From mischievous commentor Dance Around In Your Bones, in southern California:
I saw this on my daily walk and it is the strangest thing I have seen in a while. Note the pods hanging salaciously at the bottom of photo – those turn into the odd flowers!
Thought this might be a good Garden Thread puzzle :)
And from commentor Stan of the Sawgrass:
I finally harvested the bananas from my one ‘tree’ (it’s not really a tree) yesterday. Betty posted a picture of a stalk she cut a few weeks ago, but I thought I might go into a little more detail.
I grew up in the Everglades, then spent 23 years in Chicago. I always missed the bananas we had when I was a kid. There was practically a jungle of trees behind the garages, and of course that’s where we played, made forts, and did all those secret kid things you don’t talk about after you grow up. Mostly, someone’s dad would cut down a stalk when it was ready to be ripened, but sometimes we just pushed a tree over ourselves when we saw the bananas were ripe. They were great: not sure of what species, but they’d been grown by the Seminoles, so they’d been around for a while. Tiny, about the size of a finger, which is why everyone called them ‘finger bananas.’ They were incredibly sweet, and had the most intense banana smell and taste that I can remember. ‘Store bananas’ (Cavendish) were a starchy, pale alternative, but they were always available, while finger bananas were an unpredictable treat. These are too big to be that variety (plus the ‘tree’ was too short), but past harvests were sweet and mellow, much tastier than I got from the local Publix.
We got five ‘hands’ (bunches) from this stalk. Even those some of those will go to friends, I’m still anticipating eating more than our fill of bananas. Banana bread and banana daquiris are in our immediate future, not to mention Thai bananas in coconut milk.
There is a place down in Homestead called Going Bananas that sells plants of almost every banana known to humankind– even things like blue (inedible) decorative species. I should head down there, if I can summon the gumption to make the long drive.I’ve seen bananas growing in yards as far north as south-central Alabama, but they’re tropical, no way around that. Unlike pineapples, which I once saw growing, and fruiting, in a dooryard garden in Chicago.
Tomorrow I’ll need to push over the now-useless “tree” and make room for the next generation stalk, which is already growing but getting shaded out. Wish me luck.
shortstop
Damn, Stan, I’m envious. Loved that story.
sm*t cl*de
Aristolochia elegans.
dance around in your bones
Wow. I got fucked last night for the first time in 5 years and now I get front-paged with my weird flower picture!!!
I am honored. Does anyone know what kinda flower this is???
We used to have a banana tree in SoCal on our ol big dairy farm, and it was beautiful, but the bananas were kinda crappy.. like you had to cook them.
Anyway, I am listening to Leonard Cohen instead of sneaking back into my new hook-up partner’s bedroom.
I. mean, we all gotta live together as roommates – two guys, two girls. one doggish and one cat who I have been courting like a lover – I have been somewhat successful :)
Jeex, Leonard Cohen’s voice practically makes me come all by himself. “I”m Your Man, indeed!!!!’ Read it.
sm*t cl*de
…Or maybe some related species of Aristolochia, e.g. A. macrophylla.
raven
nice
Gvg
Scientific name already provided but common name dutchman’s pipe which a side view picture would show better. host plant for a certain kind of butterfly. there are tropical ones and northern ones. my mother grows them and the catapillers tend to hatch in batches then eat fast.
going Bananas has a website and does mostly mail order so you don’t have to drive down. Bananas can be over wintered. some people dig them out of pots and store them in basements in winter. Most types need 18 months no frost to fruit but a few fruit in 9 if you feed them enough. Try Raja Puri for fast.
JPL
What a fun read and thank you to Stan .
@dance around in your bones: Sorry that I can’t help you but
the picture is gorgeous.
dance around in your bones
@JPL: But I know SOMEONE on BJ will know, and help me!!!
