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Bama Banana
08-23-2009, 03:04 AM
Just took these pics this afternoon...<br/><br/>
Front flower beds #1<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1819.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Front flower beds #2<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1820.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Trachycarpus fortunei a.k.a. Windmill Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1823.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Lagerstroemia indica a.k.a. Crepe Myrtle (White)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1837.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Front flower beds #3 (work still in progress)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1838.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Phoenix roebelenii a.k.a Pygmy Date Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1824.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Beta vulgaris cicla a.k.a Bright Lights<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1827.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Codiaeum variegatum a.k.a. Croton<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1834.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Musa acuminata cultivar Dwarf a.k.a. Super Dwarf Cavendish Banana<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1821.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Rutaceae Fotunella crassifolia a.k.a. Meiwa Kumquat<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1822.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Tropical grass (please identify!)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1825.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Citrus reticulata subspiecies unshiu Owari a.k.a. Owari Satsuma<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1868.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Musa cultivar Little Prince a.k.a. Little Prince Banana<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1886.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Ensete ventricosum cultivar Maurelii a.k.a. False Banana, Red Abyssinian Banana<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1887.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Musa cultivar Lady Finger a.k.a. Lady Finger Banana<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1889.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Musa acuminata cultivar Dwarf Cavendish a.k.a. Dwarf Cavendish Banana<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1890.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Musa acuminata cultivar Ice Cream a.k.a. Ice Cream Banana, Blue Java Banana<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1891.jpg"/><br/><br/>
X Butiagrus nabonnandii a.k.a. Mule Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1841.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Musa saba a.k.a Saba Banana (was about six inches tall four and a half months ago)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1863.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Musa acuminata cultivar Zebrina a.k.a. Blood Bananas<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1892.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Bloom and flag leaf on Musa acuminata cultivar Zebrina a.k.a. Blood Banana<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1893.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Washingtonia robusta a.k.a. Mexican Fan Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1895.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Roystonea regia a.k.a. Florida Royal Palm (my favorite)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1897.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Phoenix dactylifera a.k.a. True Date Palm, Medjool Date Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1900.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Phoenix canariensis a.k.a. Canary Island Date Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1902.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Inflorescence on Phoenix canariensis a.k.a. Canary Island Date Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1903.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Butia capitata a.k.a. Pindo Palm, Jelly Palm, Wine Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1904.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Sabal palmetto a.k.a. Palmetto Palm, Cabbage Palm (purchased wholesale for $65)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1907.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Cycas revoluta a.k.a. Sago Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1910.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Musa ornata a.k.a. Ornamental Banana (Royal Purple)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1917.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Bloom and flag leaf on Musa ornata a.k.a. Ornamental Banana (Royal Purple)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1916.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Philodendron bipinnatifidum a.k.a. Philodendron, Split Leaf<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1919.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Trunk on Philodendron bipinnatifidum a.k.a. Philodendron, Split Leaf<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1920.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Musa orinoco a.k.a. Orinoco Bananas<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1925.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Bloom on Musa orinoco a.k.a. Orinoco Banana<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1930.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Hyophorbe verschaffeltii a.k.a. Spindle Palm (purchased at Home Depot for $49)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1931.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Hyophorbe lagenicaulis a.k.a. Bottle Palm (purchased at Home Depot for $49)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1934.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Archontophoenix alexandrae a.k.a. Alexandra Palm, Alexander Palm, King Palm (gift from Frank at Moultrie Palms)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1935.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Canna x generalis a.k.a. Canna Lillies (please identify what kind!)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1922.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Citrus latifolia a.k.a. Bearss Lime, Tahitian Lime, Persian Lime<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1939.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Fruit on Citrus latifolia a.k.a. Bearss Lime, Tahitian Lime, Persian Lime<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1940.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Wodyetia bifurcata a.k.a. Foxtail Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1941.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Citrus limon cultivar Ponderosa a.k.a. Ponderosa Lemon (this one is next to death - what's going on here?)<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1942.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Citrus sinensis cultivar Washington Navel a.k.a. Washington Navel Orange<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1943.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Fruit on Citrus sinensis cultivar Washington Navel a.k.a. Washington Navel Orange<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1948.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Caryota mitis a.k.a. Clustered Fishtail Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1944.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Ravenea rivularis a.k.a. Majesty Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1945.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Beaucarnea recurvata a.k.a Ponytail Palm<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1949.jpg"/><br/><br/>
Another Codiaeum variegatum a.k.a. Croton<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1950.jpg"/><br/><br/>
My house<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1858.jpg"/><br/><br/>
My back yard<br/>
<img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Welcome%20To%20My%20Tropics/IMG_1954.jpg"/><br/><br/>
...Please feel free to suggest corrections for any errors you may see.

