View Full Version : The jungle 2016
Nate74
02-20-2016, 06:48 PM
Its early I know, but this basjoo has pushed out 2" of GREEN leaf today. It has me rather excited and optimistic for the coming spring.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/DE1D8765-2E42-434E-AD01-E954471828D7.jpg
Congrats! Today we've got 9 inches of snow here! Not even close to taking the nanners out!!!
Longwoods Tropicals
02-21-2016, 08:12 PM
Sweet! Despite seeing Temps in the 60s twice so far this February I still won't even peek at mine for another month yet...if I'm lucky...lol
OT, damn all those friggen bot spamers to hell already.
exovetek
02-21-2016, 08:45 PM
What is the flowering bush that is next to your Basjoo? I just moved to Tacoma,WA in September and I have two in front of my house. They are everywhere here, but I don't know what they Are.
Nate74
02-21-2016, 09:03 PM
What is the flowering bush that is next to your Basjoo? I just moved to Tacoma,WA in September and I have two in front of my house. They are everywhere here, but I don't know what they Are.
It's a Rhododendron of some sort. It was planted by the builder 13 years ago. It has great red flowers but they are very early in the season.
exovetek
02-21-2016, 09:17 PM
Thanks. I'm thinking of planting some Basjoo this summer, but afraid they might clash with the coniferous/deciduous landscape. How do you think they would look next to some Hinoki Cypress? I'm thinking of planting them in a separate area along the south wall of the house with some elephant ears.
Mark Dragt
02-21-2016, 09:22 PM
What is the flowering bush that is next to your Basjoo? I just moved to Tacoma,WA in September and I have two in front of my house. They are everywhere here, but I don't know what they Are.
Yes as Nate74 pointed out, it is a Rhododendron. Actually the Washington state flower is the coast rhododendron (rhododendron macrophyllum). Drive out to the beach sometime and you will see them growing wild along the road.
Welcome to the neighborhood. I live 30 minutes south of Olympia. Where did you move from?
:nanadrink:
exovetek
02-21-2016, 09:31 PM
Yes as Nate74 pointed out, it is a Rhododendron. Actually the Washington state flower is the coast rhododendron (rhododendron macrophyllum). Drive out to the beach sometime and you will see them growing wild along the road.
Welcome to the neighborhood. I live 30 minutes south of Olympia. Where did you move from?
:nanadrink:
Thanks. I moved up from San Diego for school and a change of greenery. I took my bananas with me. They are under 600 watts of lighting in my kitchen for now. I plan on building a large greenhouse this summer for them. I also look forward to seeing the Rainforest and the rest of the Olympic peninsula this spring.
Grannycore
02-21-2016, 09:39 PM
Thanks. I'm thinking of planting some Basjoo this summer, but afraid they might clash with the coniferous/deciduous landscape. How do you think they would look next to some Hinoki Cypress? I'm thinking of planting them in a separate area along the south wall of the house with some elephant ears.
I think it'll look great. I think the thin green needles of the cypress will be a great contrast to banana leaves - you don't want it all the same, just like any design. I also say plant what you want! The fun of gardening trumps all. (This is the excuse I use to explain the chaos that my yard inevitably becomes by July.)
Mark Dragt
02-21-2016, 09:53 PM
The whole western side of the state is a rain forest this time of year. It's a neat drive as I call it, around the horn. Take a good look at Crescent Lake and bring a camera. The reflection of the mountains on the lake,wow! I drove through there one time and there was some snow on the mountains and talk about a postcard moment. I didn't have a camera with me. Bummer.
I looked through your photos and you have a nice banana collection.
:nanadrink:
Mark Dragt
02-22-2016, 12:29 AM
Its early I know, but this basjoo has pushed out 2" of GREEN leaf today. It has me rather excited and optimistic for the coming spring.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/DE1D8765-2E42-434E-AD01-E954471828D7.jpg
That's just the start of your spectacular yard for 2016! Your picts from last year were breathtaking. Your green thumbs might go all the way to your elbows. Can't wait to see the picts later this year.
cincinnana
02-24-2016, 10:21 PM
Its early I know, but this basjoo has pushed out 2" of GREEN leaf today. It has me rather excited and optimistic for the coming spring.
