Wonderful, wonderful, Mike! And glorious images too! I know they are terribly unfashionable, but Crotons do the job nicely outdoors too, so many to choose from and fast growing once danger of frost has passed. Back inside for winter though. I think Alstromeria are fabulous in those hot colours and along with the bizzy-lizzies, tick the vibrancy box, typical of the Caribbean too. Btw, you're the most youthful dinosaur I know!😅
Fluidity of words, precise descriptions, humor, all the ingredients are there for the pleasure of the reader.
By reading and admiring the photos, everything becomes obvious.
Several of these plants have found a place in my garden and I know where my inspiration comes from.
I have not been to the Maldives or the Caribbean and I fear that it is a little late because, if there are gardeners who call themselves dinosaurs, then I am an archosaur.
A garden in Dorset has filled this void, thank you my friend🙏🙏
In my garden, there is a southern bed where we find cacti, succulents, Musa, oleanders, agapanthus, Madeira geranium, Abyssinian banana "maurelii", astromeria, osteospermum, a dicksonia antartica, 3 dryopteris erythorosa, and more...
Thank you Mike for being such an inspiration to all of us
Full disclosure, I’d not heard the word ‘archosaur’ before, so thank you for enlightening me. In better news, my friend, I now refuse to limit my adventures in life because of a number!
Your southern bed sounds glorious. One day, I hope to see your garden in real life. I already feel as if I know it intimately.
Thanks for reading and your lovely comments as always.
Of course, you'd know how I always go for tropicals! Like so many palms are. And I loved all the plants you mentioned with striking colors amidst the green. There's one palm like that - Lipstick Palm - Cyrtostachys renda which would not fly in GB, or even where I live. But I think it's gorgeous. When you see it, the common name becomes obvious.
I was surprised you mentioned Phoenix canariensis. A tall stately palm with a bushy round crown. It's considered good to go from USDA zones 9-11 (we've got them all around town - love their looks when well cared for), even 8b for arid areas - do you know how that's equivalent in GB?
In your gardening travels I think you probably have seen the Windmill palm - Trachycarpus fortunei. I've seen them all around surprising places, of course in GB, Ireland & most surprisingly Vancouver Canada.
I loved seeing the Cordyline australis, one of those called a palm, but it's not. It's in the asparagus family. But calling it a palm makes it fun! A friend of mine in New Zealand has one on her property.
So yes, I always love your writing, but this one was special for me, involving tropicals that are flexible! 👍☺️
What’s a shame you’re not able to overwinter the Abyssinian bananas. I’m now doing it differently and leaving them in the compost in their summer container, but allowing them to dry out. Might be worth trying that Mr Lal?
Wow, that’s incredible to bring back a Cornus kousa in a suitcase?? Or, did it just go in the hold? Very impressive which ever way around. Thanks for reading, Inger!
Wonderful, wonderful, Mike! And glorious images too! I know they are terribly unfashionable, but Crotons do the job nicely outdoors too, so many to choose from and fast growing once danger of frost has passed. Back inside for winter though. I think Alstromeria are fabulous in those hot colours and along with the bizzy-lizzies, tick the vibrancy box, typical of the Caribbean too. Btw, you're the most youthful dinosaur I know!😅
Franny
Thanks for reading Franny. So many tantalising, tropical temptations out there for us all. And I’ll take the youthful dinosaur comment! 😆
Do!🏃
Lots of interesting combinations there! Wish I had the energy to remake a corner of my garden along those lines! It would be gorgeous ❤️💚💚❤️
Thanks for reading/listening Jacky. In this heat, I think we're all struggling to find the energy!
Stunning photos Mike… thanks for a great listen. ❤️
You’re most welcome, Alison. Thanks for listening.
Fluidity of words, precise descriptions, humor, all the ingredients are there for the pleasure of the reader.
By reading and admiring the photos, everything becomes obvious.
Several of these plants have found a place in my garden and I know where my inspiration comes from.
I have not been to the Maldives or the Caribbean and I fear that it is a little late because, if there are gardeners who call themselves dinosaurs, then I am an archosaur.
A garden in Dorset has filled this void, thank you my friend🙏🙏
In my garden, there is a southern bed where we find cacti, succulents, Musa, oleanders, agapanthus, Madeira geranium, Abyssinian banana "maurelii", astromeria, osteospermum, a dicksonia antartica, 3 dryopteris erythorosa, and more...
Thank you Mike for being such an inspiration to all of us
Full disclosure, I’d not heard the word ‘archosaur’ before, so thank you for enlightening me. In better news, my friend, I now refuse to limit my adventures in life because of a number!
Your southern bed sounds glorious. One day, I hope to see your garden in real life. I already feel as if I know it intimately.
Thanks for reading and your lovely comments as always.
I didn't know the ancestors of the dinosaur before answering either 🤣🤣
And for traveling you are right whatever the number, only the legs count😅
Hehe very true!! 😆
Oh yes Mike - loved this one!
Of course, you'd know how I always go for tropicals! Like so many palms are. And I loved all the plants you mentioned with striking colors amidst the green. There's one palm like that - Lipstick Palm - Cyrtostachys renda which would not fly in GB, or even where I live. But I think it's gorgeous. When you see it, the common name becomes obvious.
I was surprised you mentioned Phoenix canariensis. A tall stately palm with a bushy round crown. It's considered good to go from USDA zones 9-11 (we've got them all around town - love their looks when well cared for), even 8b for arid areas - do you know how that's equivalent in GB?
In your gardening travels I think you probably have seen the Windmill palm - Trachycarpus fortunei. I've seen them all around surprising places, of course in GB, Ireland & most surprisingly Vancouver Canada.
I loved seeing the Cordyline australis, one of those called a palm, but it's not. It's in the asparagus family. But calling it a palm makes it fun! A friend of mine in New Zealand has one on her property.
So yes, I always love your writing, but this one was special for me, involving tropicals that are flexible! 👍☺️
I have given up buying any Abyssinian bananas as overwintering them is a mission for me I’m afraid
But have invested in 2 hardy Musa basjoo bananas to compensate them. Boy aren’t they giants
Loving this heatwave .. phew it takes a lot out of us all
Still complementing to take side shoots of the Catalpha tree might have to now as it’s too hot for them …
What’s a shame you’re not able to overwinter the Abyssinian bananas. I’m now doing it differently and leaving them in the compost in their summer container, but allowing them to dry out. Might be worth trying that Mr Lal?
And I was so happy I could bring a quite large Cornus cuosa Milky Way with me from Ireland. No branches broken in the suitcase
Now a Ceanothus which I bought in Italy 9 years ago is flowering but it is in a container and overwintering frost free during winter
Wow, that’s incredible to bring back a Cornus kousa in a suitcase?? Or, did it just go in the hold? Very impressive which ever way around. Thanks for reading, Inger!