In that part of the garden there's a lot of Acalypha but only part of it was zapped, the rest looks like nothing happened.
Tropical Garden #65
The young Coconut without a trunk looks as though something heavy fell on it. On closer examination you can see that it's heart was cooked, softened, and so the fronds have collapsed. The smell of cooked (steamed) vegetation is still quite strong around there.
Two pawpaw (Papaya) trees nearby were also cooked and shrivelled.
Tropic: I'm sorry for the lightning damage. My folks lost a beautiful huge pine tree a few years back. It struggled to live for a long while, and they'd talked about cutting it down. Well, one windy day, the tree lost a huge branch. The wind blew it toward their house but it missed doing frame damage, just minor damage. It was one of those things that made you wonder how it missed doing structural damage. Anyway, the point is, once you determine if the trees are failing, get your saw out if it's near your home.
The other Coconut palms lost quite a few fronds which seemed to have been blown (as in exploded) off. Normally I can't remove the fronds before they've well and truely dried off, they really cling tight to the trunk.
A friend came by today and I showed her the damage without saying what I thought had happened. Funnily enough her first reaction was alien spacecraft. But she said lightning. Well, no more staying out in the garden for me while storms are rolling in.
The only trees affected were the Coconut palms. But at this stage it's a bit difficult to say if there's been any significant permanent damage. As I mentioned, the one that took the biggest hit already had a hole high up on the trunk. Had always wondered how this had happened. This lightning strike ran that hole a lot further down the trunk and left fibre sticking out of it. The previous time the palm survived. But if we get a cyclone that trunk must be too weak now to stay up. The lean on the Coconuts is more or less parallel to the house, not towards it. Only damage from falling would be part of the garden. In my time I've never had lightning strikes in the garden. Only out front of the place where it's melted out the phone wires and things like that.
That's a shame, Tropic, but at least no one was injured. Florida is one if not The Lightening Capital of the country. They advise us not to use a phone, take a shower, or even go to windows during one of our storms. They are the most violent things I have ever seen or heard.
Hap
Hap, Darwin is actually the lightning capital of the world. Even the USA set up a research centre here years back to study lightning. I remember some years back there was an international study, about a dozen countries involved sent meteorologists here, The US sent one of its weather planes used to fly in and out of storms with scientific instruments. The Russians brought one of their own. They both had slightly different capabilities and were suited to gathering different data. I think they were here for a couple of months.
Dutchlady, I was inclined to the spaceship idea mainly because of the smaller Coconut palm that had been 'crushed", But on closer check it became clear the lightning had cooked its heart. That softened the structure at the base of the fronds so they collapsed, looking like something had landed on them.
Tropic, you are right. Remember hearing we were bad for something and I guess it's deaths.
http://weather.about.com/od/thunderstormsandlightning/tp/lightningstates.htm
Still not a good claim to fame.
Please don't rule out the spaceship. That's much more fun. Bet if you look closely, you could probably fine a track or two.
Hap
We have a tiny fraction of the population of Florida in an area much larger than Florida. We get severe storms, cyclones, tornados and the like which completely miss populated areas. Although, now and again there's a direct hit. We had a tornado sideswipe where I work. The weather bureau only found out about it a few weeks later when someone thought to contact them. They assessed it as F5. There were about another 4 or 5 around the same time but no one recorded them as they were too far out.
I've searched around for tracks, not that I know what alien foot tracks look like, but I think the rain might have washed them out anyway. ;O)
He, He....
Yes, we have a few more people than you in a very small area. Just would like to have someone answer one thing for me sometime. Why do tornadoes always hit trailer parks? Do they have magnets? LOL Poor people.
Hap
Hello Everyone!
3jsmom31, all of your alocasias seems to be thriving. I did let a few of mine go dormant. They seem to do better with a little rest. I tend to kill them from overwatering.
RachelL, I do agree with new growth lifting your gardening spirit. Here is a new leaf on a Anthurium and new growth on the pride of Barbadoes.
