Introduction
 

Hi all, glad to be with you. I am oldhippie01, or "Hippie", or Kirk. My Wife and I bought this little place, 02/ 09, ( containing approx, 3/4 Acre ), to be close to the Grand Kids AND where the Weather suited our Clothes, LOL. Apparently we jinxed that however, because last Winter was the Coldest on record and we had our first hard Freeze on the First of Dec. this year, followed by five or six more and it's not even the fifteenth yet.
In spite of that though, I managed to clear 14 large,(60 ft.), "Sand Pine" Trees,( so that I could get some of this "Florida Sun" on the Ground), Planted five various types of Citrus Trees, ten Black Berry Bushes and ten "Thorn less" Black Berries, Two Cavendish Banana "Pups",( from a local Nursery) and a" Raja-Puri" , that Fruits in nine months in Zone's 8 and 9, from ( justfruitsandexotics.com ) in Crawfordville Florida, South of Tallahassee. We are in Zone 9 in SE Marion County Florida. Well having never grown Bananas before, but doing a lot of research on them, from various sources and doing my best,( on short notice) to protect my Plants from 17 degree Temp.'s, I never dreamed that I would get Fruit this Year. To my Surprise however one of my Cavendish Plants took off and reached ten foot, prior to throwing a Fruit Flower, early enough to fully develop six large "Hands" of Bananas, prior to our Freeze,( which I have hanging in a Closet, presently). My Raja-Puri started Fruiting about a Month after the Cavendish and I knew that it probably would run out of time, unless we had an unusually warm Winter,( which we obviously aren't. So I converted it to Compost, as well as one of it's "Daughters" that started throwing a "Fruit Flower" the day before our first Freeze. All is not lost though, because I had previously harvested a Large "Daughter Plant" and Transplanted it in a lower location, on the South side of the Property and it is insulated in Hay and Plastic, waiting to make its debut next spring .
Well that about covers it, I am looking forward to conversing with all of you, picking your Brains and imparting any Wisdom ,( from experiences), I have had.......Kirk

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome! You're not the only one, I've seen really cold temps here too. Hope you'll stay. You'll learn a lot from here, and we hope to learn a lot from you too! :)

Re: Introduction
 

Hi Lee! Thanks for the Welcome. I have every intention of staying and looking forward to getting involved, once I find my way around the Bells and whistles, LOL.

Re: Introduction
 

SOOOOO!!!!!

You are the reason all my plants are frozen this year and last.

OK I'll let it slide but by next year you got to get your act together and send that cold back up North.

OK You have my vote for Rookie of the Year.

Well officially Welcome! I feel like I already know you since we have PM'd a few times. You'll fit in well here!

I planted a thornless blackberry as well and hope to get some berries next year. Harris Nursery is down there near you and have quality Citrus if you need anymore and you know about Just Fruits and Exotics. They have bananas, fruit trees and citrus. Just do your research carefully with respect to chilling hours required on some trees.

I feel your pain on clearing the land I just recently cleared a 75'x 100' area that will receive Bananas, Citrus, Berries, fruits and tropical looking ornamentals this spring.

Good luck.

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome oldhippie!:bananas_b

Re: Introduction
 

I'm also an oooooold hippie, greetings!

Re: Introduction
 

Thanks for the welcome Yug! There aren't many of us Old Hippie's left, LOL. I see by looking you up on the Map that we have something else in common. I spent three years stationed at the Sub Marine Base at Pearl Harbor, from 58 to 61.

Kirk

Re: Introduction
 

Small world, 'eh? I currently work on Ford Island so I can see the sub-base regularly.

Re: Introduction
 

Indeed. Beautiful Islands, I envy your Climate.