Chironex

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

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Scot

jen

Sounds like a wonderful trip. I can't believe you got 13 bananas plus other fun stuff. I'm so green with envy. I think I'm most jealous that you have all that space. I have the climate but no space.

I visited Encanto farms a few weeks back and I can't say enough about Jon or his beautiful bananas. He was so helpful and so informative.

Enjoy all your new nana's...you have some work ahead of you, now get planting.

Jen

pharazon

Sounds more like a botanical field trip than a banana run, congrats on all the plants! It's always a good time to see what others have going, especially for inspiration. Can't wait to see pics of all the bananas you scored.

Bob

Post some pics! Encanto must have blown your mind!

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momoese

Sounds like a great time! You should have swung by my place to pick up the PK pup!

Chironex

Hahahahaha - no way I am driving in LA! I had my hands full just in San Diego.

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Scot

island cassie

Scott - what a wonderful trip!!! I hope all your haul take off well - probably a good time of year for planting in your area? When do you get rain? But what torture for those of us who are geographically challenged! Perhaps we need a field trip to the DR - it will drive you mad - nothing is labelled or named!
Cassie

Chironex

As Soon as I get my digital camera's cradle sent to me, I can post some pics. I have been planting all day and ran out of soil. I thought 13 bags would be enough, but still need about 10 more, plus a few more jumbo sized pots. There goes another $100.

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Scot

Bananaman88

Sounds like a good time. Good luck with all of your plants! Maybe I'll have time to catch up with you when I'm out in Vegas next spring!

Chironex

Thanks everyone, it was a great learning experience for me. I have all of them in pots now and hope that they can acclimate to our climate.
It rains here once every 10 million years, so we aren't due for a little while.
Hope to post some pics soon. Details at 11:00

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Scot

mskitty38583

sounds like a great field trip.....man see what happens when we dont get our permission slips signed.....we dont get to go! lol! scot im so glad you enjoyed yourself and had a great time. congrats on the new babies!

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Magilla Gorilla

That sounds totally cool and shows how nice people can be! I am planning a trip to San Diego next month and look forward to check out all the great nurseries.

Andrew

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Andrew

Dean W.

Way to go, Scot! I can't wait to see some pics.

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damaclese

O scot you know we got rain in 1999 LOL

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damaclese

Scot i think you should put a Lock on your garden heheheheh Now were did i put that black ski mask!

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Dean W.

Pauly, don't be paying him a visit at night.

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Chironex

It's OK, I have 'Attack Beetles and Crickets' and they are hungry. There is also one Guard Lizard back there, so beware - he's ferocious!

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Scot