Wi Tim

I experienced the same winter die back with walnuts at my place.
Looking at your picture, I would say that in nature Elderberries probably prefer a more sheltered and moist habitat, so maybe use some kind of wind protection?

I talked to a local expert, and in his opinion the cause of the above is the "cold weather event" we experienced this winter. In January 2024 temperature dropped to between -15F and -20F (which is -25C to -30C) after being around freezing point for weeks, causing lots of burst pipes and lots of damage to the fruit trees in the area... Sweet cherries are apparently not designed to withstand this!

Thank you, Nancy! Apparently, we did have some weird weather. I think I should paint the branches white as well as the trunk on all of my trees.

Is it possible to save this cherry tree? Bark is peeling off.
And what could be the reason for it? The photos are taken facing southwest, so it does not look like a sunburn.
Thank you!

What ages is it for?
Will it be possible to leave a teenager with you, while the parents will be a few hours away?
Can we bring a little teardrop camper for him, or just a tent?

Not really answering your questions, since I am in a quite different climate than yours. But don't forget about timing of the harvest. You probably don't want the edibles to be ready to harvest when school is on summer vacation.

It is considered invasive in California. http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/plant_profiles/Hypericum_perforatum.php

Thank you, John and Anne for your advice!

John, I got excited after your reading your post, but Joseph returned me back to earth
No, I did not come to this country to do something illegal. I don't want to own a 'black market" nursery.

John, you said you looked into it, but did you actually import any seeds?

Hi fellow permies,

The idea is to start a permaculture nursery that specializes in Soviet varieties, selling seedlings and possibly seeds. I see there is enough interest, and since I grew up in the former Soviet Union and have friends and relatives in quite a few of the Newly Independent States (including Central Asia), it could be a great fit.
However, before I even try to explore the export regulations in those States, I need to figure out how to legally import the seeds to US.

My question is, what do I need to do in order to import to the USA seeds of perennials, trees and shrubs from abroad? I am talking about a dozen of varieties and maybe a couple of hundreds seeds each to start, with plans for expanding in the future.
More specifically,
1) Do I have to submit an "Application to Import Plants or Plant Products" to USDA?
2) Should I try to qualify under Small Lots of Seed Program?
3) Form 587 (assuming I need it) calls for a specific "Port of Entry", does it mean I will not be able to receive the seeds by mail?

Thank you!