Awsome!!!
Mine are still mushy and brown.
SixtySix
03-01-2016, 07:39 AM
Incredible! I'm on the opposite corner of the continent and my basjoo has only just started to push up. Quite a mild winter.
Nate74
04-04-2016, 11:01 AM
So growth is slow and steady, and it appears that I lost one banana over the winter. When you consider my wintering technique was to cut the stem at 4' and wait for spring perhaps only wasn't so bad.
Last year I concentrated on getting my front yard mostly where I wanted, I will be tinkering with it a little this season. My main project will be the back.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/C5C54B36-031C-4092-8792-AFACFC8C117D.jpg
this is my canvas. so this weekend I started off by removing the two raised vegetable beds. Holy was there a lot of soil in those. So I needed a place for that to go, After dressing all of the beds in my yard I still had enough for a new bed in the front.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/4770B6F8-0741-4960-9607-B454F9801941.jpg
then it was time to layout this out. Bad angle I know but it was raining by the time I finished and I wasn't going up on the roof for a better shot.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/DAC83587-ADA0-4BBD-9DEA-A55168DF282D.jpg
that will be a 15' x 26' pool there will be a deck coming off the house that runs out to it and hopefully some sort of pergola for shade.
In happy plant news my ensetes are itching to get outside.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/BAD00759-32F9-4994-8139-5E5D7933E8EF.jpg
I keep having to cut them back so that the garage door doesn't hit them and that is 9' sitting on a bare root ball not watered since they came out of the ground.
My tachycarpus is pushing flowers for the first time.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/C69CBF3D-D57B-4B83-AD47-EB9EC86DC244.jpg
And my Rhodo is in full bloom.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/3B0760F7-AC3B-4C7C-BFF5-511C274DA84F.jpg
I didn't get a picture but my Alocasias have been moved out and will go into the ground with the ensetes next weekend.
yellowfin
04-04-2016, 03:53 PM
Those pictures are amazing. Ohio is really bumming me out.
Nate74
04-09-2016, 07:29 PM
They're baaack
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/9BF8EFCD-CB8C-44E2-A9F7-6A0AC2361912.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/BA8A96B9-E774-4FA7-9BC3-36C42C5AFCFD.jpg
switched up the third Ensete for some Alocasia Calidora
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/16817BD1-5C9E-4449-822D-857996B89FE3.jpg
I am very happy to see these guys poking through as I wasn't sure if they were going to make it through the winter.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/BF09591F-001F-47B5-B707-3FD273409558.jpg
they will become
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Garden%202015/97BC465F-A008-4D02-97C4-0B3AA3E34107.jpg
Nate74
04-10-2016, 06:52 PM
One of the things I love most about bananas is that last spring these were 3x 6 inch indoor Tropicals at a local garden centre.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/34407FBF-DD96-45D0-89BD-62F534D7D0F7.jpg
Now it's 11 1 gallon or better. They will come back inside for a few more weeks and then into the yard they will go.
Mark Dragt
04-10-2016, 09:53 PM
I do or know what else to say, but WOW! Your yard is going to look amazing. It is already taking shape to be as awesome or better as last year. Great job! Great picts! You are a true inspiration to low zone growers. Thank you.
:woohoonaner:
Nate74
04-11-2016, 12:02 AM
I do or know what else to say, but WOW! Your yard is going to look amazing. It is already taking shape to be as awesome or better as last year. Great job! Great picts! You are a true inspiration to low zone growers. Thank you.
:woohoonaner:
Thanks for the kind words, my wife thinks I am crazy and the neighbors seem to agree but it is sure fun to see what you can grow without toooo much work.
Mark Dragt
04-11-2016, 10:56 PM
Thanks for the kind words, my wife thinks I am crazy and the neighbors seem to agree but it is sure fun to see what you can grow without toooo much work.
