Tropical weather is on the menu this week in Florida. Two forecasted hurricanes are lurking in the Gulf of Mexico, an unheard of meteorological event. Both are taking aim at the Gulf Coast of the US. Batten down over there. This weather brings downpours that can dump 3 inches of rain per hour in my garden – even hundreds of miles away from the storms. I am joining the Six on Saturday crew at http://www.thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com. Follow the link to see more posts of six items of interest from gardens around the world.
I am featuring my more tropical plants today. This is a Blanchetiana Bromeliad ramping up to full flower. The flower in back is about seven feet tall.
The flowers on a Java White Copperleaf (Acalphya wilkesiana). These shrubs should reach at least six feet.
A Travelers Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) I planted these last fall to screen a telephone pole behind my house. They will grow to 30 feet. They have just reached eight feet. These are planted as a sign of hospitality in the South Pacific. The stems hold a great deal of water and a thirsty traveler can cut one for a drink of fresh water.
Fruit forming on the Papaya tree. I am hoping the moths are done with my tree for the year and I get some fruit this winter. The tree is at least fifteen feet tall, so I will have to wait for the fruit to fall off.
The new Papaya planted last year from seeds of the tree above. Papayas are very short lived, so I started this new one. The tomato cage is for protection from my lawn guys
Leaves of the Pink Ball Tree (Dombeya wallachii) This is sometimes called Tropical Hydrangea and flowers during the winter. The shrub grew 9 feet in less than two years.
Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
Yup. Just sitting here waiting. This Yankee girl has been through too many hurricanes, including my first year here being hit by Alicia. So far, it doesn’t sound too bad for my location, but the coast my get a big storm surge. Your tropicals are great and it is amazing how fast they grow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been thinking about you, I did not realize you had been in Texas that long! Batten down the hatches, do you have hurricane shutters?? Two is too many and how crazy is that? The forecasters are saying it is a weird season. Around here it is OK unless Jim Cantore shows up. Thanks, some of the growth on these plants is mind blowing, I could use my loppers everyday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By the 5:00 news, the hurricanes shifted dramatically towards LA and at this moment it looks like we will not even get much rain. There is still concern on coast for storm surge. You just never know. Rita was suppose to hit us and Ike was not. They did get Harvey right.
LikeLike
Yes..this last hurricane they were off by 800 miles and Irma good grief.. it’s windy here today. Poor Louisiana. Hope it doesn’t get any windier there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you missed the worst of the weather.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. So far so good šš
LikeLike
Is the palm to the upper right in the picture of the travelers’ palm a Florida thatch palm?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, Cabbage or Sabal Palm.
I have a tiny Thatch Palm if you want to see it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cabbage palm?! Oh my! You probably should not tell it that I mistook it for a thatch palm. I should know what a thatch palm looks like, since I had studied their pictures before. It is a species that I would like to grow here in cans to send to Los Angeles later. I doubt it would be happy here or there though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL, Thatch Palms are similar but the trunks are much thinner. I have one in my garden – probably been in the ground five years, maybe 18″ tall. Famously slow growing. I am not sure I will live long enough to see an actual Thatch Palm tree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Slow growing?! That is not good. I do not want to wait more than five years to see results!. I like them in pictures. No one mentioned that they are slow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you want pictures?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, thank you. I can imagine what it looks like while that dinky. Most palm seedlings look like . . . palm seedlings. You could add it to your Six on Saturday for next week though.
LikeLike
Your tropical climate makes for bionic sounding growth. Amazing. I love the travellers palm. Hope the weather changes its mind. Stay safe
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is bionic! I am hoping to prune the T. Palm properly, it is new to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your climate certainly produces some amazing growth on plants! Hope you don’t get too much rain in one go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks..I am on the other side of Florida from the storms.so far so good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your tropical stuff Amy. I have seen Travellers Palm in Martinique and I think it is fabulous. I remember reading that it is not actually a palm at all but a member of the Bird of Paradise family. I am envious of your papayas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Liz – I was stuck between T.Palm and White Bird of Paradise for that planting. I love the fan shape and I think it probably grows faster. Fingers crossed for the Papayas.
LikeLike
I love papaya fruit. Wish I could afford to buy it regularly, but it’s tropical, so I only buy it occasionally.
LikeLike
I have been meaning to ask a food question..did you eat Roselle? In Jamaica?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t recall. Rose apple, for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will email some pictures when it flowers. An edible hibiscus sometimes called Jamaican Sorrel and you can eat the leaves! New to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course! I know sorrel. We make a Christmas drink using the red leaves, add spices and rum. (You don’t have to add rum, though.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly, I have several of these things in my garden..the red calyx of the flower is used to make punch. No flowers,yet did you eat the leaves?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never tried.
LikeLike
Thanks..I will š
LikeLiked by 1 person