Also friend me on facebook. I've got more pics there...

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Jack Daw
08-23-2009, 03:12 AM
Cool. The microclimate close to the pool would be more suitbale for bananas (slightly higher temps, higher humidity) than palms, but perfect. Don't you have problems protecting those palms in the winter?

Bananaman88
08-23-2009, 08:12 AM
That is quite the collection! I look forward to seeing it all as it grows in. You'll have yourself a nice little subtropical paradise there in no time!

sbl
08-23-2009, 08:35 AM
Huge Yard--very nice! My only suggestion would be to bag those grass clipping and use them for mulch around the bananas.

Bama Banana
08-23-2009, 10:20 AM
Yes, its a pretty big job protecting them on a few of the coldest nights during the winter. But I don't mind. It's worth it.

kaczercat
08-23-2009, 11:06 AM
when i saw thisthread i knew it had to be good , warning lots of pics ! loved it amazing amazing job!!! thanks so much for posting ! looks fantastic.

CValentine
08-23-2009, 11:15 AM
OH...OOHHHH!!!

LOVE the layout!! Makes me miss my acreage in Ohio(not the weather though:))
Very nice Bama Banana! I have been trying to resist palms...you are making it very hard to do!

Beautiful!!! :) ~Cheryl

Steven Valys
08-23-2009, 11:34 AM
Scindapsus pictus is not a Split Leaf Philodendron. It would be a Philodendron bipinnatifidum, or hybrid/ variant.

Looks like the Orinocos are taking over their corner.

Bama Banana
08-23-2009, 12:48 PM
Thanks, Steve. And Cheryl, palm resistance is futile!

LilRaverBoi
08-23-2009, 01:37 PM
Wow...great pictures! I was with Matt...I saw the warning and knew this would be a good thread to check out! I can tell you've put a lot of effort into your yard and I would say the results speak for themselves! Very well done....thanks for sharing!

PS...that philodendron is CRAZY nice! I've wanted one for a while now.

gadget
08-23-2009, 01:38 PM
looks great, but the phoenix canariensis might be to close to the pool. it is a big palm with a wide trunk and crown.

enigma99a
08-24-2009, 03:30 PM
Yes, its a pretty big job protecting them on a few of the coldest nights during the winter. But I don't mind. It's worth it.

Mind asking what you do? Are you really zone 8? I know my palms and that Royal palm you have in the ground should be toast even with frost protection.

Bama Banana
08-24-2009, 04:10 PM
Mind asking what you do? Are you really zone 8?

Our average low extreme here is 38F in mid January. I live 18 miles north of the Florida panhandle and about 66 miles from the Gulf coast. Each year we see about 8 or less nights where temps fall below 25F. According to my weather station, the lowest temps we have seen here in three years are 19.8, 20.5, and 21F.

I usually provide no protection at all to my bananas. I continue to be amazed at how my Musa orinoco psuedostems at 4 and 5ft tall withstood the entire cold, wet winter with no protection...only to keep slowly growing and then take off and eventually make bananas this summer.

And without protection I would certainly lose many palms in the ground here like my Royal Palm, my Ponytail Palms and my Pygmy Date Palms. For protection on the coldest nights I just cover most of them with buckets and/or blankets. For the absolute coldest nights I break out the christmas lights and wrap some stuff (CIDPs, Medjools, Satsuma citrus) with comforters.

This past winter we hit the 19.8 with a daytime high of only 37F, and this method provided for no damage at all to the Canary Island Date Palms and the Medjool Date Palms. The only casualty was a young queen palm :( My mule palm was planted the first week in January. It is really taking off now and appears to be much more hardier than the queens.

