My mothers Tropical zone 6 Yard

My mother has always been a gardener sense I was very young. My whole family seems to be into plant. My mother is much like me a sucker for tropicals. But over the years she has had a tough time careing for so many plants. I have sense been using her yard as a testing grounds for hardy tropicals. I get to test the hardiness of the plants in her yard and she can enjoy them. She still has to mulch them up in the fall but it is much easier on her than bringing them all indoor. I visited her today and took some pictures in her yard she has two plants that she puts out every year and brings in during the winter. I am not sure if you can see them in the photo but everything else stays out.

more pics of the yard

love the berm on the right hand side of pic

and more

Here is a Banana musa sikkimensis that came back in her yard.

The lotus bog starting to grow up

one of her many arches

Here is a pic of the waterfall and to the right it quickly turns into a small cactus garden with many odd hardy cactus type plants and yuccas.

Here is the cactus garden area.

Back of the waterfall

veiw from the top

view from the top

love the yucca rostrata! I was born and raised in Louisville (Germantown).....and go back about twice a year

Beautiful, Brian! Did you do all the landscaping for your Mom? Luv the waterfall!!
:) Donna

Brian could you use another mother? I have 2 boys and could use 1 more. Kidding a side your mothers yard is really something to be proud of. It is beautiful.

Linda

I agree, that yard shows a lot of thought and planning.

BTW, what is that lovely golden green bush in the first post? It's just top of the umbrella top.

Thanks for showing us, Brian.

Hap

Brian,

Thanks for the tour! How does she mulch her bananas -- what does she use?

-Joe

Well I did a lot of the landscaping in the yard but she does a ton of it as well. My father origanly built the pond. I redid the whole thing 2 years ago. I took out the old waterfall and put in the new section. Manly on the left hand side of the photos. I also put in the bog garden and did put in most of the tropical plants and centerpiece plants.

As for mulching I do speeches on the subject of hardy tropical plants in cold climates. The best stuff I believe to use is common hardwood mulch chopped up leaves work well if chopped up very small. The common mistake is using hay and cyperus mulch both. The difference is hardwood mulch and the leaves will break down releasing heat 6 inches chopped leaves on top of a colocasia can keep it from freezing it would probably take 10 inches or more for hay or cyperus mulch to do the same. Manly they do not break down well or form a hard case over the plant when cold sets in. If you dig in hardwood mulch in winter steam will role out of the pile only after a few inches down. It is by far the best stuff to use and its cheep and easy to spread and once it breaks down it turns into good soil.

How about that bush, Brian.....?

Hap

Thank you, Brian, or both the awesome photos and the info on mulching.
Your mom looks very happy, and I will be smiling like that too if either of my sons become obsessed with botany like you have, lol.

The lotus bog is really cool. I like that.
May I ask, is it in more sun or more shade?

I am so glad that you explained why and how mulching works to overwinter in colder climates. I always assumed that it was simply because the mulch protected the bulb or roots from the cold or snow. I never even considered the science of decomposition and the release of heat underground.
Thanks Brian!

That is a bush called a golden mop. Usually they look like small bushes but hers are so large and we have cut them to look a bit more like a mushroom so you can see the trunks.

I't beautiful. Thanks

Wow, very, very beautiful- and I bet her yard is the talk of the neighborhood!
Pretty cool mom Brian and she uses the tampoline? LOL. Kidding, but she is pretty cool.

Thanks much for the info, Brian.

I used hardwood mulch on my musa basjoo last winter, and it still rotted out. I was thinking maybe I should have used straw. The only thing I can think of is perhaps it was planted too late, and in the wrong location (partial shade, too close to a spruce tree.)

One other possibility, I waited for the banana to freeze before I cut it down, and the stem was mushy. Should I cut it before it freezes?

Maybe I should just check out one of your lectures. :)

-Joe

I use hardwood mulch and it works well, of course I don't live in zone 6a- I replace every 6 mos if I am paying attention but for sure yearly.

Great pictures. I'd love to live next door and sit on my upper deck and enjoy the beauty in your mom's yard. Very nice.

Awesome!!!

Lovely garden + lovely Mom + loving son = perfect recipe for beauty and happiness.
Pati