The Drymifolia Collective
#261
Seedling of:
 "Aravaipa"
Germinated:
 2022-11-14
Seed from Marta, grafted with Jade in summer 2023.
Grafts on this tree: 

"Jade"

Grafted:
 2023-07-09
All updates:
(March 1, 2025) winter cold damage report -- LED "blanket" installed on Jan 22, 2025. LEDs were on 24x7 from early Feb 2025 until after cold ended mid Feb. Jade was grafted too high on the rootstock to allow for planting-out with graft below the soil surface (fully burying rootstock - on a diagonal - allows isolation of impact of air temp to just the grafted stock). To mitigate impact of cold on above-ground portion of rootstock, gallon water jugs were placed on either side of trunk & one foot of loose plant debris was banked around the trunk & against the rockery. Site has a old air outlet, cold drains off to the west as the slope above continues downhill below the planting. Rock wall to the north protects from cold winds out of the north. (Because site is in a valley, between 2 large hills, winds are primarily southerly/northerly.) Additional thermal protection is provided by a large juniper to the east (uphill) and large evergreen shrub overhead on top of the rock wall. Thermal mass is provided by rockery on north, sidewalk on south, temporary gallon water jugs placed on west and east sides of trunk. Because temperatures warmed to above freezing each day, this likely reduced damage due to dehydration that would have happened if high temps were below freezing for multiple contiguous days, as in past winters.
(March 1, 2025) winter cold damage report -- LED "blanket" installed on Jan 22, 2025. LEDs were on 24x7 from early Feb 2025 until after cold ended mid Feb. Jade was grafted too high on the rootstock to allow for planting-out with graft below the soil surface (fully burying rootstock - on a diagonal - allows isolation of impact of air temp to just the grafted stock). To mitigate impact of cold on above-ground portion of rootstock, gallon water jugs were placed on either side of trunk & one foot of loose plant debris was banked around the trunk & against the rockery. Site has a old air outlet, cold drains off to the west as the slope above continues downhill below the planting. Rock wall to the north protects from cold winds out of the north. (Because site is in a valley, between 2 large hills, winds are primarily southerly/northerly.) Additional thermal protection is provided by a large juniper to the east (uphill) and large evergreen shrub overhead on top of the rock wall. Thermal mass is provided by rockery on north, sidewalk on south, temporary gallon water jugs placed on west and east sides of trunk. Because temperatures warmed to above freezing each day, this likely reduced damage due to dehydration that would have happened if high temps were below freezing for multiple contiguous days, as in past winters.
(November 20, 2024) pre-winter report -- Was planted out in spring 2024 against a 5' south-facing rockery exposed to full sun and reflected heat from a sidewalk. On top of the rockery and to the east (east is uphill) are additional established evergreen shrubs to try to provide additional winter cover. It is about 3 feet east from the western corner of the rockery. There is not much established plant cover on the tree's western side Prevailing winds are either northerly or southerly. Topography reduces the likelihood of easterly or westerly winds. Rockery gives cover to protect from cold northerly winds.
(November 20, 2024) pre-winter report -- Was planted out in spring 2024 against a 5' south-facing rockery exposed to full sun and reflected heat from a sidewalk. On top of the rockery and to the east (east is uphill) are additional established evergreen shrubs to try to provide additional winter cover. It is about 3 feet east from the western corner of the rockery. There is not much established plant cover on the tree's western side Prevailing winds are either northerly or southerly. Topography reduces the likelihood of easterly or westerly winds. Rockery gives cover to protect from cold northerly winds.
(photo taken October 29, 2023)
(photo taken October 29, 2023)
(photo taken August 19, 2023)
(photo taken August 19, 2023)
(photo taken April 9, 2023)
(photo taken April 9, 2023)
(photo taken December 17, 2022)
(photo taken December 17, 2022)