Also, in this area you simply NEVER see most of these palms in the ground. There are no CIDPs, no Medjools and only a very few Washingtonia Robustas. There are, however, lots of Sabal Palmettos and Pindos.

I think the absence of CIDPs and other hardy palms is evidence of a "cleansing" of sorts that occurs every few years here. That's when the temps drop WAYYYY down to the low teens or even single digits. The all time low here is -1F in 1985. That would get pretty much any bananas or palm trees around here, save the occasional Basjoo Banana or Windmill Palm or Sabal Minor Palm.

I am not dilusional. A day will come when many of these plants will bite the dust. But until that day I will continue the fight, and you can bet I'll be enjoying my own little taste of the tropics :)

enigma99a
08-24-2009, 04:24 PM
That's great though. Nothing you can do about the freak 20/30 year events. But with those average lows, you have done very well. I saw some palms were in pots so you can just bring them in if something bad happened. What surprised me was the Royal Palm.

I want one too (royal palm), but I was just thinking what I can do when it's too tall to cover. Every few years or so here we can have a hard freeze down to 25.. Typically the yearly low is around 30F or slightly below. You going to try freezepruf this year?

Bama Banana
08-24-2009, 04:40 PM
That's great though. Nothing you can do about the freak 20/30 year events. But with those average lows, you have done very well. I saw some palms were in pots so you can just bring them in if something bad happened. What surprised me was the Royal Palm.

I want one too (royal palm), but I was just thinking what I can do when it's too tall to cover. Every few years or so here we can have a hard freeze down to 25.. Typically the yearly low is around 30F or slightly below. You going to try freezepruf this year?

Yes I am going to try FreezPruf. I think that was developed here in Alabama.

You know, established Royals can probably take occasional temps in the high 20s...but with severe leaf burn. I have seen posts of several Royals growing unprotected in the Houston TX area. Of course they don't see temps as cold as here at my place.

Hey I would have really liked to have seen what the Royal would have done this year if it had started with some foliage! The protective cover I built for it collapsed due to high winds in January, while I was a away on a business trip. It and several other plants were exposed to temps in the 20s for a few nights...but everything lived.

ArchAngeL01
08-24-2009, 09:16 PM
i love the mule palm where did u get it -how much? and how in the world did u get that palmetto for 65$!! they are 300$ here each. :O

Rmplmnz
08-24-2009, 09:30 PM
Nice job!!!!!!!

LilRaverBoi
08-24-2009, 09:40 PM
Our average low extreme here is 38F in mid January. I live 18 miles north of the Florida panhandle and about 66 miles from the Gulf coast. Each year we see about 8 or less nights where temps fall below 25F. According to my weather station, the lowest temps we have seen here in three years are 19.8, 20.5, and 21F.
WOW...must be nice! I'm from Iowa....and it hit -37F this Jan (and that's without wind chill...which probably was down to -50 at LEAST). The news reporters were taking cups of hot water, tossing them in the air and it'd freeze before it hit the ground. Pretty sure Basjoos die in Iowa even if they are protected.

Kalabrian
08-25-2009, 03:29 AM
Dear friend, what a nice garden you created!

Two questions:

1) could you be more precise on the ways you cover the plants on frost nights? I am not really interested in christmas lights, etc methods but on the way you apply blankets or similar things. Your methods seem in fact very effective.

2) All those bananas survive your winters with no protection????? Could you be more exact? Maybe you planted the cavendishes only this Spring and they still have to face winter? If so, which ones did actually survive winter with no protection? And which do bear fruit (regularly or occasionally)?

Thanks a lot

Bama Banana
08-25-2009, 08:38 AM
WOW...must be nice! I'm from Iowa....and it hit -37F this Jan (and that's without wind chill...which probably was down to -50 at LEAST). The news reporters were taking cups of hot water, tossing them in the air and it'd freeze before it hit the ground. Pretty sure Basjoos die in Iowa even if they are protected.

Hey yeah I remember that. It was on Fox News. Stay warm this winter!

