Tropical Forest

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

Fan Frond

A view up through the fronds of a Mexican fan palm.

Bismarck Palms

No, these aren’t from North Dakota.

San Diego Jungle

The lush understory of Palm Canyon, complete with elephant ears and banana plants.

Washingtonia Duo

A pair of very tall Mexican fan palms.

Palm Canyon Trail

The Palm Canyon section of Balboa Park. In this picture, I am standing in a grove of king palms (Archnotophoenix cunninghamiana).

Nikau Palms

Nikau Palms native to New Zealand but growing in Balboa Park.

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!

Boulevard Palms

Mexican fan palms, Washingtonia robusta, line a street in Santa Barbara.

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!