Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Keith McCord Reporting Every now and then, we have the opportunity to update a story. This one started last winter, about a guy in Bountiful who planted a couple of palm trees in his front yard.
He wrapped them up with Christmas lights, to keep them warm throughout the winter. We went back to see if they survived! They did!
This was Doug Butts' front yard on November 30th last year--a cold, snowy day. Not the kind of setting where you'd expect to see a couple of palm trees!
Doug found some varieties that can handle cold temperatures, and decided to see if they'd survive.
Well, here's his front yard today. Not only did the two original trees survive, he's brought in about a dozen more!
Doug Butts: "We have seven different varieties of palms."
Keith McCord: "And different sizes."
Doug Butts: "And different sizes! This one right here weighs just under a ton."
That's one of two California Fan-type palms. The tallest addition to his front yard is a 25-foot Mexican Fan. He has it secured with two-by-fours until the roots take hold, then it should really start going!
"This one here can grow up to two feet a year, and can grow to 100 feet high."
Some of these others could go 40 or 50 feet tall! Doug bought these palms from southern California, and just recently got them all planted.
Doug Butts: "What we've found is that they're going through a little bit of shock right now. They're maintaining themselves right now."
Palm trees like these are pretty hardy-- some are temperature- tolerant down to 15 degrees or so. And Doug says they're maintenence free, except when winter comes around again! He only had two trees to wrap up and heat last year.
Keith McCord: "Are you going to have to do the same with these?"
Doug Butts: "We're going to have to get a lot of bubble wrap and a lot of Christmas lights."
Is he done? Doug says he has some room in the back yard, where he may plant a few more!
