'Cairo Apricot' Hibiscus

Some flowers on my 'Cairo Apricot' tropical hibiscus. This plant has been doing really well, with lots of healthy, green growth.

Plus, the plant hasn't had spider mites, a definite sign of success.

Has anyone grown this variety? It seems to be readily available, but I do not see many people growing it.

Smooth Green

A new leaf on my 'Dwarf Namwah' banana plant.

Royal Ensign

The true-blue flower of Convolvulus tricolor 'Royal Ensign'.

New Leaf

A new leaf on the Abyssinian banana.

New Nasturtium

The first bloom on my new nasturtium plant.

Tropical Forest

I wish...actually my tropical garden looking up from below.

Downright Tropical!

California is in the grip of an unusual heat wave. Today, the temperature got up to 83 degrees Fahrenheit! The garden is really starting to wake up and is taking advantage of the warm weather. My banana plants are starting to grow quickly, and I have rebuilt the tropical fountain set-up.

Warm Weather!

It seems spring is finally here in the Bay Area. Temperatures are supposed to be in the high-60s to low-70's for at least another week. The warm temps have caused my garden to start growing. Soon I will get my tropical garden back together. I will post photos when everything is set...

Tropical Heliconia Seedling

Here is one of the long-awaited heliconia seedlings. So far three have germinated out of about 20 that were planted. If the weather gets warmer, the seedlings should start to grow a faster pace, and maybe they'll bloom in time for summer. We shall see...

Heliconia Success

A few months ago, I collected about twenty seeds of a low-growing tropical heliconia that was, despite frost, thriving outdoors in the open. I brought the seeds home and scattered them in a trough of soil, and now they have germinated. I read that they can take up to ten months to germinate, so it seems to be a miracle that the seeds have grown in the dead of winter. The species is Heliconia psittacorum. The picture on the right shows a flower on the plant from which I collected seed.

A Stark Contrast

A healthy king palm frond set against the background of a defoliated sycamore. I must say that palms are my favorite trees for winter!

Last Summer's Plumeria

One of my plumerias from early September, 2006.

Sago Rain

Water droplets covering a sago palm frond in my tropical garden.

The Tropical Garden in 2007...

This year will hopefully bring some new additions to the garden. I am especially anxious to get my tropical garden started again, but the impending frost makes me question whether I will ever be able to grow tropical plants again.

Really though, the plants will make it, and I am hoping to add some great things this year, maybe some bougainvillea and hibiscus, and possibly one of those really cheap queen palms that grow so fast you might think they're taking steroids. And the Thailand Giant Strain of Colocasia elephant ears with leaves 5 feet wide might add an interesting look to the micro-jungle.

Throw in some squirrel monkeys and tiki torches, and it would be an "authentic" island getaway...in a backyard.

Oh, one more thing: This is the 100th post on this blog!

Evolution of a Tropical Garden

The photos below show the changes my tropical garden experienced over the summer, from the period of mid-July to September. Next year promises to bring more expansion, with the addition of bamboo, bougainvillea, queen palms, hibiscus, and more banana plants. The garden is currently scattered over the property, in a greenhouse and by the front door.

Stage 01

My humble tropical garden on its first photographed day, July 21, 2006. Note that only a banana plant and pygmy date palm were present.

Stage 02

The garden had undergone change only a week after its creation.

Stage 03

The garden in August just after the replacement of the plastic tub with a ceramic container.

Stage 04

My tropical garden in September of 2006, very different from its start in July. It has seen the addition of four plumerias, a colocasia plant, a peace lily, a king palm, elephant ears, and alpine strawberries. When the banana was purchased in July, it was about two feet tall, and is now at least twice that height.

End of the Season

My tropical garden winding down a few weeks ago after the addition of a small bamboo.