Late November & early December had several weeks of -20C temperatures and no snow cover. This was followed by about 2 weeks of mild weather and significant rainfall with nowhere for the water to run off through the solidly frozen ground. Areas of low slope/drainage had standing water which then froze as the weather turned cold again. Sufficient snow cover finally arrived in January and the temperatures fell to -30C to -35C range with wind chills in excess of -40C. (RH)

• Opuntia fragilis from all locations unaffected.
• Unexpected light to medium die-back in both O. humifusa plants and both O. polyacantha plants.
• All three "hardiness" experiment plants died (Paul Wise's Cylindropuntia; Echinocereus species from seed; Opuntia leptocaulis).
• Opuntia arenaria grown outside since 1999 died.
• Escobaria vivipara (from 2 different locations) grown outside since 2000 died.
• Opuntia imbricata grown outside since 2000 died.
• Large Opuntia cymochila grown outside since 2000 died.
• Large Opuntia basilaris grown outside since 2000 died.
• Opuntia rutila grown outside since 2002 died.
• Opuntia fragilis var denudata grown outside since 2002 died.
• Opuntia polyacantha var. utahensis (HC 052) started outside August 2003 died.
• Opuntia davisii grown outside since 2000 died.
• Opuntia whipplei grown outside since 2000 died.

Rob Huntley - most things doing very well - just reporting the negatives below:

• Opuntia cymochila - 1 survived - 2 lost.
• Opuntia whipplei - one almost completely gone (restarted from a tip); second plant just the opposite and growing very well.
• Opuntia viridiflorus - hardly grown over 2 winters - just one small joint.
• Opuntia imbricata - virtually no growth over 2 winters but still alive.
• Opuntia kleinae - grew well in second year (2003) but this spring just a stump left, still alive but not growing.
• A number of the species listed in the above table were in fact 1st winter survival of 1st year seedlings. The summer of 2003 showed very little growth in many of these. Some losses occurred to a number of these young specimens in this, their second winter. The following are no longer represented after the second winter but may be worthy of trying again considering the harshness of this winter, the fact that they did survive their first winter, and the very early age at which they were planted: Echinocereus engelmanii v. chrysocentrus (SB 695), Echinocereus engelmanii v. variegatus (SB 481) (may be 2 alive or may be skeletons), Sclerocactus spinosior (SB 740), Escobaria minima (SB 423), Echinocereus triglochidiatus (SB 1598). I hope to provide more detailed accounting of seedling trials at a future time.
• Pictures (and eventually further information on my experiences with winter hardy cacti) can be found at my web site.

Kristl Walek (Gardens North) - The following have been in the garden for about 5-6 years:

• Pediocactus simpsonii - no losses ever.
• Escobaria vivipara - no losses ever.
• Escobaria vivipara arizonica - no losses ever.
• Echinocereus viridiflorus - no losses ever. Has been the most prolific flowering Echinocereus.
• Echinocereus coccineus - some plants rotted.
• Echinocereus fendleri a few losses.
• Echinocereus reichenbachii albispinus - no losses ever.
• Echinocereus reichenbachii perbellus - no losses ever.
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus - some rotted, only one left.
• Opuntia imbricata - winter killed 2 years ago down to one small joint. This was lost this past winter.