And Now, Here's The Weather...

Just when winter is fading from memory, a comprehensive reminder of just how bad it was. Members' personal views of the winter around Europe.
by various contributors
Chamaerops No. 02, published online 23-11-2002

Toughing it out: Trachycarpus learns it's snow joke

Last February s weather hit fast and hit hard. A big anticyclone over Scandinavia and low pressure over the Mediterranean induced a wind flow from east to west, bringing extremely cold air from the steppes of Russia over all of Europe. In many places it was the coldest for 4 years.

The article that follows is a round-up from 15 of our members living around the continent:

First, Philippe Byrne in Exeter, United Kingdom

"In the South West of the U.K. the winter was mild with the exception of 2 cold weeks in February when the temperature fell to -9¾C on the night of February 9th. Daytime temperatures hovered around freezing for over a week. Snowfall was light but there was a bitter east wind.

"Outside, trachycarpus fortunei was totally unaffected as were Cordyline australis (which were cut to the ground 4 years ago). Chamaerops leaves were somewhat yellowed but my 15 year old plant stood up well to the weather.

"Washingtonia filiferas were protected with a good packing of straw around the trunk. Leaves unprotected by the straw are quite brown and dead, but by mid-March new green growth is already pushing up. My verdict - keep trying."

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