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Chironex
09-07-2008, 02:53 PM
:woohoonaner::0519:

If you ever have the chance to visit San Diego, do it! I returned yesterday with 13 bananas from our members there.

Many thanks to: CaGary. Sunfish, Mark in SD, Richard and Pitangdiego!!!!
Everyone was so accomodating and helpful. My car was filled to the roof and every cubic inch was occupied - just enough room to drive.

I came home with tomatoes from Richard - all kinds of varieties - yum!
Thanks too for the directions and the tour. (My phone went dead, so no Navigation foir the last 3 stops)

Tony (Sunfish) also gave me 3 dragon fruit plants, so I am going to try to grow them here in the desert. Now if I can just learn how to keep them alive. If they like full sun and no water, crummy soil and alkaline water - Bingo!!!! I am all over it. But, I get the feeling that there is more to it than that.

Now for the bananas:
Ae Ae from CaGary (he has a pup left if anyone wants it...about 4=5' tall to the base of the petioles, gi-normous leaves in full variegation and a stout p-stem) Beautiful landscaping and a monstrous Ae Ae mom, plus a Traveler's Palm to die for, a gorgeous Tree Fern and so many tropical plants, it makes your head spin trying to take them all in. I didn't even get to the greenhouse, or I would have been there most of the morning for sure. His lot backs up to a National park, and I bet that people were looking more at Gary's yard than the park!!!! He could probably charge admission.

Next stop was Richard's house - an immense, beautiful, tiered garden that goes on forever. Loads of advice and a great help. He gave me several tips on soil and fertilizing, pH balancing, leaf yellowing, etc. and I really appreciate his knowledge. His gardens are a walking botany lesson. So cool to see everyone's gardens.

Then on to Matt's place - Bananas everywhere! I was amazed at the size of these banana plants. Also has lots of palms, Fern Trees and other tropicals. I was impressed. Saw my first ever blossom here. I have seen loads of pictures, but until you see one for real, it's hard to imagine.
The "pups" I got were incredibly huge. One was about 6-7' tall with a corm the size of Texas. Loved the hand of Goldfinger bananas he gave me to eat. I ate all but one on the way back to Vegas - polished off the last one this morning! Exellent desert banana that everyone should have. I got a Belle, Red Iholene, White Iholene and a Williams. These babies are going in the ground today! Next trip, I gotta get one of those Golden Pillows! (wink, wink)

On to Sunfish's house where Tony got me a really nice Praying Hands, a Tall Orinoco (with 2 pups), Gran nain and a Mysore. Tony is a retired landscaper, so he has lots of bananas and a greenhouse. He also has lots of other plants for those of you interested. Thanks too for the Red, White and Yellow Dragon fruit cuttings. (Hope I don't get addicted to growing them too - sheesh!)

Finally, on to Jon's place, Encanto Farms - you can't miss it - huge banana plantation on top of a hill. After we found Jon, out in the jungle (where else, right?) I toured his banana plantation and saw so many bananas that I wanted, but only had so much money to spend. I had a list of the ones I wanted to get, but ended up leaving it in the car. (I came home with $3.00 - so it was a good day) I picked-up some of the necessary bananas for collectors - FHIA 2 -Mona Lisa, FHIA-17, FHIA-23 and an SH3640.

There so many more that I wanted, but I was thrilled with the ones I took home this time. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. I have nothing but the kindest words to describe my trip. I must have smiled all the way home. Thank you all, very, very much!

Scot

jen
09-07-2008, 03:17 PM
Sounds like a wonderful trip. I can't believe you got 13 bananas plus other fun stuff. I'm so green with envy. I think I'm most jealous that you have all that space. I have the climate but no space. :)

I visited Encanto farms a few weeks back and I can't say enough about Jon or his beautiful bananas. He was so helpful and so informative.

Enjoy all your new nana's...you have some work ahead of you, now get planting. :)

Jen

pharazon
09-07-2008, 03:22 PM
Sounds more like a botanical field trip than a banana run, congrats on all the plants! It's always a good time to see what others have going, especially for inspiration. Can't wait to see pics of all the bananas you scored.

Bob
09-07-2008, 03:45 PM
Post some pics! Encanto must have blown your mind!:0519:

momoese
09-07-2008, 03:57 PM
Sounds like a great time! You should have swung by my place to pick up the PK pup!

Chironex
09-07-2008, 08:35 PM
Sounds like a great time! You should have swung by my place to pick up the PK pup!

Hahahahaha - no way I am driving in LA! I had my hands full just in San Diego.

island cassie
09-07-2008, 08:54 PM
Scott - what a wonderful trip!!! I hope all your haul take off well - probably a good time of year for planting in your area? When do you get rain? But what torture for those of us who are geographically challenged! Perhaps we need a field trip to the DR - it will drive you mad - nothing is labelled or named!
Cassie

Chironex
09-07-2008, 10:40 PM
As Soon as I get my digital camera's cradle sent to me, I can post some pics. I have been planting all day and ran out of soil. I thought 13 bags would be enough, but still need about 10 more, plus a few more jumbo sized pots. There goes another $100.

Bananaman88
09-08-2008, 11:49 AM
Sounds like a good time. Good luck with all of your plants! Maybe I'll have time to catch up with you when I'm out in Vegas next spring!

Chironex
09-08-2008, 06:11 PM
Thanks everyone, it was a great learning experience for me. I have all of them in pots now and hope that they can acclimate to our climate.
It rains here once every 10 million years, so we aren't due for a little while.
Hope to post some pics soon. Details at 11:00

mskitty38583
09-08-2008, 07:51 PM
sounds like a great field trip.....man see what happens when we dont get our permission slips signed.....we dont get to go! lol! scot im so glad you enjoyed yourself and had a great time. congrats on the new babies!:waving::birthdaynana::woohoonaner:

Magilla Gorilla
09-09-2008, 11:26 PM
That sounds totally cool and shows how nice people can be! I am planning a trip to San Diego next month and look forward to check out all the great nurseries.

Andrew

Dean W.
09-10-2008, 08:54 AM
Way to go, Scot!:woohoonaner: I can't wait to see some pics.

damaclese
09-10-2008, 09:58 AM
Thanks everyone, it was a great learning experience for me. I have all of them in pots now and hope that they can acclimate to our climate.
It rains here once every 10 million years, so we aren't due for a little while.
Hope to post some pics soon. Details at 11:00
O scot you know we got rain in 1999 LOL

damaclese
09-10-2008, 10:01 AM
Scot i think you should put a Lock on your garden heheheheh Now were did i put that black ski mask!

Dean W.
09-10-2008, 11:35 AM
Scot i think you should put a Lock on your garden heheheheh Now were did i put that black ski mask!

Pauly, don't be paying him a visit at night.:ha:

Chironex
09-10-2008, 01:57 PM
It's OK, I have 'Attack Beetles and Crickets' and they are hungry. There is also one Guard Lizard back there, so beware - he's ferocious!