarty

6f in Amarillo

50f+  something in my backyard/porch with partial sunshine!

Might be a different story if the low pressure was to our west. 

[NMPalmjunky]

6 hours ago, jwitt said:

 Sandias did the protection

And a microclimate definitely helps

40f in ABQ

41f double eagle

20f Moriarty

6f in Amarillo

50f+  something in my backyard/porch with partial sunshine!

Might be a different story if the low pressure was to our west. 

Your palms are looking great! The twins look like they had some fast growth this year. How tall is everything now?

[jwitt]

7 hours ago, NMPalmjunky said:

Your palms are looking great! The twins look like they had some fast growth this year. How tall is everything now?

Thanks!

Yes, the "twins" or curved filifera are settling in.  The largest filifera is about 16' tall. 

[jwitt]

16 hours ago, NMPalmjunky said:

It looks like the southern Rockies protected us from the arctic blast. Check out the difference in temps just to the east.

You are ultimately correct on the Rockies protecting us. Our arctic cold never comes from the north, only the east.  Which the Sandias/Central Highlands offer us some protection. 

But when that arctic air is on the plains to our east, and a low pressure system to our west, we can get our coldest(east winds). The cold is "sucked" thru and over the Sandias. 

[jwitt]

Inverted "v"

2/15/26

[Atlanta Area Palm Guy]

On 1/25/2026 at 9:12 AM, jwitt said:

You are ultimately correct on the Rockies protecting us. Our arctic cold never comes from the north, only the east.  Which the Sandias/Central Highlands offer us some protection. 

But when that arctic air is on the plains to our east, and a low pressure system to our west, we can get our coldest(east winds). The cold is "sucked" thru and over the Sandias. 

It would seem that when you get those cold snaps, it's dry cold air.  Those Filiferas can certainly take a lot of cold in the dry form.  I've seen them come back in Las Cruces, NM from -5 F.

[jwitt]

3 hours ago, Atlanta Area Palm Guy said:

It would seem that when you get those cold snaps, it's dry cold air.  Those Filiferas can certainly take a lot of cold in the dry form.  I've seen them come back in Las Cruces, NM from -5 F.

All air is dry at -5f. That is a fact, and the property of air. At -5f the dewpoint is also -5f or lower(dry,dry,dry).

 

That said, Las Cruces had rain, freezing rain,  and snow during that -5f event.

 

 

[jwitt]

9 hours ago, jwitt said:

All air is dry at -5f. That is a fact, and the property of air. At -5f the dewpoint is also -5f or lower(dry,dry,dry).

 

That said, Las Cruces had rain, freezing rain,  and snow during that -5f event.

 

 

One wonders if that 4" of snow(I won't mention rain and freezing rain) melted and "wetted" those frozen -5f palms in Las Cruces? Let's not look at the 10" in Alamogordo.