Early July 2024 Update from my Long Island Garden

 It's hot and humid this week and you can practically watch some of the tropical plants grow right before your eyes. It's pretty amazing! 

Things are getting big. Check out my Musa 

A peek at my gaussia princeps palm

C,lose up 

A different view

Plumeria Melody with my Variegated Kumquat, Old man Palm, and Bismarkia Palm. 

Queen Emma Crinum looking nice. The Cordyline Australis actually survived the winter!

Musa Sikkimensis with My other musa (maybe ice cream?)

Hibiscus tiliaceus

Hedychium Vanilla Ice

Zinnia Cactus type

It's Bananas!

 Musa Sumatrana X Gran Nain

Ensete Maurelli in the front yard with my Bengal tiger cannas

Mysa sikkimensis, variegated Cordyline "Torbay Dazzler"

 Musa Siam Ruby. It struggled a bit but it's coming back!

Begonia vine (Cissus discolor)

Winter Survivors

This was only one year ago (August 2023)

Windmill Palm in this corner is growing SO fast and Daniel Weeks Hedyhium Ginger sprouted back beautifully and is taller than it was last year at this time!

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My first time growing Fatsia in full shade. I am in LOVE! It is much more compact in full sun.

Sabal Minor is buried by my winter surviving Salvia Black and Blue

Madison Star Jasmine survived the winter without issues this year. It was a mild one! The fragance is amazing. At this point the cannas have kind of buried this plant.

Frostproof Gardenia is in bloom (Puerto Rican Hat Palm looking happy too!)

The Musa Veinte cohol was planted this spring, but the needle palm is doing fabulous! 


Giant lily!

Trachycarpus latisectus goes inside below 30F

Sabal Uresana 

The windmill palm is enjoying it's 3rd summer. Next to it is a Chuck Hayes Gardenia. That's new this year!

Plumeria update!

The plumerias are coming into bud and bloom in my garden on Long Island. Here's a look at what's hot and what's not this year! 

My very reliable Plumeria Jenny! I used to have this in my dorm room at rutgers! 

Plumeria Inca Gold didn't bloom last year - this year it has 6 inflos!!Also check out those dwarf sunflowers! 

Plumeria California Sunset is taking a break from blooming this year

Plumeria Maya

Plumeria Jackie. Definitely a reliable and small sized plumeria. This might be one of my favorites. Great form and a reliable bloomer. This year I have 2 inflos

What in the world is this Hibiscus? I got it from the Farmingdale State College Plant Sale as "Peppermint"

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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!

September Plumeria and blooms on Staten Island

We've had near record temperatures to kick off the first month of Meteorological Autumn, and our first heat wave of the season. (In New York, that's defined as 3 days in a row of 90F or warmer). The tropical plants are loving it!

Plumeria Divine

Plumeria "Jenny"

Plumeria Jenny at night

Tropical Hibiscus adds so much color! The variegated hibiscus isn't my favorite. 

 Hibiscus Cajun Cocktail, however a new favorite!

The bottle palm behind it up close! 

For fans of cold-tolerant palms, here's an update on the Windmill Palms

BBQ with the family. It was delicious!