Tibouchina - Purple flowers just in time for Autumn!

 These are one of my favorite tropical plants for the autumn garden. The fuzzy foliage is pretty all summer, but the purple flowers exude royalty vibes starting in August and lingering until the first freeze. I bring these into the house or in cool storage over the wintertime. 

Late October garden update!

We had a cool and rainy October in New York, but the tropical plants are hanging on. A few, like my calla lilies, are actually ENJOYING IT! 

Here's an update, starting with my Satsuma Mandarin Owari. It ripens earlier and is more cold tolerant than most citrus. This is the second year I've grown this one. I have nearly 20 fruit! 

The banana plants are putting out their best effort and still looking great. I'm especially proud of my Musa Sikkimensis. Viente Cohol did great too, but no fruit yet! 

Peep at the Ti Plant "Singapore Twist" and the Phildendron cortadum that is inching its way inside. 

Hedychium Daniel Weeks survived the winter and was the first of the ginger to bloom this seaosn

Some great growth on the Dicksonia antarctica 

My Queen palm will go inside when temperatures drop below 30F 

I have a Musa Ae Ae Banana!

 I've wanted this plant since I was in high school! This variegated banana plant has never been cheap, but variegated plants became incredibly trendy during the pandemic and prices skyrocketed to unreasonable levels! A plant like this would normally go for hundreds of dollars these days, but fortunately I was able to find one at a very manageable price. This is more than a decade in the making! 

Now can I keep it alive indoors during the winter. We shall see! 

A view of the banana plants from above.

 Showing off my Musa Viente Cohol and Musa Sikkimensis (along with some of my other potted tropicals) right before they all go inside! 

A tropical start to October & what's ahead for winter!

October in my garden is a magical fusion of tropical plants and New York's famous autumn weather. All the plants are still looking good after a nice summer of growth and this week we were treated to record temperatures in Islip, NY here on Long Island. 

Woody Aster is a native wildflower

Musa Siam Ruby, Musa sikkimensis, hibiscus tillaceus (Variegated Sea Hibiscus)

Hardy hibiscus, perfect storm

Tibouchina granulosa

Double hibiscus 

Chinese evergreen houseplant with begonia and impatients 

Here are the high temperatures from my garden during the warm spell: 

10/2: 80F

10/3: 85F

10/4: 85F

10/5: 81F

It was weird to plant pansies in 80F weather, but now is the perfect time. They'll establish their roots before the cold weather arrivers and go in the garage during significant cold spells. These will bloom from now until JUNE!

I love planting cyclamen too. They aren't as cold tolerant, but bloom exclusively in cooler weather and shorter days PLUS they're tropical perennials. They dieback in the summer time and as long as the tubers don't freeze, they'll pop up again next winter for indoor and outdoor displays. *There are hardy cyclamen also that will survive our winters, btw!

An incredible sunset!

 September ended on an incredibly gloomy note with rain nearly every day and much cooler than average temperatures. It was a HUGE departure from how we started the month - a heat wave with record warm mornings well into the 70sF. 

After record-breaking rain on September 29 (more than 8" at JFK airport (4.30" in my backyard), I saw this brilliant "apology sunset" from Mother Nature. WOW what a sight!

My tropical driveway!

I really struggled with my driveway landscaping last year. The retaining wall is gray and over 6 feet tall. It just wasn't exciting enough. I really need something to scream: I"M HOME - and home or me is palm trees! 

The sweet potato vines will be annuals and replaced next year. The bananas, cannas, and elephant ears make easy perennials. I will bring them inside the garage and the potted bismarkia house will go under a grow light inside the house when the weather is too chilly.