Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

Good news/bad news. Good - went to the domes last Sunday. One is Tropical, one is desert & one is all flowers. They are 145ft wide & 85ft tall. Last time I was there (10-15yrs), they had a big nana tree. Don't know what kind, but I was really hoping they'd have a nana tree. They did & to my surprise they were Ice Cream (my biggest) & one had a big bunch of nanas on! I took a bunch of pics & pointed out the flag leaf to my fiancee'. We have a 12 footer in his Lroom that I'm hoping will flower soon.
Then I saw a 6 ft AeAe. Took more pics. Then, I saw a 5 1/2 ft skinny nana with flower & 1 1/2 inch fruits! It was very small & I don't have a clue what it was. Took more pics. Then, I saw a 25 ft high pumello grapefruit tree with huge fruits on. More pics.
There were beautiful palms & I think one's called a Traveler tree (?) More pics. More plants & more pics.
Then the desert dome & HUGE cactus & yucca. Big ol' Dragon Fruit growing over a large rock. Lots more pics. So exciting to see all this stuff esp a fruiting I.C. - musta been over 20 -25 ft high.
Bad news is, I forgot to take the fricking lens off!!! No pics...waaaaaa.
Anyone near MKE, it's worth a drive here to see this. $5.50 Adm
Here's a preview:
Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes)

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

:pics:

:Dyou make me curious!;)

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

I think I will have to go back. I promise to take lens cap off!! Sooo frustrating I almost cried, but I really want you to see this. Besides, I stole a berry off a tree for its seed & forgot to write down what it was LOL. Was a cool looking tree! When I go back, I'll write it down.

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

This place looks really cool, when I was in Milwaukee I only went to the down town area close to the Milwaukee Zoo. The Milwaukee Zoo is pretty cool also.

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

Mike, you shoulda called me!! LOL Too bad no one told you about the Domes! You woulda liked that as much - or more.
I REALLY want to go back & take pics soon. We do have a good zoo but I hear, not as good as San Diego (#1). ---- I LOVE all the the monkeys & giraffes here.
Few years ago, someone climbed fence into the Lions den & was attacked & eaten. What a dummy...what was he thinking?

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

looks like a cool place
Banana Tree on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

Thank you Gadget. That's exactly what it looked like when I took the pic.

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

If I am ever up in WI again I will let you know before we leave FL. But after I went there in winter I really have no motivation to ever go again. It was so cold and the snow was the light fluffy kind that did not compact well and just froze everything. It was so horrible! I do not know how everyone up there is so nice and happy, LoL

The guy at the zoo, Yeah that was his fault! But the thing I really like is how open the zoo is, we just walked up on the zoo and started walking around, there was no fee to get in all the animals were in big open cages. I know San Diego Zoo would be pretty crazy compared to Milwaukee but in CA everything there is big and crazy. I would love to go see the Monterey Bay Aquarium that place seems really cool.

Do you know where Rhinelander is? I know it is suppose to be a pretty small town but that is where my Great Grand father and Grand Mother use to live.

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

Rhinelander is a nice town way up North - almost to Michigan. Colder up there too.
We are "nice & happy" just to see people after being stuck in the house because of cold & snow!

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

That's pretty awesome! Wonder what it costs to build one of those?

Just found it.

Construction began in 1959 and proceded in stages. This allowed for the building to be paid in yearly appropriations, thus avoiding the cost of bonding. The total cost was $4.5 million when it was completed in 1967.

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

I'm going to the Domes this Saturday. Need a winter break.

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

Hi Tim, I'll try to get there tomorrow as they are calling for another winter storm starting tomorrow night. I gotta get pics posted here.
Just across from the I.C. is the small nana plant w/ fruits. I'm going to try to pick one off & taste later - if I can get away with it. I noticed there were a few missing before. Hope you get there to see it all!

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

rhinelander is about 20 minutes north of wausau about 60 miles from my house it is very small town in the middle of the woods with about 4 feet of snow on the ground now

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

hey pattie where about is that place from hwy 41im thinking about taking a little drive next weekend and checkin this place out this is the first time i heard about it

Re: Saw my first real IC banana here w/ fruit on at the Tropical Dome!
 

J, take 41 south to 94 & then east (to MKE) on 94 to 27th st exit. You can see the domes from 94. Go south on 27th street & it is just over the bridge & on your left.
You know, I think we should all meet there this Saturday! C'mon Tim & J and anyone else who'd like to see the Domes. Hey Mr & Mrs Buzzwinder, bring the kids! Y'all won't be sorry. How about noon?