View Full Version : Merce's Garden Oasis
merce3
03-28-2014, 02:10 PM
So, I have been living in my house for about 3 years now and I am finally starting to plan out my landscaping (thanks Richard for the inspiration). I have a few things in the ground, but want to make sure i have some organization with all of the trees I plan on planting in the next month or so. Here's a diagram of what I am planning:
http://i.imgur.com/T1XbLcql.png
It is still a work in progress, so I am open to any recommendations and please feel free to mock up the diagram. I am trying to maintain the view of the lake from the house as indicated by the brown lines, which will be bamboo trellises. also, the circle of bananas are meant to throw partial shade on my raised beds (the summer sun really does a number on my veggies).
What I have left to work in:
- grapes (back)
- dragon fruit (front/back)
- more palms (front and back)
- more bananas (front and back)
- koi pond (front/back)
- potted arbequina olive tree (front)
- carrie starfruit (front/back)
- multigrafted jaboticaba (back near lake)
Let me know what you think. I will start posting pics as i make progress.
Hammocked Banana
03-28-2014, 03:40 PM
Sweet. What is the water at the back of your property?
merce3
03-28-2014, 04:00 PM
it's a lake with an island of cypress in the middle. it attracts a lot of wildlife (eagles, ospreys, cormorants, otters). here's a better picture:
http://i.imgur.com/LNHml3nl.png
jbyrd88888
04-01-2014, 05:34 PM
Nice exotic location and cool plans! Your neighbor's oak tree might need to be "taken care of" before it get way out of hand.
My next door neighbor neglected to trim 1 of his trees before he moved out earlier this year. As a result of N.C.s last snow/ice storm half his tree broke off onto his roof and the other half: inches from my driveway. B/c he no longer lives there/around here... I took care of his tree. ;) Hasta la vista! shhh
Now, I'm curious to see what your front yard looks like without trees. Taken down to the ground or out completely?
merce3
04-02-2014, 08:46 PM
Nice exotic location and cool plans! Your neighbor's oak tree might need to be "taken care of" before it get way out of hand.
My next door neighbor neglected to trim 1 of his trees before he moved out earlier this year. As a result of N.C.s last snow/ice storm half his tree broke off onto his roof and the other half: inches from my driveway. B/c he no longer lives there/around here... I took care of his tree. ;) Hasta la vista! shhh
Now, I'm curious to see what your front yard looks like without trees. Taken down to the ground or out completely?
thanks! yeah, the neighbor's oak tree is definitely a problem. it throws so much shade during the winter months when the sun sinks. that's the reason i only have the one side heavily planted. i need to find some shade-tolerant fruit trees/plants (i'm sticking primarily to edibles). i was thinking of putting down some ginger, but I don't know what else. maybe i will put the pond there. the oak tree also brings squirrels, aka public enemy number 1. but they've learned their lesson about wandering into my yard where there's no where for them to hide >=]
the front yard needs some work. i missed the window for applying preemergent to control the weeds so they're everywhere. must be because of the weird winter weather we had. i am thinking of planting bananas along the northern border of the front yard.
merce3
04-13-2014, 11:21 AM
Some pictures:
Praying Hands
http://i.imgur.com/IHdkfu9l.jpg
Ele Ele
http://i.imgur.com/9jxWTwol.jpg
Dwarf Red
http://i.imgur.com/5PFJFRBl.jpg
FHIA-21 I have been neglecting
http://i.imgur.com/V8Hsb6Wl.jpg
Dwarf Brazilian
http://i.imgur.com/R7hHCdll.jpg
Pesing Raja
http://i.imgur.com/FPptQGJl.jpg
Ice Cream
http://i.imgur.com/lSsaQmal.jpg
African Rhino Horn
http://i.imgur.com/2g3az5Bl.jpg
Pitogo
http://i.imgur.com/glYRxrGl.jpg
merce3
04-13-2014, 11:21 AM
UF Sun Peaches
http://i.imgur.com/a8hOdXol.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/bDtHZBHl.jpg
Tropic Snow:
http://i.imgur.com/S56eLIol.jpg
Arbequina Olive (first fruit this year):
http://i.imgur.com/MYVGL7el.jpg
Blueberries:
http://i.imgur.com/ajWpMR6l.jpg
Rmplmnz
05-03-2014, 04:19 PM
Nice job George!
Not sold on citrus in FL...lots of problems...
Have more dragon fruit cuttings, bananas, sugar apples and more for you!