Bama Banana
08-25-2009, 08:49 AM
Dear friend, what a nice garden you created!

Two questions:

1) could you be more precise on the ways you cover the plants on frost nights? I am not really interested in christmas lights, etc methods but on the way you apply blankets or similar things. Your methods seem in fact very effective.

2) All those bananas survive your winters with no protection????? Could you be more exact? Maybe you planted the cavendishes only this Spring and they still have to face winter? If so, which ones did actually survive winter with no protection? And which do bear fruit (regularly or occasionally)?

Thanks a lot

1. Nothing really special...I just place an old blanket or comforter and/or bucket over them. For the bigger palms I wrap them with lights and then wrap them with an old comforter and tie it all off with jute. I may even leave it that way for 3 or 4 days if the weather stays cold; it doesn't seem to hurt them.

2. I just planted many of the bananas this Spring. This past fall I dug the Zebrinas and Dwarf Cavendish and brought them indoors. I cut the psuedostems to about 5ft on my Orinocos and just left them like that all winter, with no protection. They even continued to slowly grow all winter. I left the Musa ornata unprotected as well, but they froze back to the ground.

The Orinocos make fruit here every year, though apparently not as much as in tropical regions (I don't care!!!). The Musa ornata and zebrinas are blooming for the first time. The others are too young; the Saba and Ladyfinger were about 6 in tall when I planted them out about 4 and a half months ago! And do not believe all the bad things you might hear about tissue cultured (TC) bananas. I bought these two from a place called Green Earth online and at a pretty reasonable price.

Bama Banana
08-25-2009, 08:55 AM
i love the mule palm where did u get it -how much? and how in the world did u get that palmetto for 65$!! they are 300$ here each. :O

I got the Mule palm for $200 from Frank at Moultrie Palms in St Augustine FL. He is a really nice guy, and I highly recommend doing business with him.

I got the Sabal Palmetto from a friend who took a trailer down into central Florida. I'm not exactly sure where he got them.

supermario
08-25-2009, 09:37 AM
Beautiful yard! I see I'm not the only one that squeezes as many plants as possible into my suburban yard...although yours looks like a half acre at least, while mine is a puny quarter acre. :(

I am lucky to be able to grow most tropicals down here, but envy those who can produce many of the fruits commonly found at the grocery store. Being in zone 8, I'm wondering why you haven't tried growing fruits like apples, cherries, olives, persimmons, pears, plums, apricots, figs, nut trees, pomegranates, etc etc? Don't get me wrong, I love what you've done with your yard, but think it may be difficult to sustain in the long run. I've had to learn some lessons the hard way..

I had several citrus trees at one point, but am left with two because they are tough to grow down here(diseases and insects are the main problem). As they've become infected with deadly diseases, I've had to cut them down. It was decided that there is no point in replacing them with another citrus tree if eventually, they could get sick and die. After years of caring for a tree, it hurts to have to cut it down.
Luckily, this turned me on to several EXCELLENT tropicals I previously had not even heard of.. Atemoya, Jaboticaba, and Sapodilla(my absolute favorite!...tastes like a fine pear soaked in brown sugar).

Anyways, lovely yard again and good luck with everything!

Kalabrian
08-25-2009, 01:25 PM
Thanks friend

only I do not understand still the question that a banana can be cut at 5 ft in spring like you do with your orinocos. I mean, if you cut the pstem this way every year, don't you lose a lot of time in growth? How can it fruit then next year if every fall you cut them short? It's not clear to me, thanks!

Bama Banana
08-25-2009, 01:36 PM
Thanks friend

only I do not understand still the question that a banana can be cut at 5 ft in spring like you do with your orinocos. I mean, if you cut the pstem this way every year, don't you lose a lot of time in growth? How can it fruit then next year if every fall you cut them short? It's not clear to me, thanks!

