Good Morning Friendly Gardeners,
We certainly are enjoying Endless Sunshine and gentle breezes. This is absolutely as "good as it gets". Our gardens could use some rain as its been eight weeks with nary a drop.
Just a reminder, if you have some tropical or warm season plants with dried leaves or bulbs that appear to be resting, merely leave them in the ground or in their pots. It helps to label the potted plants. They are perfectly fine and will return to action when the spring season returns. Conversely, the plants that may have been hiding in the warm months are now happily enjoying a little cooler air. If you have geraniums that rested over the summer; you can see how happy they have become during the cooler evenings.
Have you noticed the change of seasons brings changes in the scents in the air? Speaking of scents; the most incredible fragrance we have ever experienced in our gardens is the regular corn plant (Dracena). Oh My Gosh! It is the most beautiful fragrance. Our plant(s) are directly located near our upper veranda. They have been there for over thirty years. The blossoms are on long garlands. The plant is very plain and not very attractive. However, the unique, enchanting blossoms compensate. There are several plants clumped together with several long garlands of bloomers. During the day they are like baseballs with cream colored spikes similar to a porcupine. During the early evening, they begin to turn into fluffy balls of fragrance. Depending on the breeze, they share their wonderful scent with the entire area. During the day, they close up again. Definitely nature at its finest. Hulda Walters (Connie's Mom-in-Law) and I always called to remind each other to view them in the dark as they always seemed to bloom in both our yards at the same time.
Upper Fishtail Palm
I have mentioned the Fishtail Palm that volunteered in our garden earlier. It is such a favorable tree, it bears reiterating its benefits. It has grown very tall within a short time. It has several smaller clumps low on the tree. It is excellent for shade, requires little care and has very pleasing fishtail shaped foliage in a medium dark green. There is no season of variation. It is tolerant of all soils, but fertile is best.
Lower Fishtail Palm Clumps
Travelers Tree with Spathe
The Travelers Tree, even though it reminds me of a Palm, has large palm like leaves . It is in the same family as the White Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) Tree and Banana Palm. It reaches about 25 ' tall. It is medium green in color. It develops large canoe like bracts that contain small cream colored flowers peeking out of the bracts. Its seeds resemble black beans with a bit of turquoise fluff on the tip. They are easy to propagate from these seeds or by division. They develop and grow quite rapidly. They really lend a tropical feel to your garden along with a pleasant breeze. It is a free standing tree that does well in sun or shade and prefers fertile soil high in organic matter.
Travelers Tree with a New Spathe Appearing
White Bird of Paradise (Streletzia) Tree is very similar to the Travelers Tree in appearance. The "Bird" is a clump like tree with separate stalks protruding from the ground. It has the same requirements in sun and light. Its seeds are the same black beans, but with orange fluff on the tips. The seed pods are very different. The seeds are encapsulated tightly in separate pods. The flowers on the "Bird" are exquisite. They resemble large white birds in flight. The spathe is reddish with white sepals and bright blue tongues. The flowers make beautiful abstract centerpieces. They are long lasting and do not require water or a container when cut.
White Bird of Paradise
Please view the tree photos closely in order to view the seed pods on both trees.
White Bird of Paradise
An update on my unusual Mystery Plant is that it currently has two stems of leaves. We continue to await blossoms. One of Nancy DeBenedictis' Mystery Plants is tropical and has died back to rest up for next season.
Patti's Mystery Plant
Happy Holidays to you and your families!
Patti in Paradise