Tropicbreeze, maybe the spaceship took your croc.
Thanks for sending us a little blue sky and sunshine. It has been snowing all day over 7" so far, with more to come. The branches on the Oak trees are breaking from the weight of the snow.
Joeswife, that is a Alocasia Cucullata (Buddha's Hand) in the previous picture, one of the easiest to grow. I read where someone in Florida has one 5' tall and about 4' wide.
Rachel also showed a very nice picture of one.
I have morning glory seeds coming up, come on spring!
Outside the GH
Inide the GH
Hi Happy_1, did you also lose your Guiness World Record Coleus plant as well?
It was very sad to see all those dead plants out at the curb.
candela , it is nice to see all that color in your yard, the Bromeliad is my favorite.. I am so sorry that you lost that beautiful Philo. I wish I had a replacement for you.
Orchid showing a little color
Prita,
No, there is still some in the garden but they look REALLY sad. They are on the south side of the house and probably will survive. Thanks for asking.
Hap
A little color in the snow.
My Holly Tree.
My dwarf Queen Emma doest let a little snow keep it from blooming.
Hi Texasbigleaves, this is the most snow that I have ever seen in Texas. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the branches over my hoop house don't break and pierce a hole in the plastic.
You have quite a lot of color in your yard. I love thm all!!
What is going on with the photos?
lakesidescallas, Sorry, but I have no idea whats going on with the pictures.
Everything seems to be fine now.
Red Oak got 14" of snow, the most in Texas. I have to admit it is Beautiful!!
The Live Oak tree missed the Hoop houses by that much. (lucky me)
back yard
last
is this normal for you, snow that is? Things look pretty green underneath.
Hap
Happy_1, no, we seldom get any snow, much less than once a year and never this much. We get more ice storms than snow, but not that often. We lost a lot of Live Oak (our best trees) limbs and have many days of tree trimming ahead.
This message was edited Feb 12, 2010 11:51 AM
Nice photos, I don't have much blooming at the moment but some are getting ready.
These are the new seedlings I got from DGer. Love the variegated cross.
They are pretty, sun.
Hundreds of Elephant Ear pups have volunteered in an area of our yard that I'm clearing for renovation. I will set aside some in nursery pots, so if any of you DGers would like to have some, let me know (send D-mail). Please be aware, if you plant them in the ground, they might take over the entire garden. Meanwhile, I'm looking for the picture of the mother EE that looked so nice there.
I've really enjoyed seeing the pictures of different and unusual Alocasias others have posted here.
Okay, here you can see, we were quite happy to have the Elephant Ear as a feature in our entry garden - that was five years ago. We placed a flood light under it and enjoyed a spectacular view of our tropical garden at night; a reflecting green glow cast softly over the small pond. Maintaining countless start ups it produced has become tiresome, although I have carefully dug up and shared many small EE plants with our friends and neighbors, from now on it will be restricted to containers in our yard.
- Doug, West Palm Beach, Florida
That's beautiful. Mine are not in pots and are in the garden and the grass. Oh, My!
I have a similar problem with EE's in my yard - I dig them out and spray them with roundup, but they keep popping up in all the wrong places. I have the same problem with Canna indica - they are a real problem!
Sunshinesw, It is very good to see you!!
My eyes went straight to the variegated leaf in your picture. Gorgeous foliage, you must be excited. I can not wait to see the bloom.
Happy Valentines Day!!
Sunshinesw, sorry, this is your Valentine's picture
TropicalGardener, Thanks for sharing ! I have a few of those growing in pots,but I am sure that you will have many takers. They are very nice and easy plants. I like your idea of the floodlights unter the EE, I will steal your idea this spring.
This Colocasia got a lot of attention last summer. I was unable to start any from the seeds. I sure would like to have a few more of these for the front yard.
Happy Valentines Day!!
Happy Valentine's Day to all!!
New plant. Pink Showers Confederate Jasmine
