There is a lot of choice that will make your garden look very tropical. From plants which you could overwinter in your garage and bulbs, like Alocasia, Colocasia, Canna etc... And a Banana like a «Musa Basjoo» that you can keep all year around in the garden (protected in winter) There is a great book I just got: Hot plants for cool climates (amazon) there is one with soft cover and it's cheaper, anyway it's a great reference book for that kind of gardening. What city are you located?

Cheers

Boise (go broncos!)

I have no idea where is that «Boise» USA or Canada ? And what's «go bronco»???

Boise is US, Idaho (ID) As for Broncos, welll.... I'm not sure...

Denis - Yikes - you embarrass us Canucks. LOL!!

I'm also interested in answers to this question. . . if there were more than one that addressed the question asked. :-))

I have an area by the pond that I would like to *tropicalesque-ize* - is that a word? (BG) It's exposed to South-Easterly's during the winter which is a concern. I have very tall bamboo there as a *backing* and certainly would like to add a Musa Banana. I like Macchoriza Alocasia and I love the plant that is pictured on the Trop Forum on the main page which I luv but don't know it's name. (Greek or Grecian something I think??) There is an Alocasia called Portodoro that has graceful wavy leaves - luv that. Certainly Cannas would work in the mix. Also Kniphomia (did I spell that correctly?) would/could look neat. Jap. Forest Grass could look neat beside or close to the pond but I gather it's pretty slow growing and prefers shade so not sure about that. Maybe a Jelly Palm??

Eric had a very neat plant which he called *Madge Simpsons Hair* LOL!! That would be a unique addition. There was another neat plant I found called a *Perry D Slocum Lotus* - not the latin obviously but a really neat plant.

I'll put a link in to my pond area page (though I'm not sure if the latest *bare in winter* pics are up. Flash do you have some pics you can post or link? Then perhaps folks will weigh in and help us design our *Tropicalesque Environment*.

With warmth,
H

Here is a link that might be useful: Pond Tropical Area

Castor beans are very tropical looking and come in red or green (annuals from seed, easy)