Brugie, Rootdoctor, Tropicsman, Crestedchick, as well as many others that some way or another managed to grow plants that they have no business growing.
I put together tropical beds that I loath having to weed and maintain, withour even considering what you folks do with overwintering, digging bulbs, roots, and rhizomes.
Suddenly someone posts a picture of a gorgeous tropical garden in Kansas or Indiana. Seen a few from New York, New Hampshire, and Indiana as well. I can't fathom the work involved to keep that going.
Forget the classes it takes to receive a title or status, you folks deserve to be called Master Gardeners.
Chris
Edited to say, it was Eclipses latest pictures that got me started on this, and was definately one that should have been included.
This message was edited May 28, 2004 11:00 PM
I have to tip my hat to a couple of people.
Chris,
Every year I ponder the same thoughts you just wrote. Those folks really deserve to be called Master Gardeners, I agree with you totally... to push the zones like they do and get the results..wow is all I can say.
I am always amazed at how beautiful their gardens look and the passion they have for tropicals.
job very well done! we enjoy your pictures and hard work.
I agree also. DH and i have rolled it around about moving to upstate new york. he knows how i love to garden, especially the tropicals, and he says ill have to change everything i know about gardening.
its inspiring to look at the "northern tropical gardens" and know that my plants could come with me and live..
kudos
jen
Wow Thanks Guys,that really makes all my efforts worth it hearing those kind words from you all,who live were I'd love to live.
I have been and lived in your states back in the 60's,I'll always remember my visit to Cypress Gardens,and seeing those souther belles in there fancy dresses,ou la la!!
I guess growing tropicals in the colder zones,trying them to grow as big as we can get them,and having them flower,is quite the challange,and some of the reasons is the competition
with others growing them too,but the biggest challange is keeping them alive thru the winter months,those 6 months are the longest months of our lives,fighting the fungus bacterial diseases,and those pesky spidermites and whiteflies.
So hearing those kind words from you,makes it all worth it!!!
All my neighbors are retired in there 80's,they think I'm crazy,but they say it keeps them alive wanting to see what crazy plants,I'll try growing next year!!!
Their gardens so surpass mine in California! Shame on me, but flowery accolades to them!
ROFLMBO! This afternoon I was ROFSWBO,ROF (sweating my butt off)!
I will put a pic up here tomorrow,you are to kind Chris!
Tman,we have to meet,maybe we can convert some of these Snowbirds to enjoy the Midwest!
Edit to say,in the midwest,Kyle Rules!
This message was edited May 29, 2004 2:56 AM
Thanks so much. I've fought the elements this year and started thinking that annuals might be a lot easier, but there is just something about having a banana plant here or there and those elephant ears swaying in the wind. Of course 150 brugmansia should make things rather tropical looking too. I hope they make the weeds appear to belong. The passiflora are beginning to bud, as are some of the brugs. I'll be in my bloomin' element very soon. Everyone should try tropicals regardless of zone. Just make sure you have room to store them over the winter. Chris, three of my four adeniums are doing well. The other one, well, let's just say I wish I could lose weight as fast. I'm not finished planting yet, but here is a picture of what I've done so far.
Good news Tman. Cypress Gardens will be opened back up this summer, though I'd imagine the focus will be less on the gardens, and more towards a Busch Gardens type park.
We moved here in the mid 70's, which was the beginning of the end for the small attractions like CG, Weeki Wahchee, and Silver Springs. We managed to see them when they were still in fine shape, but they deteriorated rapidly after that, as "The Mouse" eagerly grabbed up the tourists dollars.
Ya'll make me blush! Wait till I'm done with the Hawaiin makeover in the back yard...out with the Japanese garden and in with the tropic breeze! Say Aloha!!! LOL
This was the yard in front last year.
One more...
Wonderful Kyle! I know I asked this last year but what is the name of the burgundy plant growing through the Banana?
Oh MY!!! You two are great....and such an inspiration!!! I love all the pics and really hope you keep them coming as the gardens start blooming!!!
Eeeeekkkkkkkkk Shirley....is that a gator I seeeeee? LOL
Silver springs and the water skiing shows were great,and the glass bottom boats were a real enjoying adventure.
Root,snowbirds!LOL!
Brugie,how many thousands acres of land to you have,150 brugs,heck how big is your greenhouse,and who carries them all out for you!!!!I have 3 servants,me, myself and I,which should be out there weedind as I type!!!! Took me all morning to fertilze everything,came in for lunch,now to ull to bend over!
I have a tiny greenhouse Don. It is only 8 x 10 and this year I could barely move in it. The greenhouse isn't heated in the winter so all my stuff goes into the house in front of windows or under lights upstairs and in the basement. The big brugs that I hold over go into the garage and the very special ones go into Jim's shop where it is heated or in our familyroom. We have three acres, but I only use the immediate backyard and veggie garden area. My veggie numbers are suffering because each year there are less of them and more brugs.
Kyle, I can't wait to see your Tropical Paradise. Everything always looks so nice in your pictures.
Don,
If you enjoy reading fiction, with a fare bit of old Florida tossed in, Check out some Tim Dorsey books. His style is very similar to Carl Hiaasen, but it's more central than south Florida. Both antogonists and protagonists are completely outrageous, and probably could be described as a big headed caricature of Florida past and present.
He draws a lot on current events in Florida, but the central character is a Florida history buff and there's a lot of mention on events that shaped Florida. A fun read all around.
Will check my local library to see if there carry either one of these writers thanks!
They might have Hiaasen, as his book was the basis for Striptease, with Demi Moore and Burt Reynolds.
Dorsey is pretty new with I think 5 books under his belt. I have a couple of them in paperback that I could send up. When I find an author I really like, I'll switch to hard cover to hang on to. The paper backs I pass around.
Here's his web site.
http://www.timdorsey.com/
To give you an idea of his newness, he still answers his own email personally.
Thanks will look him up,I love to read during the winter time,when I can't get outside for the cold.
Liz ..its hibiscus acetosella grown for the foliage not the flowers.Gets about 6-7 feet tall and about as wide in one season.
Wonderful! I bought a few of these a couple of weeks ago. I hope they grow as large as yours. Yours look magnificent.
Liz, if they grow too big just trim them back to whatever size you want.
Boy there is going to be some beautiful gardens this year.
Kyle can't wait to see your Hawaiin paradise. I still love the one photo you had of Inca Sun or Moon with all the coleus and plants around it. It was so colorful and beautiful.
Just getting going here,I need the rain to back off for a few days.
Hey Doc....great pic there~! Did you have storms and tornadoes all day yesterday! We sure did....but got lucky and it missed us by a few miles! Whew!!! Now....to get everything 'back out of the gargage'...LOL
Doc,looks like a nile croc,on the the fork where the nile and the nigra meet!LOL!