Carolina

Well, I get outside about 8AM to start on my tropicalesque garden, but with the idea of saving money I decide to minimize the whole deal. I mean, it's not even June yet and I've spent tons of money out in the yard already. So, I had already planted 4 bananas awhile back and have 7 to go. The very front of my yard is the only place that gets sun all day, so out of the 7 left to plant, I chose to put out a drawf orinoco, a small DC and an unknown. (Unfortunately, I've already second-guessed myself on those choices) So, as I was saying, had I gone ahead and made a large bed for all the bananas and their friends, I would have had to spend another couple hundred dollars on landscaping blocks.. gotta match what I already have! I spend all day digging, chopping, cutting and pulling on roots as big around as my arm! It was a job, I'm tellin' ya! In the mean time, hubby comes home from work, watches a minute or two, then goes in the house. Several hours later, I come in and bug him to go out and take a look. So, he comes back in and an all-excited me asks him what he thinks. His response: "I thought you were going to do something larger than that. That looks like a wart on the end of someone's nose"

Well, I go outside to pout and pick the dirt from underneath my broken, torn fingernails, and I'm looking at all my hard work. And guess what! He's right. 12 hours of hard-a$$ work looks like crap. So, if anyone whats to take a look at my photos and give me some ideas I'd be very receptive to some ideas. As you could guess, I'm now willing to buy all those freakin' blocks.

I have 2 more DC's, gran nain, 2 basjoo, m. lasiocarpa, and zebrina left to plant. Also, I had planned on incorporating a chinese palm and sago palm into the scheme, but I'm thinking neither would like that much sun. If you can tell from the photos, my sago that's in sun began yellowing a month or so ago, while my sago that doesn't receive as much sun is still much greener. There is no shade in this area until late in the evening. I have quite a few canna I could toss in but could use some ideas on less expensive, tropical-looking type plants.

pitangadiego

I don't see any pix. However, you have to keep in mind that ANY landscsape project looks like a wart at the beginning, unless you spend exorbitant amounts on fully grown plants. A banana that is 3' tall will be 15' or more in a year or two. Today you don't hardly notice it, but in a year, you'll have a jungle. Ever see what a bareroot fruit tree looks like when it is first planted? It is a stick about 1/2" in dia. In a few years it will be 15' across.

If you truly enjoy your gardening (even if you get really dirty and tired), don't worry about what the husband thinks. Gardening, for me , is more therapy than anything else. I can go out there for an hour, kill some weeds, prune, water, and I have forgotten about my boss (from hell) and whatever else and I am at peace with the world again. If you don't enjoy gardening, find a different hobby, and go with minimal landscaping so it doesn't take too much time from what you do enjoy.

__________________
Encanto Farms Nursery
http://encantofarms.com
We Be Bananas
http://webebananas.com

Carolina

Pitangadiego, the pix would be in my gallery, I hope. They display for me. I only posted one of the teeny tiny little wart bed (yes, feelings are -still- hurt *lol*). I generally get over things very fast, but dang it! I worked hard.

Actually, I love gardening and always have but last year was my first banana experience and its becoming an addiction pretty quick. My boss (from heaven) said "you bought -another- banana?? You need to stop!" Her birthday is next month. Guess what she's getting.

As far as my husband goes, I guess he hurt my feelings mostly because I wanted him to be as excited as I was. When winter first began, he complained about having to be careful moving around banana plants overwintering inside the house but he seemed to be coming around. He has brought me home 2 plants recently. Maybe it was the hail storm that he was running around in to get the plants under cover??? I know that hurt.

AnnaJW

I think your yard looks great! I do know the feeling though of working hard outside and getting no thanks or praise from the hubby. I do all of the yard work here. I LOVE gardening. If it was up to my husband to do the yard, the yard would consist of dirt and concrete. LOL
Anyway, give it awhile and I think you'll be pleased with your work.

__________________
-Anna Banana -

Living my life in MMORPG's

Carolina

Thanks for the kind words, Anna.

Concrete and dirt... hehe... We're actually considering mulching our whole back yard. I just haven't come to terms with it yet.

Anyways, this weekend I plan on enlarging the little garden bed. We'll see how that goes.

BobbyinNY

Carolina,

It looks BEAUTIFUL!!.. don't worry that it's not large enough. It's better to have a nicely done small area, than a lousy looking large one.... In another few months, I'm sure it'll fill in nicely. Also, you might want to put some cedar mulch down or landscape rocks to draw contrast - see pics in my gallery. I finished one area of palms and am now moving to my banana area.

Frankallen

I think it looks Great!!! Things don't have to be "Big" to be "Good" ....Keep up the Good Work !!! I think it looks Beautiful !!

Frank

Carolina

BobbyinNY - what you've done with your yard is beautiful. Love looking at the pics! I have already added landscape blocks and mulch. Looks better, but I do think I am going to enlarge it somewhat. Still have plenty of bananas to plant.

Thanks, Frank.. bigger doesn't always mean better, but in this case I think I need a little more.