Well it is true...they just grow REALLY fast. They can put on 3 or 4 leaves a week when it gets really hot!

djmb74
08-25-2009, 01:45 PM
Great Looking yard! :bananas_b

Eric
08-25-2009, 03:39 PM
Really nice job :) and great info-packed thread. I think you're right; it's worth the trouble even if it could get knocked back by the weather. But I am inclined to agree with Jack if for a different reason; some bananas around the pool would not only be very healthy but (maybe with some fern, even) would look great. Also (my own personal prefs) the bare fencing could use a few plants here & there to break-up the monotony a bit.
Mostly just my own personal biases, you've done an outstanding job and seem to have your assets covered with great info & experience. Thanx for the Orinoco info, especially. I'm in zone 7 and would Luv to give them a shot here. Fraid the only other place I am is The Plant Doctor but sure appreciate the great photos you posted here :).

LilRaverBoi
08-25-2009, 06:59 PM
Hey yeah I remember that. It was on Fox News. Stay warm this winter!
LOL...yeah it sucked. I live in St. Louis, MO for now, so it's significantly warmer during the winter. But I still go back to Iowa for Christmas break (which always seems to be the coldest, snowiest and generally most miserable time of the year...LOL). I'm used to it at this point though...I've lived in IA my whole life except this last year. I'll do my best to stay warm and be sure to put 'gas-line antifreeze' in my gas tank to keep my gasoline from turning to gel! Brrrr...LOL.

Kalabrian
08-26-2009, 03:40 AM
3-4 leaves a week... incredible! Which kind of summer temp you get?

justjoan
08-26-2009, 07:48 AM
What a beautiful yard you have, I felt like I went on a mini vacation! Thank you so much for sharing! I was so happy to see your philodendron, I had one many years ago that I grew as a houseplant and LOVED it, after many years it died off and have not seen one here in Minnesota since, love it!!:woohoonaner:

cherokee_greg
08-26-2009, 12:47 PM
I found the pictures great thanks for posting the. I have a sago palm the trunk is over 6 feet tall.
Greg

Bama Banana
08-26-2009, 01:42 PM
3-4 leaves a week... incredible! Which kind of summer temp you get?

June-Aug highs in the 90s lows in the 70s. Occasionally highs in the 100s lows in the 80s. Always very humid. The combination of excessive heat and humidity that we often get then is referred to by many of the locals as "swamp a$$". lol

Kalabrian
08-27-2009, 09:32 AM
Interesting, for the temperatures are the same as mine. However the sun radiation changes with latitude.

Thanks a lot!

Jack Daw
08-27-2009, 11:17 AM
Now I know which great palm I couldn't find in your garden Bama, Jubaea chilensis. My dream palm. ;) Look it up, an exqusite piece of nature's work.

Bama Banana
08-27-2009, 12:53 PM
Now I know which great palm I couldn't find in your garden Bama, Jubaea chilensis. My dream palm. ;) Look it up, an exqusite piece of nature's work.

Ah yes. I have looked at that one before.

It is indeed massive and beautiful. But I have decided against it primarily because of three reasons:

(1) It would struggle at best in our climate. HUMID and HOT much of the year!

(2) It would grow extremely slow (they have a rep)...and becuase of that...

(3) One of any appreciable size would cost more $$$ than I have!

That's too bad.

enigma99a
08-28-2009, 12:48 AM
i was wondering though, what are you going to do when everything is in pots too big to move?

Bama Banana
08-28-2009, 12:51 AM
i was wondering though, what are you going to do when everything is in pots too big to move?

ha ha that happened a long time ago. i recruit friends and family and we just get it done...:)

banfan
08-28-2009, 07:57 AM
Very impressive...thanks for sharing

Dixieboy30
11-21-2009, 05:02 PM
Bama Banana, I'm glad I found your thread. :)

I live fairly close to you in Atmore, I'm about 2 miles from the FL line. I bought a CIDP a few days ago and I'm also wondering how well it will do here. I bought it from a nursery in Summerdale and they said that they don't give their palms any protection at all (they have some huge ones), but they're a little closer to the coast. Mine is in a 7 gallon pot but I think I will wait until spring to plant it. It usually doesn't get below the lower 20's but as you know every now and then we get that one night that dips into the mid-teens. I have thought about trying to find some of those old fashioned Christmas lights with the big bulbs (aka granny lights) to wrap it with on the really cold nights.:coldbanana:

