Those Delaware and Maryland beaches have surprising similarities in situation to Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. They are barrier islands similar to OBX, and have the Delaware Bay to the North (we have Chesapeake Bay). From your pix, they look as if they may have been taken here, too! That neighborhood on the water looks a heck of a lot like Lago Mar, the neighborhood I live in. We have tons of Loblollys and Crapes and inlets from the Back Bay of the Currituck Sound. Bombay Hook looks a heckuva lot like the savannahs in southern Virginia Beach and all along the southeast coast. You are right, a lot of potential! I feel the same way about Va Bch! Many home owners in this area have palms, and even businesses are starting to use them. I wish the city would start lining the streets with them instead of these random crappy deciduous trees. The only deciduous trees I would plant would be Crepe Myrtle, but honestly there are already more than enough around.

Here is a link that might be useful: Virginia Beach Weather

Everything looks great, it's amazing how much more you can do when you are near the ocean.

Andy and Lago, glad you liked!

Lago, you've drawn the same conclusions about similarity of our geography to the VB area, ocean-moderated climate and potential most of us have. South Bethany does resemble some of those canal side neighborhoods of VB.

Hands down, VB has it better with milder winters and plant material, both indigenous and introduced. We are high end 7b (even 8a on some maps) and VB is high end 8a, so a solid half zone makes a difference with the additional palm selection. That additional 120 miles further south and proximity to the Gulf Stream (it is forced off shore by the OBX) makes a bigger step up. But I think what really is our biggest hurdle is the lack of palm culture. Most beach towns here are filled with weekenders from DC, Baltimore and Philly or elsewhere, so they are clueless about what really can thrive here. They plant the same boring stuff they do in their northeast corridor suburban gardens. Cape Myrtles, Southern Magnolia, pomegranite and gardenias have been widely planted for years and all do exceptionally well, but not sure how long it will take to get more windmills, minors, med fans planted on a regular basis.

VB wasn't always so palmy from what my friends there say. It's been a cultural shift 10 to 20 years in the making. VB is widely recognized as the palm gateway, but those of us living here think we certainly could be the door step to the gateway with the same cultural shift.

Cool pics! Those egrets are really cool! The mexican petunias are usually considered zone 8 plants, but mine survived this winter's mild temperatures, I guess the real test will be if they survive a true zoen 7 winter, but they are pretty invasive!
The blue flowered plant that you said you didnt think is hardy is Agapanthus. Most of them are not hardy, but there are some hardy varieties that can survive zone 7 winters but not much colder than that. There are a few in my area and they bloom right about now.
The Euc is huge and so are the palms and oleanders! Thanks for sharing!
-Alex

Yes I've lived in Va beach for 16 yrs and the coldest temp was 16 back in 1996. I've seen records of some extremely cold winters in the 80s that must have brought us down to 8a for this 30 yr avg. 4 degrees in 1985. hopefully we'll never see single digits again. Many Years like this year we didn't even drop below 20s. But anyway yeah the Delaware and Maryland shores should have no problems whatsoever with windmills.

Thanks, Alex. I knew you'd like and fill in the missing holes with agapanthus. I was told the name, but knew I'd never remember. Isn't that eucalyptus something? How about the robusta.

Lago, we bottomed out about 15 in most of the beach towns. Colder than the past few years...which is usually upper teens, although our zone rating doesn't reflect that. Anything below 20 is pretty rare, thankfully. Lewes, DE (my town) sits beneath Delaware Bay like your neighborhood sits below Chesapeake Bay and the ocean is a few miles to the east. We have the same freak record lowest cold temperature as VB...-11 in 1982 here (can't recall what year for VB). But its the annual stuff where you are better off in the long run.

Yeah i believe that 4 degrees in 85 was the all time record.

I was just there 2 weeks ago! i love Bethany, and especially up north in Dewey Beach!
Did the Ocean City Home Depot have any other palms by chance?!

They had a few 3 gal windmills for $19. I bought 2 for neighbors and get 10% with military retiree discount, but Maryland has sales tax. Delaware doesn't.

Dewey is Delaware's party town. Full of 20 and 30 somethings on eternal spring break. Quite a contrast to Bethany with its wealthy DC doctors, lawyers, celebrities and congressmen to the south and artsy, family dense and gay mecca of Rehoboth Beach to its immediate north.

Glad you had a good time on the beautiful Delaware Beaches.

Hi V,

I amm just so happy to see those beautiful pictures..

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh... makes me wish i had a glass of cold Iced Tea and sitting on a front porch talking to good friends... like you!!!

Your pictures remind me of VB like LagoMar said. Lots of change taking place up your way and i believe, like here in VB you will witness this push in zone changes and seeing these Palms, tropicals make there way more so up n your area. I remember planting my trees 17 yrs or so ago and people thinking i was nuts.. well... look at all the changes now. VB is planting Palms in the shopping area and i must say they look great..(Hilltop)

Thank you so much for taking the time to show us your beautiful "quiet" places around your area. I just love the feel of it. "Reminds me of the low country

Now you have me itching to show pics again here.. My trees are the same, so that is why i haven't posted much here.. My trees are just "there" LOL.. but i know some may have not seen them, so i will get some pics together and post.

I just love that Hibiscus!! Just beautiful V!!!

Those Egrets settling in for the evening on that beautiful tree remind me of a decorated Christmas tree. Natural ornaments!! Love it!!!

Hello to all that i havent seen in a few!!!

Take care,

Laura

Laura,

Great to see you check in. Glad you enjoyed. I personally call that picture of the egrets, "God's Christmas Tree".

Hope you make it up this way soon. I've potted up one of those hibiscus for you. Sadly, neither plumeria you gave me have bloomed. Tips?

Hey V,

"God's Christmas Tree Indeed" Great name for such a beautiful act from nature...

Thank you for the nice "hello" Glad to be back!!!

Tips on your Plumeria?

Good fast draing mix..
Foliage Pro Fertilizer with Pro TeKt added to the program
Plenty of sunshine
Proper watering system.

Those trees that i gave you should bllom this year or next. They are at least two year old cutting that have rooted. Plumeria take lots of patience.. You can tell how much i love these beauties... I kno.. i have it bad..

Thought of you when i had my son sitting beside one of my teees. WHen i looked back a the pic, i couldnt believe how small he looked.. he is 22 yrs old and 6 feet tall.. lol

I have to uplaod when i get home from my reg computer.. but here are a few just for you!!

Hope you like them..

Remember..like palms..they take patience... They will shower you with blooms..they just take time...

California SUnset
{{gwi:30061}}

Desert Sunrise

Mahalo...

Laura

Great pics...love the one of the canal and was trying to figure out what all the white blobs in the trees were...Egrets(-:

Laura, those are amazing as always! You are definitely Lady Plumeria! At this point, I doubt they'll send up flowers this season. But they seem healthy otherwise. If you come up, maybe we can make sure my supplies are up to snuff.

Jim, glad you enjoyed the pics too. The canals of South Bethany Beach are really beautiful. Most people just zip by on the coastal highway. And areas like this are in some of the back reaches of those neighborhoods. I hadn't even been back there until recently when Rick drove me around. Come check it out.