Right now, we've had only one snowfall that was greater than an inch, but not enough to plow the sidestreets.

With another 4-6 weeks left, who knows, this might be the least snowy winter in history.

Per Dave Rexroth on Chanel 7 this morning, we have had about 16 inches to date this year, versus 48 last year at the same date.

Which is fine with me.

However, in the PRECIPITATION totals, we are probably at least at, if not above, normal. It's just that we had a couple of systems go through on the warm side as rain, the Christmas day one and the one a few weeks back here in January that melted most of the snow.

Interesting to see what the rest of winter brings, and how long the cold will persist. Last year, November was beastly cold, snow came early, and then March was very spring-like. This year, with a warm November, I hope the winter isn't worse on the tail end.

I agree,you guys jinxed yourselves (-;

Watch out late Feb/March when you make up your snow deficit. )-:

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Well, the short list is: agapanthus, alstroemeria, crinums, pineapple lilies, Southern magnolias, a Giant Sequoia, lots of bamboos of various kinds, Ruscus, and I'm sure others, but they escape me at the moment.

I'm overwintering a lot of various palms in the greenhouse, packed in with foamboard, fiberglass, and dry leaves, supplemented with CFC lights, and I ran the little electric space heater five or six nights so far, ran my bill up about $25 over the regular amount, which I can afford.

Andyandy -- Musa basjoo overwintering indoors -- all the time, my friend. Bananas are easy to overwinter indoors. I stick mine down in the basement in late October in total darkness, don't water them at all, and ignore them until April. I've got like 9 or 10 of them, including Basjoo, and have been doing this for five or six years. In that time, I've lost two of them to rot.

Of course, if I had the room to keep them going as houseplants, that would work to, but I don't, so I just store them like giant bulbs.

It's great to know other locals are interested in this crazy stuff like I am.

I am really trying to get into bananas and bamboo, but could not find any last season.

I already have a small grove of bamboo, but it is in the shade and really doesn't do to well.

I have a Chinese Palm and a Saw Palmetto in the ground. They have both done very well and look good during my late January peek.

I'd love to see what you guys have and share ideas.

This is what I have in my yard so far (2 acres):

2 chinese palm;
1 saw palmetto;
3 clumping bamboo (?);
1 monkey puzzle tree;
lots of prickly pear;
1 cholla cactus;
1 devils tongue cactus;
(some unknown ) succulents;
a passion vine; and
a partridge in a fig tree (just kidding about the partridge).

Also, 2-varieties of yuccas.

Let me know if we want to do a swap come Spring.

Andyandy - Yes, I would love some banana pups, are they musa basjoo? Have you overwintered them at all?

To either of you, I have an abundance of Prickly Pear (hardy native Michigan) that I can share as well.

In this area of MN, the last 6 summer months the past 2 years have been below normal. I haven't seen a real heat wave since July of 2006. Last June i thought we were turning the corner with that short little heat wave we had, and then July turned out to be one of the coldest on record.

I think odds are we see at least 1 or 2 of the summer months avg out above normal.

The computer models i've seen show a cold summer for the midwest, but computer models that far out are worthless.