My wife thinks I am crazy, my kids think I am crazy, my friends think I am crazy, and I think the might be right. If you have to be crazy to have this much fun growing plants that have no business in our grow zones. Then I am crazy, and I am more than ok with that.
:woohoonaner:
:woohoonaner:
We're not crazy. We're BANANAS!!!
cincinnana
04-13-2016, 08:29 PM
..That plant is awesome, girth, height,weight...love it, mine will not be as large even in a few years.
Gotta ask.....I see some retaining walls. so I suspect you are on a mountain or big ol hill.
What is your sunlight situation... in the front garden area.
Still love those rocks.......they rock. I have rock shelves in the garden ....but not like yours.
Stones that size for the landscape totally create your space.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/BA8A96B9-E774-4FA7-9BC3-36C42C5AFCFD.jpg
Nate74
04-14-2016, 08:43 AM
..That plant is awesome, girth, height,weight...love it, mine will not be as large even in a few years.
Gotta ask.....I see some retaining walls. so I suspect you are on a mountain or big ol hill.
What is your sunlight situation... in the front garden area.
Still love those rocks.......they rock. I have rock shelves in the garden ....but not like yours.
Stones that size for the landscape totally create your space.
Thanks,Yes I live on the side of a small mountain so there are lots of retaining walls and rocks. I am lucky that my house is near the top of the development and for the most part they were using rock where as the houses just below my have Allen Block walls.
The front of my house faces ESE so I get lots of morning and early afternoon sun but most of it is shaded through the hottest part of the afternoon. The backyard however is baked in sun pretty much from noon until sundown. The lack of shade presents some problems but I am going to see what I can plant this year that can take the sun and give me some shade.
Nate74
05-10-2016, 11:42 PM
So its been about a month since I last updated.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/37A6E95F-E769-4EB7-9509-1DBB88FF197E.jpg
The Basjoo's are coming along well but the Ensete's seem to be stalled and are getting quite ratty looking.Not sure if I should cut them back and let them start over or let them go and see what happens. Thoughts?
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/740048EF-3AD3-48C7-90A6-0D9E7119CA35.jpg
Finally, just tonight I managed to get this new bed planted. Its got a Trachycarpus Fortuneii, two Ensete, three Alocasia Calidora, three hardy Ginger, a bunch of daylillies that I divided from another bed and some Canna's Hopefully it grows in as well as it has in my mind ;)
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/FB632310-51EA-4AD9-9541-25F1940F7D21.jpg
Longwoods Tropicals
05-11-2016, 01:10 PM
Thanks for the update, it's going to look very nice come summer. I'm envious, a persistent trough and NE flow has kept the great lakes chilly so far and has significantly delayed my plant out date, I've got two rooms full of ensetes, musas, palms and colocasia in a holding pattern.
Nate74
06-05-2016, 10:18 AM
So lately I have been wondering why my one Basjoo has been so slow to grow this year. It has only pushed 3 leaves and the last one appeared very stunted.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/57B3AC6A-5B51-491C-AFDD-6B3AA5C45D66.jpg
But I noticed this when I was watering this morning I am pretty sure it was the FLAG and I now have a flower coming out.
Nate74
06-20-2016, 01:56 PM
Again its been about a month since the last update. The Basjoo's have taken off and have grown quite well. The Ensete are finally turning the corner and putting out some good leaves.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/293D7BB2-BF9B-40AA-9935-560A2F938390.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/49E4C06D-1D5B-4097-9E56-A1E110629AEC_2.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/986546CC-01B6-4746-9F1C-6EA0A8FE0BB9.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/255A934C-F948-4D97-B6D4-C23C8FDF335B.jpg
cincinnana
06-20-2016, 09:59 PM
dude.......great garden....,,!!!!!!:08::08:
Mark Dragt
06-20-2016, 10:33 PM
That really is looking good.
