Carolina Gardening: Winter 2011 protection successful, 1 by donnacreation

donnacreation wrote:
Thanks, ardesia and barb! I just had to show off. I hope the date palms will take off this year - last year I had to dig them up and move them in April, which really set them back. According to DG plantfiles, queen palms are supposed to be cold hardy to 15f. (I find this hard to believe.) Are there any growing in Kure Beach or the SC barrier isles?
I want to try growing more marginal bananas this year.
I also protected a batch of heliconia last fall, which I think is going to make it. It's too early to remove its protection - dirt, back plastic, pine straw and more black plastic - but the stems still feel firm. I plan to remove its protection in April, and I'll post pics if it is indeed still alive.
Pic of protected heliconia.