Chris
Worm_Farmer
05-03-2014, 06:25 PM
Can you pump water out of the lake to feed your plants?
merce3
05-04-2014, 08:46 AM
Nice job George!
Not sold on citrus in FL...lots of problems...
Have more dragon fruit cuttings, bananas, sugar apples and more for you!
Chris
Yeah, I am crossing my fingers on the citrus... I am going to plant them between me and my neighbor's house so hopefully they don't get infected. if they do, I'll have to uproot them. I heard on the news the other day that they discovered that citrus greening begins down in the roots. Hopefully they find some sort of treatment eventually.
I definitely want to make another run before the baby comes (2 more weeks!). Are you around next weekend?
merce3
05-04-2014, 08:49 AM
Can you pump water out of the lake to feed your plants?
My neighbor does and I want to, but I'm not sure how safe it is with the runoff from the street going in there. The lake really isn't that big but I suppose the cypress in the middle filters some of the pollutants out . Maybe I will use it for my fruit trees or ornamentals. I don't know about using it for my veggies though.
What are your thoughts?
merce3
05-20-2014, 05:47 PM
little update
http://i.imgur.com/EoJ6A0Hl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/l5UlprRl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lKWQZkdl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JAfH4Cll.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Mbs2a2xl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/kah91gIl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/kOG5qb6l.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wGVnAzrl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2X9TOaVl.jpg
merce3
05-20-2014, 05:48 PM
My neighbor does and I want to, but I'm not sure how safe it is with the runoff from the street going in there. The lake really isn't that big but I suppose the cypress in the middle filters some of the pollutants out . Maybe I will use it for my fruit trees or ornamentals. I don't know about using it for my veggies though.
What are your thoughts?
any thoughts on using lake water?
Abnshrek
05-20-2014, 05:58 PM
any thoughts on using lake water?
I'd get a salinity test done and if its good use the hell out of it.. :^)
Rmplmnz
05-20-2014, 10:20 PM
Yeah, I am crossing my fingers on the citrus... I am going to plant them between me and my neighbor's house so hopefully they don't get infected. if they do, I'll have to uproot them. I heard on the news the other day that they discovered that citrus greening begins down in the roots. Hopefully they find some sort of treatment eventually.
I definitely want to make another run before the baby comes (2 more weeks!). Are you around next weekend?
Hey sorry I did not respond timely....I rarely get on the pc...
Shoot me a pm with your availability and good luck with the new addition!!
merce3
05-26-2014, 08:27 AM
some turkey's that landed in my backyard... i had no idea these things flew!
http://i.imgur.com/GZArpp0l.jpg
bird poop caterpillar
http://i.imgur.com/Z32jPIgl.jpg
merce3
07-07-2014, 05:44 PM
so, i ventured onto the island today to scout it out but was chased off by a swarm of bees. meaning i had to jump off into 8+ feet of water and swim back. even though i haven't seen any gators, i know they're out there.
anyway, i think i am going back with full ppe next time.
Rmplmnz
07-07-2014, 09:44 PM
some turkey's that landed in my backyard... i had no idea these things flew!
http://i.imgur.com/GZArpp0l.jpg
bird poop caterpillar
http://i.imgur.com/Z32jPIgl.jpg
Is that a guava tree in the turkey pic (bottom right corner)?
merce3
07-07-2014, 10:48 PM
good eye! this year is the first that i am getting fruit. 3 holding on so far.
siege2050
07-07-2014, 11:12 PM
Wild turkeys fly, tame ones are too fat lol. I would use the water for sure for the lawn, green, green lawn.
merce3
07-25-2014, 08:11 AM
praying hands update
http://i.imgur.com/YgoQPLB.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GospDhj.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hIRmnJy.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/69wThCk.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dyPiy6H.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/HVK0IK3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/QrwWPja.jpg
merce3
07-25-2014, 12:50 PM
also got 5 cubic yards dropped off (another 5 coming next week)
http://i.imgur.com/JAxXpnp.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/vdL48Q4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/s2x1cD7.jpg
merce3
08-16-2014, 10:41 AM
update on the praying hands
http://i.imgur.com/mOOU3YZl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/m0WJG89l.jpg
Rmplmnz
08-16-2014, 07:07 PM
Awesome, nice job my friend!!
merce3
08-17-2014, 01:52 PM
thanks chris. i appreciate the help getting started on my new addiction
PR-Giants
08-17-2014, 01:59 PM
Very nice photo, they're huge!
