Our "Exotics" on Heligoland December 2007

Originally we wanted organize e start outplantings in Spring 2007 again and one island visit in Fall 2007, but unfortunately they had to break down because of date, vocational, organizational, private and financial reasons, so that 2007 was a difficulty year.

However the Ulf's brother Kay took photos from one part of our "exotics", which appear most important for us. Kay sent the pics then to Chris by email and I have downloaded them to my harddisk, edited them and also uploaded to Photobucket.com. Our galleries had to move from Yahoo Photos and Flickr to Photobucket.com. Yahoo Photos was closed in late October and liquidated and replaced by Flickr, but Flickr isn't free on the contrary to Yahoo Photos and Photobucket.com. This ensemble took us very much time, the more so as I also am working at one book project. I'm writing one book about bananas in Germany, further books are planned.

But as I saw the pics, my astonishment was big.

The Jubaea chilensis at the hotel "Insulaner" is still fine! The hotel was rebuilt and the Jubaea obtained one box, so that it survived the past winter without any damage by salt wind. 

Jubaea chilensis at the rebuilt hotel "Insulaner" in December 2007.

The closed view of the area of the spear of the Jubaea chilensis show that the condition of the palm is still very good.

Also the trunk rudiment of the Jubaea chilensis is firm.

Also the Washingtonia filifera at the power station survived the past mild winter undamaged and without winter protection. In the background Citrus lemon, which has even survived the past winter. If it don't survive this winter, it will be replaced by one hardier citrus species, perhaps one Poncirus hybrid or one Citrus unshiu.

One surprise is the Musa basjoo 'Sapporo' at the power station, it has survived the past winter without loosing the pseudotrunk and without winter protection, is the largest outdoor banana of Heligoland. Beside of it one Musella lasiocarpa perhaps will be outplanted next year.

Picture gallery to the visit in October 2007 (unfortunately only in German, please click on!)

Author: Joachim Jaeck

Edited on 26th March, 2008