From Spring to SPRANG!

Here's some comparisons from early summer to late August

Check out the bananas, ensete included, and citrus! Whoa! 

Musa Sikkimensis before and after around the pond

This amazing Corymbia citriodora, aka lemon eucalyptus

The hibiscus tillaceus was barely visible in that early june photo and the bananas had no leaves!

What a change!

My parents yard was so bare earlier this year!

A little more subtle change by the pool area

Monstera Thai Consetllation. Love this one! 

Thanks for looking!

 

An tour around the rest of my Long Island garden

 In my previous post I shared some pond photos - now here's a look at some more fun! 

Coccothrinax crinita (Old man Palm, with Siam Ruby banana, Plumeria Melody, and Musa Ae Ae) 

Musa Ae Ae Closeup

Bismarkia and Trachycarpus latisectus 


A different angle with a better view of the Ti plants. Featured here is Singapore Twist and Exotica. I prefer white diamond over Exotica for an easier plant up here, but I do LOVE the variegated pattern. 

My Flamethrower palm lost it's flame but gained a new beautiful frond. The New Zealand flax lily (Phormium tenax) and Begonia luxurians are really living their best life this year! Still no blooms on either. The begonia was a purchase from 2023 and the Flax lily is new from the Farmingdale Plant Sale this spring

Lets look at some more banana plants! 

Musa Viente Cohol from Miami last spring hanging out next to my needle palm. I got the needle palm in 2022. It seems like the secret to success with the needle palm is to start them big!

Ensete Maurelli with my citrus and sago palm! This is such a fun spot in my garden! 

A volunteer sunflower!

This hibiscus had a slow start, but the blooms on it now are incredible! This is year 2. 

This Variegated  Pink Hibiscus should have white blooms. It's a cutting from Farmingdale state but no blooms yet  

Hibiscus tiliaceus probably wont bloom in a container but the foliage is so much fun! 

My trachycarpus out front with a small growing zinnia that I got from the Hicks Spring Flower sale on discount

My large, mystery dahlia

These dahlias were a purchase from last year. They are getting so big!

Tiny zinnia. So cute with the Bengal Tiger Canna

Staten Island in Late August - And some drone footage!

I've been SO lazy this summer, but I finally got my drone up for this update. First a few photos on the ground! 

The Cannas are massive and we've had a resident hummingbird for almost 10 years that is truly obsessed with it. 

My Adondila Christmas Palm that I've had since 2012. What an honor to still have it around!

Love this combo of Ensete and Caladium. The ensete was a discount this spring because it had no leaves. Now it's beautiful!

My largest plumeria, Salsa! I've been bringing it in since 2009

Look at that tasty fig! And the bottle palm too!

Hello from above!

I need a tower in my garden with that bloom. Look at the Trachycarpus, windmill palms!

Even higher!

For the phone viewers (honestly does anyone even look at this blog other than me HEHE)

Even higher

What a cool vantage point of the Trachycarpus

Hi!

Thanks for looking!

 

Late August by my pond

I was so excited to have a pond when I moved into my place 2 years ago, but let me tell you it was a HUGE learning curve to landscape around it, but I think I have it sorted this year! There is SO much fun happening in this little pocket. 

A view from the top of the pond. I need to put a chair here (and wear more bug spray!)

Love this view! The Cordyline Australis is a winter survivor by the way! So is the Fiesta Hedychium ginger which is now MASSIVE!

I guess I won't get any blooms from my Queen Emma Crinum this year,  but it sure looks happy! My Hybrid Musa Sumantrana Gran Nain is really surprising me! 

Musa Sikkimensis is the star, but Colocasia Black Stem is catching up!

Welcome to the pond!

Hedychium Daniel Weeks. My easilest blooming ginger and defintiely my favorites

Passiflora is THRIVING!

Closeup on Passiflora Lavender Lady. It's a new purchase from Fantastic Gardens 

Love this little grouping. The medinilla magnifica is having an amazing year.

My panama hat palm was a perfect houseplant last winter. It's actually not a palm, but a relative of the prayer plant! Despite it's relation to those finicky cousins, this one seems easy. Botanical name is Carludovica palmata

Sanchezia noblis is a zone 9 perennial that can actualyl bloom! I think this will be hard to keep as a houseplant but it's an epic summer plant! My Variegated Monstera Thai Constellation looks great!