Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

For those of you that haven't heard of the Pygmy Date Palm, it is a really gorgeous fine leaved palm and definitely worth a look.  It seems to generally be rated as hardy above USDA zone 9a.  I've seen several instances of it being grown in 8b.

I came across the seeds in Edmonton at the Muttart Conservatory.  When no one was looking, I climbed up a few stones and grabbed about a dozen seeds.  Last night I removed the thoroughly dry flesh and began soaking the seeds.  They should be soaked for about three days.  It can take a whopping three months for germination!  I'll try and reduce this by soaking them a bit longer and providing high temperatures.

These palms tend to appreciate a little shade.  I'm thinking if they are planted is a relatively sunny understory or and overhang along a warm wall they should survive here.  I like to push things.  Worst case they die.  Best case I have some lovely palms!  I probably won't put them outside the first winter or two.  It is the case for most hardy palms that they are much more likely to survive with age (particularly size).

I have also started some more Moringa stenopetala seeds.  I've recently discovered that it may be possible to grow them like a tuber.  They can be planted out in the garden each spring and should provide and abundance of extremely healthy fresh greens.  In the fall they can be dug up and stored somewhere dry and cool.  They should then be perfectly fine when planted next spring.

Hopefully both of these little experiments work out!  By the way, I found this interesting tulip while walking yesterday.  I've never seen a combination of a black tulip and highly frilled edges before.  I just wish the picture turned out a little better.  I also saw the largest Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria araucana) of my life!  Which is an odd statement given that just over a week ago I had never seen one before...