Hi Ken, thank you for the link. It does have a lot of good information.
I am going to try lifting a few and leaving a few and we will see what happens. It came in a large pot, and lived in it for quite a while before I got it in the ground, so I would guess that the kids shouldn't mind being potted. Although Lucy68 warned me that they do not appreciate being moved. Which is why I will only disturb a few.

I certainly agree about bamboo not following any rules! I planted a Phylostachys spectabilis (Lewis, green/yellow), and have it on a drip line. In August I discovered that the sprinkler valve to that line was not shutting off all the way. The bamboo is at the low end of the line, and was getting a constant dribble of water. I thought for sure it would be rotted. But it went from seven culms to twenty, very happy, bushy as anything. I certainly would not recommend it, or try it again, but I think that proves your point- you just never know. Throw the rule book out.
I am now learning about bamboo as I go.

That's how I found out my main irrigation juncture was leaking! A black bamboo went from a few sprigs to a huge and glorious tree in a matter of months. I had to dig out the entire bamboo (gave friends a lot of pieces) and repotted into a livestock tank. That was a year and a half ago and its still pouting but finally showed some interest in growing this summer. On the other hand, the pieces of root that were missed are very happy (until I dig them up and move them). Its hard to kill and harder to transplant.

That must have been a scary thing to find, Lucy, and hopefully not too expensive. The best way to find a leak is to look out for green grass where there shouldn't be any, they say. We saw a patch of green in dormant grass that was all brown. Turned out this place is plumbed with flexible pipe, and a fir tree's roots had pinched the line in two. Powerful trees.

I guess your pouting black bamboo is following the mantra the guy told me when I bought the bamboos- the first year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap. Which actually applies to many plants. They do indeed pout. But patience pays.

Erin, sounds like you need to take up 'forest gardening'. I'm kind of embracing using more natives in landscapes at work and it sounds like you have them right out the back door.
I can grow Hostas, Japanese Maples (at least some of them), daffodils (some of them ), some bamboos and a lot of tropicals but you're right; no turkeys. I think I'd like the weather you thought you'd get so I could grow more deciduous stuff, but then SWMBO wouldn't get her hibiscus, abutilons and Tipu tree. We always want what we can't have! There's a guy in northern England trying to grow Aloes and a Dutchman living in Phoenix to grow Agaves. Crazy world.

I agree, John, those with curly hair want it straight, and vice versa. Actually, She could still have her Hibiscus with the moscheutos variety. They are very cold tolerant and have the eight inch flowers. But no, the Tipu and the Abutilons would not happen at all. If you went twenty miles to the east of here, perhaps. Although it still snows. It is just so far north there is no escaping the weather. I never gave the weather a thought growing up in the Valley, but here it is something to be watched and feared.
Natives are definitely a way to go. I am fine with them, my husband wants his splashy flowers. I planted 919 bulbs of various sorts this January. Didn't make as much of a splash as you would think. They will be better next year.
I am giving up trying to force things, it is too sad, and they certainly don't appreciate it, even if they live, they resent being here. The gardening show guys are always saying 'right plant, right place'. I think they may have something there, the plants are much more cooperative when that happens. Now, if I could just convince the voles and moles and whoever takes them at night to go along with the program, I would have something.

Thru out my experience with bamboo it is hardy in the PNW thru all the rain and snow storms. Had mine for many years. I'm no expert but bamboo is very cold Hardy . It's the heat of extreme hot summers that can be an issue.

Chinese Fountain Bamboo is a vigorous growing and hardy evergreen plant. Yet if there is a rare climate change and sudden freeze for long periods it could change the hardiness of small young growth. It will continue to send up new seedlings thruout the next growing season and so on until maturity, about 20 years.

During the first few years your bamboo is just starting to establish a full colony of underground rhizomes. As your bamboo accrues more biomass, it will stay better insulated through the winter naturally. I have had really good luck in our cold winters in the PNW with my bamboo planted in several areas around the garden under and near large evergreen Doug fir trees.

Flowers

Full view

We have peacocks and turkeys in our area. The peacocks are very docile, I often have to push them out of the way with my foot to get them to move. The turkeys are just crazy! They fluff themselves up and dare you to pass. I went out to get in my car and a flock of turkeys were attaching my hubcaps!

bumplbea said:
Flowers

• Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra)
• Uploaded by bumplbea

Bea-
How did your black bamboo do after flowering?
Any seedlings sprouting?

Lucy68 said: We have peacocks and turkeys in our area. The peacocks are very docile, I often have to push them out of the way with my foot to get them to move. The turkeys are just crazy! They fluff themselves up and dare you to pass. I went out to get in my car and a flock of turkeys were attaching my hubcaps!

Lucy, they were attaching your hubcaps? after rotating the tires??
Sorry, sometimes I just can't help myself!

Rotating ths tires first would have been good.

Hi Bea, thank you so much for the details about bamboo up here. I hope someday mine look as nice as yours under the Dougs. Your photo is just how I envisioned my forest garden looking. It is nice to hear from someone who is succeeding in the same conditions. I will keep working at it.

Lucy, do the peacocks scream all night? I have heard such things...

These turkeys are not aggressive, the biggest problem I have with them is that they like to wallow in the nice, soft dirt around my plants. They are not digging the plants up on purpose, but just like soft dirt to dust bathe in. Now if I could get them to push the plants back in the dirt when they are done, that would be good. They have a mulch pile to wallow in, but do not stick to just that.
They don't try to attach my tires, (I don't have hubcaps), but there is a little wooden wishing well that they like to get on top of. Kind of like king of the hill. Silly birds.