[billethkid]

There are 2-6 weeks of cooler (sometimes like now, cold) weather. Usually in January and usually less than 6 weeks.
No one hates the cold weather and snow any more than I do. There is no contest about staying up North.....no way Jose'.

I have over the past 5 years let the cold snaps claim the vulnerable tropical plants and have been replacing them with cold weather tolerant species that are still tropical species....for example European Fan Palms good to as low as 10 below for short periods of time.

So if I had it to do all over again, my initial landscaping would include no cold vulnerable species. There would be hardly any compromise in the look and a significant relief of worrying when the temp hits 32 for a few days per year.

btk