http://i.imgur.com/m0WJG89l.jpg
merce3
08-17-2014, 02:47 PM
Very nice photo, they're huge!
thanks! they have really plumped up with all the rain we have been getting. hopefully they will completely fill out before our first freeze. i've read it takes 6 months from bloom to harvest for praying hands.
merce3
09-10-2014, 09:14 PM
man... the oasis is turning into a jungle. took some pics earlier today and the papayas are growing on top of the bananas, but that's kind of what i wanted. a thick circle of shade to protect my vegetable crops from the fl sun.
mamey sapote... going to try to fruit this in a pot
http://i.imgur.com/E6eJ68el.jpg
soursop blossom. i have 4... not sure if i should thin or let it do it's thing
http://i.imgur.com/xreIX2bl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Qd3FI0kl.jpg
tropical f1 hybrid papaya.. this thing just took off between the first and second pic.
http://i.imgur.com/v7jF0JFl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0mJaBtXl.jpg
dwarf brazillian
http://i.imgur.com/gcm1ZQ2l.jpg
red dwarf
http://i.imgur.com/higoBWjl.jpg
first papaya i started growing with 4 o'clocks around the base. not sure what kind the papaya is.
http://i.imgur.com/NuVNiAbl.jpg
praying hands in full effect
http://i.imgur.com/qsgb2uSl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4RZB0XXl.jpg
fhia-21
http://i.imgur.com/gsgqmkll.jpg
ele ele starting to show some more black
http://i.imgur.com/SeJ8pb9l.jpg
pickering which has flushed nicely since this pic. top pruning this thing into a monster bush
http://i.imgur.com/wp9GCa5l.jpg
pisang raja struggling for light against the papayas (solo sunset on the left tropical f1 on the right)
http://i.imgur.com/AC3R3GSl.jpg
ice cream looking just majestic
http://i.imgur.com/jK5dJo6l.jpg
rhino horn with solo sunsets on each side
http://i.imgur.com/S5Vn7r4l.jpg
pitogo that can't seem to hold up its own weight. the petioles keep snapping
http://i.imgur.com/uCDmMmjl.jpg
nam doc mai mango. tip pruning this guy too to keep it under control
http://i.imgur.com/OSyJhl7l.jpg
sugar cane in full effect this year. going to boil some of it into cane syrup.
http://i.imgur.com/oDorSKel.jpg
variegate pineapples from the top i cut a while back
http://i.imgur.com/ZZoZViel.jpg
circle from a distance. i'm taking down the bamboo trellis.
http://i.imgur.com/IR3YAfql.jpg
bronze ornata.. missed it in its prime.
http://i.imgur.com/VoXm4Vfl.jpg
bananas waiting for spring (fhia-18, cardaba, kandarian, hua moa, dwarf red, mysore, monzano, maricongo and i'm probably missing one or two)
http://i.imgur.com/D6F6u6ql.jpg
coconuts
http://i.imgur.com/GJlq2aql.jpg
Rmplmnz
09-10-2014, 09:26 PM
Wow! Awesome! What is the black matter at the base of The Red Dwarf?
merce3
09-10-2014, 09:35 PM
thanks! the black stuff is coffee grounds from a fellow member. trying to build the soil up with as much organic matter as i can.
from the sea
09-11-2014, 05:53 AM
looking good buddy
Cikas33
09-11-2014, 09:42 AM
Looking great.
jbyrd88888
09-11-2014, 10:13 AM
Gorgeous Georges! More than aesthetically stunning-magnificent, tis mind-blowing! Wow such awesome photos, I almost looked past your ancient private island :)
Erthang LOOKS GREAT! So Many Bananas!
merce3
09-11-2014, 06:43 PM
thanks for all of the positive comments fellas. glad to finally get things established. now i need to focus on some ornamentals for the front yard. i have a local extension office plant sale coming up so that should help. then some downtime and back to planting more tropicals and subtropicals in the spring.
does anyone have experience growing tropicals in the subtropics? i'm wondering if i should thin my soursop down to 1-2 fruit so that it hangs on to at least one.
merce3
11-15-2014, 01:33 PM
blue java:
http://i.imgur.com/5cZUna8l.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8QIPHQIl.jpg
praying hands:
http://i.imgur.com/AIuloETl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/yMok9tXl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1k43Y8Bl.jpg
does anyone know how long praying hands take from bloom to harvest? do mine look about ready? it flowered on 7/20
Your yard looks beautiful. :woohoonaner:
Rmplmnz
11-15-2014, 02:23 PM
Nice job!
