If you ever have the chance to visit San Diego, do it! I returned yesterday with 13 bananas from our members there.
Many thanks to: CaGary. Sunfish, Mark in SD, Richard and Pitangdiego!!!!
Everyone was so accomodating and helpful. My car was filled to the roof and every cubic inch was occupied - just enough room to drive.
I came home with tomatoes from Richard - all kinds of varieties - yum!
Thanks too for the directions and the tour. (My phone went dead, so no Navigation foir the last 3 stops)
Tony (Sunfish) also gave me 3 dragon fruit plants, so I am going to try to grow them here in the desert. Now if I can just learn how to keep them alive. If they like full sun and no water, crummy soil and alkaline water - Bingo!!!! I am all over it. But, I get the feeling that there is more to it than that.
Now for the bananas:
Ae Ae from CaGary (he has a pup left if anyone wants it...about 4=5' tall to the base of the petioles, gi-normous leaves in full variegation and a stout p-stem) Beautiful landscaping and a monstrous Ae Ae mom, plus a Traveler's Palm to die for, a gorgeous Tree Fern and so many tropical plants, it makes your head spin trying to take them all in. I didn't even get to the greenhouse, or I would have been there most of the morning for sure. His lot backs up to a National park, and I bet that people were looking more at Gary's yard than the park!!!! He could probably charge admission.
Next stop was Richard's house - an immense, beautiful, tiered garden that goes on forever. Loads of advice and a great help. He gave me several tips on soil and fertilizing, pH balancing, leaf yellowing, etc. and I really appreciate his knowledge. His gardens are a walking botany lesson. So cool to see everyone's gardens.
Then on to Matt's place - Bananas everywhere! I was amazed at the size of these banana plants. Also has lots of palms, Fern Trees and other tropicals. I was impressed. Saw my first ever blossom here. I have seen loads of pictures, but until you see one for real, it's hard to imagine.
The "pups" I got were incredibly huge. One was about 6-7' tall with a corm the size of Texas. Loved the hand of Goldfinger bananas he gave me to eat. I ate all but one on the way back to Vegas - polished off the last one this morning! Exellent desert banana that everyone should have. I got a Belle, Red Iholene, White Iholene and a Williams. These babies are going in the ground today! Next trip, I gotta get one of those Golden Pillows! (wink, wink)
On to Sunfish's house where Tony got me a really nice Praying Hands, a Tall Orinoco (with 2 pups), Gran nain and a Mysore. Tony is a retired landscaper, so he has lots of bananas and a greenhouse. He also has lots of other plants for those of you interested. Thanks too for the Red, White and Yellow Dragon fruit cuttings. (Hope I don't get addicted to growing them too - sheesh!)
Finally, on to Jon's place, Encanto Farms - you can't miss it - huge banana plantation on top of a hill. After we found Jon, out in the jungle (where else, right?) I toured his banana plantation and saw so many bananas that I wanted, but only had so much money to spend. I had a list of the ones I wanted to get, but ended up leaving it in the car. (I came home with $3.00 - so it was a good day) I picked-up some of the necessary bananas for collectors - FHIA 2 -Mona Lisa, FHIA-17, FHIA-23 and an SH3640.
There so many more that I wanted, but I was thrilled with the ones I took home this time. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. I have nothing but the kindest words to describe my trip. I must have smiled all the way home. Thank you all, very, very much!
Scot