I also will be planting a few Washingtonia filifera X robusta "filibusta" palms, but I'm not worried about those as much since I already know of some growing nearby. Cabbage palms and Pindo palms are so common here that I wanted something different. Please keep me informed on your date palms.

jjjankovsky
11-21-2009, 06:19 PM
well...this thread is so amazing that it made me consider a whole new category for bananas.org...'northerners' banana rescue'

i retired to the tropics four years ago and bananas grow here on their own, and with all the problems that come with them...and palms...and it reminded me of everything else i used to attempt inside in washington state that was purchased as 'houseplants'...

do you guys also grow the stuff that works in your zones??...like roses?

maybe the category could be, 'some amazing gardener got a banana plant to bloom in northern B.C.'...then you could have a 'riply's, believe it or not"

the yard is indeed well planned, and the pool will be built here in mexico soon..., but...

as a gardener, i'm enjoying the stuff that grows where it belongs...and i guess i'll read in amazement the efforts to pull off the almost impossible...

good digging and good watering and maybe, good harvesting.

jjj
rancho los ciruelos
barra de navidad
jalisco, mx

Abnshrek
11-21-2009, 08:58 PM
Cool I'm sure the way you have it is for future use. You don't have to worry about leaves in the pool :^) I know I'm at least 2-3 hours north of you only in La and I must be lucky to have more gulf stream cause I know we might be lucky to hit 19F once in a couple years if that? I know we have days of frezin' temps though.
I planted another Pindo today, and have 4 medjool's in my plans.. I have to get rid of 2 oaks and a 2 pines first...lol Your work looks almost complete. I'm a work in progress :^)

Abnshrek
11-21-2009, 09:16 PM
Well as I was trying to say (my typing sucks) we have more days of freezin' temps just not as low and lucky if it ever hits 20F but we hit 19F last year.. Oh and once again mega-prop's on the yard :^)

Bananaman88
11-21-2009, 09:29 PM
Time for some updated pics!

Abnshrek
11-21-2009, 09:32 PM
I have min CIDP I germinated w/ 4 itty-bitty leafs.. lmao ok it's 9inches tall..

curriedrice
11-23-2009, 05:14 PM
Great pictures! If I had that much land in the San Francisco Bay area I would be rich and eating lots of bananas!

Congrats, it really shows your effort and how much pride you take in your garden.

http://www.bananas.org/images/smilies/banana_files/nanadrink.gif

Jack Daw
08-29-2010, 05:12 AM
Bama banana, please, would you update your garden pictures? I (and many other people as well) would be delighted to watch your 1 year progress. :bananas_b

supermario
08-29-2010, 09:56 PM
had forgotten about this thread..would also like to see the progress since many plants looked quite young..

Bama Banana
08-30-2010, 02:44 PM
New pics coming mid to late October 2010. Thanks guys.

jimhardy
08-30-2010, 05:25 PM
Pretty sure Basjoos die in Iowa even if they are protected.





I am in southeast Iowa(Banana belt(-;) we had-11f last winter-

The 2 clumps in the middle of this picture are Basjoos that returned from last year,they were obviously mulched.


Bama-your yard looks fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!


The little pine in the front right corner is a Sequoia,also made it!




<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm220/orbea641/?action=view&current=8-22-10065.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm220/orbea641/8-22-10065.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Bama Banana
08-30-2010, 07:30 PM
I just noticed a flag leaf on my big Saba. Never seen one of those bloom. Could be interesting!

It was maybe six inches when I planted it last Spring (2009). It grew to about 20 feet or so before Winter. We had 15F and 17F and long durations of cold. With no protection the entire psuedostem survived.

It started putting out pups about half way through the first summer. I've planted several and given several away since. Guess it's a "good one".

sandy0225
08-31-2010, 05:56 AM
Just beautiful.... And it does make you want to start collecting palms too.
FYI have you checked your ponderosa lemon for mealybugs? They nearly did my hubby's lime tree in until I figured out what the problem was. Now it's looking great again.

CookieCows
09-30-2010, 12:52 PM
Nice!!!!