I would let the praying hands go awhile longer (weather permitting). We do not harvest PH until we see yellow:-):lurk:
merce3
11-15-2014, 08:11 PM
Your yard looks beautiful. :woohoonaner:
thanks! i am going to take it to the next level in the spring.
Nice job!
I would let the praying hands go awhile longer (weather permitting). We do not harvest PH until we see yellow:-):lurk:
thanks chris, i appreciate it.
merce3
11-25-2014, 04:35 PM
Nice job!
I would let the praying hands go awhile longer (weather permitting). We do not harvest PH until we see yellow:-):lurk:
chris: how yellow is yellow? mine is showing splotches of yellow, but it is still mostly green.
merce3
12-24-2014, 07:55 AM
update on my blue java
http://i.imgur.com/vP2gn74l.jpg
dwarf brazillian just flowered
http://i.imgur.com/pzNxgQGl.jpg
chris: how yellow is yellow? mine is showing splotches of yellow, but it is still mostly green.
also as a fyi, once it starts spotting yellow it's pretty much ready to harvest. they all went from green to yellow in about a week after i cut the raceme
merce3
09-08-2015, 06:58 PM
bringing this back from the dead to post a picture of my manini (ae'ae'). it needs to be repotted asap.
http://i.imgur.com/1teg244h.jpg
merce3
09-08-2015, 09:31 PM
i was going to put it in the ground but with the cold wet winter that was predicted, i don't want to take any chances losing it to rot.
Mark Dragt
09-08-2015, 09:53 PM
i was going to put it in the ground but with the cold wet winter that was predicted, i don't want to take any chances losing it to rot.
You can take those chances when you have pups to back you up. Good call. That is one beautiful plant. I wouldn't take the chance loosing it to rot.
How are your garden makeover plans coming along?
:nanadrink:
Mark Dragt
09-08-2015, 10:05 PM
One way or the other I will have a Manini growing at my house. Do you have any updated picts of your paradise?
edzone9
09-09-2015, 05:55 AM
Looking real good !
PR-Giants
09-09-2015, 08:23 AM
Plant looks great for under 8 weeks, but what I'm concerned with is the blade width.
It makes me wonder if its effected by something you're doing.
Does the blade width seem thin to you, and could you take a pic from above.
It kind of reminds me of the Opryland plant.
http://www.bananas.org/f12/verigated-something-7721-2.html#post72609
bringing this back from the dead to post a picture of my manini (ae'ae'). it needs to be repotted asap.
http://i.imgur.com/1teg244h.jpg
PR-Giants
09-09-2015, 08:33 AM
One way or the other I will have a Manini growing at my house.
From looking at your order/draft, the only thing missing is when you wanted it shipped. :lurk:
merce3
09-09-2015, 10:29 AM
You can take those chances when you have pups to back you up. Good call. That is one beautiful plant. I wouldn't take the chance loosing it to rot.
How are your garden makeover plans coming along?
:nanadrink:
yeah, i agree. i was on the fence about putting it in the ground, but i have a 45 gal pot that should work until spring.
makeover plans coming along slowly and i have made some deviations. i extended my semicircle of bananas from the back yard to the front in a straight line with some roselle planted between them. i love the drink made from roselle... jamaicans call it sorrel. also planted a nam doc mai #4 and a mallika mango (one in the front and one in the back). i have around 8-9 bananas that i need to plant in the back. planted a dream cherimoya/atemoya in the front and a couple solo sunrise papayas.
i will take pictures either today or tomorrow now that i have cleared space on my camera.
One way or the other I will have a Manini growing at my house. Do you have any updated picts of your paradise?
good luck. they are beautiful plants... more beautiful in person.
Looking real good !
thanks ed!
Plant looks great for under 8 weeks, but what I'm concerned with is the blade width.
It makes me wonder if its effected by something you're doing.
Does the blade width seem thin to you, and could you take a pic from above.
It kind of reminds me of the Opryland plant.
http://www.bananas.org/f12/verigated-something-7721-2.html#post72609
i was wondering about that... could it be the pot limiting the growth? i just began fertilizing it yesterday, but from my experience that doesn't affect leaf width. thanks again for sending. btw, all of the other corms have come to life except for one--the french plantain.
