http://israelity.com/2009/03/12/how-does-your-garden-grow-in-israel-not-so-well/ Life beyond the conflict Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:20:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://israelity.com/2009/03/12/how-does-your-garden-grow-in-israel-not-so-well/comment-page-1/#comment-287863 David Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:31:50 +0000 http://israelity.com/?p=9068#comment-287863 I'm not a botanist but I've been interested in plants for quite a while. Offhand, I would assume that most Israeli researchers concentrate on plants suitable for Israel's environment only. I would just like to point out that, in a normal economy of course, landscapers here in the US are always looking for something new and interesting that is also capable of withstanding harsh winters and still maintain a good appearance in the summer. For example, here in southeastern New England, we get a lot of rain in addition to snow in the winter, which ordinarily would mean a death knell for cacti. So people are usually surprised to see that I have a number of opuntia humifusa, the Eastern prickly Pear, that are doing well, along with others. Another example is a winter hardy palm, trachycarpus fortuneeii, the Chinese Windmill Palm, that can survive here, which would be a sure seller if someone could come up with a dependable strain. I’m not a botanist but I’ve been interested in plants for quite a while. Offhand, I would assume that most Israeli researchers concentrate on plants suitable for Israel’s environment only. I would just like to point out that, in a normal economy of course, landscapers here in the US are always looking for something new and interesting that is also capable of withstanding harsh winters and still maintain a good appearance in the summer. For example, here in southeastern New England, we get a lot of rain in addition to snow in the winter, which ordinarily would mean a death knell for cacti. So people are usually surprised to see that I have a number of opuntia humifusa, the Eastern prickly Pear, that are doing well, along with others. Another example is a winter hardy palm, trachycarpus fortuneeii, the Chinese Windmill Palm, that can survive here, which would be a sure seller if someone could come up with a dependable strain.

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