Gorgeous as always. Your photos inspired me to get my own Ensete. Just one so far. This year (the third summer) it's finally taller than the dahlias and I love it.

Are those amaryllids in the sunken pots in between?

Thanks edie. Yes, the amaryllis do quite well outside.

Those are gorgeous! Do you dig up the bananas to store for the winter or protect them outside?

Great stuff, if you're still around, arc. I like the bananas as well as other tropical and big-leaved things like the calocasias and alocasias. The problem I run into with such items is that much of the work I do is in downtown "canyons" with their howling winds. Tends to shred the leaves of such plants. Other than that, I think they're great.

+oM

Arctic, are there any palms or bananas that you STILL are protecting inground? I hope you still have a few, but, I would imagine it takes some work to do it all. Poaky1

Sorry for the delay in replying! Since I let my three large palms die (Mediterranean Fan palms and Windmill palm which was 16' tall) because they were too tall to protect, I have started over. I've had a Pindo Palm (butia capitata) and Mexican Blue Fan Palm (Hesper) outside for a couple of years and they are doing great!

I just got 6 Needle palms, I will keep them indoors (basement) in winter until they get a little bigger. I will need to protect them then, they are likely zone 7 without protection, and I am zone 6. I am thinking straw, burlap and lights. Sound okay? We have had lows down to -10F the last 2 winters. I am going to try and overwinter a Quartz mountain Live oak this winter, they are said to be zone 5 hardy, but, I am zone 6 and thinking that it should be okay, maybe I should get some lights for over winter. It is about 2-3 years old (GUESSING) and not a twig, but still pretty small limbed. I don't suppose anyone has one of them here on this forum. later Poaky1

Oh BTW, arctic what are you using to protect those 2 palms you mentioned? My Musa Basjoo bananas died out. They lasted about 3 years then no more. Poaky1

Me again, I can give away a few of them, any takers? I will send free, up to 3 of them. Poaky1

What tropical plants have you tried to grow outdoors that failed? In case you like challenges, try Heliconias. Many years ago, I grew Heliconia Aureo-Striata outdoors in zone 5. It didn't do great but it grew. I also flowered musa coccinea outdoors but it wasn't easy.

http://www.general-cathexis.com/images/Bananas002.jpg

The plants I will send are the Needle palms, it reads like I will give away the Musa's I don't have now. Just wanted to add that. Arctic I am guessing that you protected those palms the way you protected the others, which you explained a long time ago. Poaky1