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Another amazing Virginia garden!

Posted by johnnieb Washington, DC (My Page) on
Mon, Sep 24, 07 at 9:36

A friend in Arlington showed off his garden to me and some other friends over the weekend. I was absolutely amazed at what he is growing--this is surely the largest collection of in-ground hardy palms in the Washington, DC area. Among the palms were 3 large, trunking windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei)--the tallest 13 or 14 feet tall from ground to frond tip--and a good-sized dwarf windmill palm (Trachycarpus wagnerianus). There were also numerous Sabal minor and Rhapidophyllum hystrix (needle palm).

Here's the tallest windmill, towering over a clump of Musa basjoo:

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Here's another view of the same specimen; for height reference, both of these gentlemen are over 6 feet tall!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Here's another windmill, with the waggie behind it to the right (this photo vividly shows the difference between regular windmills and waggies):

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

The third windmill was fruiting heavily:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

A view of the yard, showing several well-established needle palms and Sabal minor:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

And finally a view of the house, surrounded by palms:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

More photos from the same location are in my photobucket album--see link.

Here is a link that might be useful: More photos


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Another amazing Virginia garden!

Time to bump down...


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RE: Another amazing Virginia garden!

Holy cow! I live in Arlington and can't even get things that are hardy in Zone 7 to come back the following year! Is this yard in some sort of microclimate? I am in awe of this gardner's skill.

Ginny


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RE: Another amazing Virginia garden!

Ginny, I'm sure that he does have a good microclimate; he is in a residential neighborhood so there are nearby houses plus a large commercial building behind him; there are also lots of trees and shrubs around his yard and in the neighboring yards that probably help block the wind. On top of that he benefits from being close to the river and the urban heat island of Arlington (and, to a lesser extend, DC). I've seen several good-sized windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei) around the Washington, DC area but all are growing in very sheltered locations.


 
 

 

 


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