Mark Dragt
09-09-2015, 08:40 PM
From looking at your order/draft, the only thing missing is when you wanted it shipped. :lurk:
Last week of April 2016
:08:
PR-Giants
09-11-2015, 11:08 AM
Do you recall if the roller I sent was thin?
Hopefully robguz will chime in, he's our resident expert on all things ae.
i was wondering about that... could it be the pot limiting the growth? i just began fertilizing it yesterday, but from my experience that doesn't affect leaf width. thanks again for sending. btw, all of the other corms have come to life except for one--the french plantain.
mushtaq86
09-11-2015, 03:23 PM
Looking great George, any chance of seeing Monkey fingers:drum:
Rmplmnz
09-14-2015, 09:19 PM
Looking great George, any chance of seeing Monkey fingers:drum:
Awesome George....hopefully I can jump in to your thread with a video for our mutual friend Mushtaq...just shot this one after work tonight.............
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjs3qN9lSn8&feature=youtu.be
I will post some picks later on the Rmplmnz Garden Tour thread.
merce3
09-14-2015, 10:33 PM
of course, chris... mushtaq i will post pictures tomorrow along with my ice cream and praying hands.
Rmplmnz
09-14-2015, 11:13 PM
of course, chris... mushtaq i will post pictures tomorrow along with my ice cream and praying hands.
Thanks George, harvesting fruit and corms Sunday noon with DMAtlas & IanB if you are interested/available!:bananas_b
merce3
09-19-2015, 04:22 PM
snapped a few pics of some bunches the other day. i have a namwah and mysore that just pushed a flower, so i will update with those as they begin to open up.
fhia-21
http://i.imgur.com/aToWxsMl.jpg
monkey fingers
http://i.imgur.com/wduAYgXl.jpg
ice cream
http://i.imgur.com/oTKUf72l.jpg
Rmplmnz
09-19-2015, 05:51 PM
snapped a few pics of some bunches the other day. i have a namwah and mysore that just pushed a flower, so i will update with those as they begin to open up.
monkey fingers
http://i.imgur.com/wduAYgXl.jpg
George,
The Monkey Finger is from me??
That is a PJB:
<a href="http://s1311.beta.photobucket.com/user/rmplmnz/media/PisangJariBuaya_zps4e10a7e5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s674/rmplmnz/PisangJariBuaya_zps4e10a7e5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PisangJariBuaya_zps4e10a7e5.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1311.beta.photobucket.com/user/rmplmnz/media/PisangJariBuaya2_zps84409b4a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s674/rmplmnz/PisangJariBuaya2_zps84409b4a.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PisangJariBuaya2_zps84409b4a.jpg"/></a>
We may have screwed up the labels? That is what happens when you dig up a bunch of different corms all at once:ha:
http://www.bananas.org/f2/pisang-jari-buaya-10255.html#post214762
merce3
09-19-2015, 06:49 PM
George,
The Monkey Finger is from me??
That is a PJB:
<a href="http://s1311.beta.photobucket.com/user/rmplmnz/media/PisangJariBuaya_zps4e10a7e5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s674/rmplmnz/PisangJariBuaya_zps4e10a7e5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PisangJariBuaya_zps4e10a7e5.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1311.beta.photobucket.com/user/rmplmnz/media/PisangJariBuaya2_zps84409b4a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s674/rmplmnz/PisangJariBuaya2_zps84409b4a.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PisangJariBuaya2_zps84409b4a.jpg"/></a>
We may have screwed up the labels? That is what happens when you dig up a bunch of different corms all at once:ha:
http://www.bananas.org/f2/pisang-jari-buaya-10255.html#post214762
thanks for the clarification. the wiki led me to believe that pisang jari buaya was the original (indian) name for monkey fingers (see the synonym list here: Musa Monkey Fingers - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Musa_Monkey_Fingers))... there's no other listing for jari buaya. i guess i was confused by that. what is the difference between the two?
merce3
12-31-2015, 11:28 AM
some updated pics
dwarf super plantain
http://i.imgur.com/Nk5aQT0l.jpg
maricongo or cardaba
http://i.imgur.com/czqxsRbl.jpg
praying hands
http://i.imgur.com/T7wRL6Ql.jpg
pitogo
http://i.imgur.com/X9JOP3xl.jpg
ae'ae'
http://i.imgur.com/KHEag1Ll.jpg
pickering
http://i.imgur.com/BzBuKWll.jpg
nam doc mai #4
http://i.imgur.com/m5p18Oyl.jpg
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