Nate74
06-21-2016, 01:42 PM
I forgot to post this pic of the flower as it forms
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/6AFB33FF-F309-49DF-89EC-C4A3D8863242.jpg
Nate74
06-26-2016, 10:30 AM
The naners are coming the naners are coming.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/5D7F6DC1-14D1-43C6-A4DA-93D596D2C0DF.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/0F9D2408-3705-40CD-9080-4BCD7ADA5566.jpg
Snarkie
07-10-2016, 07:46 AM
So growth is slow and steady, and it appears that I lost one banana over the winter. When you consider my wintering technique was to cut the stem at 4' and wait for spring perhaps only wasn't so bad.
Last year I concentrated on getting my front yard mostly where I wanted, I will be tinkering with it a little this season. My main project will be the back.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/C5C54B36-031C-4092-8792-AFACFC8C117D.jpg
Nice windmill palm. What are the two bushy things next to it?
Nate74
07-10-2016, 10:26 AM
There are three Yucca next to the windmill, unfortunately planted before I cared about what varieties they were. The one in the center is bushier and the flower spikes are shorter than the other two.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/FA2F5B9F-8973-4334-AA89-E92DC3377126.jpg
Snarkie
07-10-2016, 12:32 PM
Oh, I can clearly see them now, LOL. Duh-oh!
The one in the center is Yucca gloriosa, v. recurvifolia, or Moundlilly yucca. It grows natively here in NC along the coast and will eventually reach 20' or so in height. The others look like Yucca filimentosa, or Adams needle Yucca, but they typically don't flower at the same time. Did the one in the middle flower first, by any chance?
Nate74
07-10-2016, 04:04 PM
Oh, I can clearly see them now, LOL. Duh-oh!
The one in the center is Yucca gloriosa, v. recurvifolia, or Moundlilly yucca. It grows natively here in NC along the coast and will eventually reach 20' or so in height. The others look like Yucca filimentosa, or Adams needle Yucca, but they typically don't flower at the same time. Did the one in the middle flower first, by any chance?
The outside ones formed the flower stalks first but the middle one bloomed first so???
Thanks for the IDs they were all sold as generic yucca at a box store. I just got lucky planting them, that the odd ball ended up in the middle.
Snarkie
07-10-2016, 04:47 PM
Yeah, the Moundlily should have stalked and flowered the same week, whereas the Adam's needle should have taken two and flowered later. You got lucky with the Moundlily. It's not that common, especially up your way.
Nate74
07-18-2016, 08:19 AM
So earlier on I have mentioned that this years project was my back yard. I started with this on April 29th.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/pool%20build/FD9FA88B-DEBB-4ADE-A368-2B47E318576E.jpg
Now 2 1/2 months later.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/F58A60CE-FA32-4799-8EC7-F5C4E6CB251B.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/pool%20build/59A74382-BE73-4372-8C7A-FE7676085C37.jpg
I was hoping to get the planters that will ring the perimeter of the deck done this year but it looks like it will wait for fall or next spring. For now the front is still motoring along through this less than stellar summer.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/0161640A-1D8A-4730-895E-AF23D81EC4B7.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/B687044B-4636-402C-86A5-ADB2661CDD9B.jpg
Kegas76
07-18-2016, 08:38 AM
Very nice.
Too bad the seat of your floatie-chair broke.:2730:
Snarkie
07-18-2016, 09:23 AM
Are you going to add a second story to the deck, or is that for a pergola?
Looking great. If you could share the back yard behind yours with that rock garden, y'all would have an awesome combo.
Nate74
07-18-2016, 10:02 AM
Very nice.
Too bad the seat of your floatie-chair broke.:2730:
Yeah, the kids destroyed it in 45 mins :(
Are you going to add a second story to the deck, or is that for a pergola?
Looking great. If you could share the back yard behind yours with that rock garden, y'all would have an awesome combo.
It will either be a solid roof or pergola, the jury is still out but I am leaning towards a solid roof done with Suntuff panels so I will get shade and rain protection.
Snarkie
07-18-2016, 10:07 AM
Those 6x6s are beefy enough for a second story if you ever decide to remove that window you keep shooting from and turn it into a door.
Nate74
07-18-2016, 10:55 AM
I climbed onto the roof for the photos ;) there is a window there and a second story deck has been discussed and shot down.
Snarkie
07-18-2016, 11:47 AM
Gotcha. Too bad. I used to be a contractor, and did a few two story decks. Yours is set up perfectly, at least for US code.
Nate74
07-18-2016, 12:52 PM
Gotcha. Too bad. I used to be a contractor, and did a few two story decks. Yours is set up perfectly, at least for US code.
I am still thinking of doing an addition that would be to the left of this deck and up 3 steps, I would have to take a window out of the kitchen /eating area and replace that with french doors. It would then cover the lower stone patio where my BBQ is . But I am also thinking of turning that area into a nice little sitting conversation area, Add some more plants and a love seat or two and I think it could be pretty nice.
Snarkie
07-18-2016, 01:45 PM
If you want professional advice, I will be more then happy to work with you. PM me and and I'd love to see your situation.
Debbiesf
08-10-2016, 05:33 PM
So its been about a month since I last updated.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/37A6E95F-E769-4EB7-9509-1DBB88FF197E.jpg
The Basjoo's are coming along well but the Ensete's seem to be stalled and are getting quite ratty looking.Not sure if I should cut them back and let them start over or let them go and see what happens. Thoughts?
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/740048EF-3AD3-48C7-90A6-0D9E7119CA35.jpg
Finally, just tonight I managed to get this new bed planted. Its got a Trachycarpus Fortuneii, two Ensete, three Alocasia Calidora, three hardy Ginger, a bunch of daylillies that I divided from another bed and some Canna's Hopefully it grows in as well as it has in my mind ;)
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/FB632310-51EA-4AD9-9541-25F1940F7D21.jpg
Making a quick reply. I have an enset that was born because somebody cut back theirs hard, or it broke. I also just read about one such example where they cut it back hard, and then cut a notch down across the corm to wond it. The following photo had all kinds of shoots, which properly cared for turned into what was 12 or 15 plants quite possibly.
I have a long time to grow before we cut ours, but we do intend to cut it and make pups, before it flowers!
Wish the best for the health of your plant friend(s)
-Fish
Debbiesf
08-10-2016, 05:39 PM
Glad your ensetts have done well. They look very happy.
Nate74
08-15-2016, 12:33 PM
So where did the last month go? Seems summer has finally brought some heat so everything finally kicked into gear.
Start with the front
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/A71B6011-D69E-4012-9A31-CF56A73E5F13.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/0C213340-B21D-4E0E-94D1-E7AB8D75F700.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/5E9E7A3B-D644-483E-8285-52FFD759358D.jpg
Now the new bed that I planted on the north side of my driveway.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/1EC6EDB3-C957-4ACC-8641-78161E8D1E83.jpg
this has come along pretty well but I am disappointed in the canna bulbs that I got this year. over half haven't come up and the ones that did are very slow and short.
Moving into the back.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/FC3D0A95-BADF-4B3B-8DFD-B7D1CD842464.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/4C0D209F-AFDA-442D-98F4-3BF1D024194A.jpg
Down to the lower patio, the ferns are native and keep coming on their own so I have stopped fighting them and planted some hens & Chicks and sedum in the rocks.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/20E015E3-E09D-49C1-BE48-82B78D6A510B.jpg
On a trip to HD this weekend I found 4 of these planter with very neglected Ensete Ventricosum for $12 so I brought them home and started rehabbing them, you know watered and gave them sunlight.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/35EBBBBC-AD3F-4653-B4E9-381F4CC62E85.jpg
and finally my Trachycarpus has not only flowered this year but has also shot up to about 6'-6" this year.
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/tiwaz74/Jungle%202016/3638385E-FFC8-47C4-8594-41952CE2245E.jpg.
Mark Dragt
10-27-2016, 07:22 PM
Your pictures are inspiring! I love your setup.
:nanadrink:
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