I could look it up on the Googly machine, but I haven’t put the effort into it – been otherwise mischievously occupied :)
I have tried in my way to be free_)
JPL
@dance around in your bones: My evening wasn’t as exciting. The comment above mine has your answer. Some type of dutchman’s pipe.
dance around in your bones
Gawd dang!! That’s it!! A Dutchman’s pipe……my daughter was born in Amsterdam.
Waaaaay back in the day :)
satby
Wait, banana trees aren’t trees and are only good for one harvest? I didn’t know that.
skerry
So I have a problem. I hired a landscaper to trim up the bushes in front of my house. Foundation plants. They did that, but they also butchered a Jane’s Magnolia that was in the yard 20-25 feet from the house. The magnolia was about 5 years in the yard, 6-8 ft tall and had finally bloomed wonderfully this last spring. It was slow growing and blooms only on old growth. Now it is about 3 feet tall. I am heartbroken. Why the hell they would “trim” a tree I don’t know.
Do I have it replaced or will it recover and grow more quickly since it has an established root? I’m not even sure it will make it over the winter. I am zone 7.
Betty Cracker
Lovely bananas, Stan! There’s nothing like homegrown.
OzarkHillbilly
My first trip to Mexico, there were 2 things that stuck out way beyond the rest: The bananas, called variations of “plantains” down there(my fav were the little “plantinos”) and the pinapple.
Gawddayum.
Betsy
@skerry: (b). Keep it. It will recover more quickly because of the established roots.
However, more generally, why are they pruning your bushes in the fall?
Spring is for pruning, fall is for planting. Fall pruning is wrong for a number of reasons. Loss of next year’s flowers and frost damage being two of them.
They sound like ignorant “landscapers” everywhere: bring lots of two-cycle engines and cut and blow like hell. No actual gardening necessary.
skerry
@Betsy: Actually, I had talked to the guy about pruning the bushes last Spring. He never got to it. I forgot because life and reasons. I was surprised when they came here Friday. I called him and was quite upset with him. He offered to replace the magnolia, but I don’t know the right course of action. The foundation plants will be ok, I’m sure. I appreciate the advice about the magnolia. Needless to say, he won’t be doing any more work for me.
Tommy
We got our first snowfall last night. Just a dusting. I will enjoy it for a day or so before I wish it was 95 again.
Mustang Bobby
My four hibiscus trees are in full bloom, and my butterfly orchid is getting a second bloom.
JPL
Sunday mornings I check to see what show will host John McCain. He’s being snubbed again. I did find out that Mitt will criticize immigration reform and Jindal will whine about ACA. The real surprise was this though
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will appear on CBS to discuss the Iran nuclear negotiations.
I had no idea that Netanyahu had any interest in negotiations.
satby
@skerry: skerry, it might be too big, but wrap burlap (not plastic!) around it after you get a frost, or soon if you have had a frost already (do you get frosts in zone 7?). It should be fine, you may not have flowers for next year but it will come back.
JPL
@Mustang Bobby: You’ll have to send pictures to Anne for next week’s post.
PsiFighter37
Now that I live in an apartment that gets decent lighting from the west – are there any herbs that could potentially be grown indoors in small quantities? It seems like a waste to pay a lot for herbs in a store, and I did enjoy growing veggies (mainly tomatoes) when I was a kid.
OzarkHillbilly
@Tommy: More on the way. 1-3 inches for us. What a welcome back from the “sunny” South. High on Wednesday in BR: 44.
Tommy
Do you cut back trees? How do you cut back a tree?
I used to have this huge tree in front of my house. After a storm it ended up on my house. Replaced it with two much, much smaller trees. About 8-10 feet when I planted them. Now three years later much larger. Growing so well I don’t know how to explain.
But the limbs go almost down to the ground. They are growing up but not “out” if that makes any sense. Seems I should trim them back but worry I would harm it.
I bet most or anybody here that could help me is asking what kind of tree is it. Honestly I don’t know. Sure I noted it some/one of my journals, but not able to find it. Or are there some general rules of thumbs I should follow?
debbie
@Betty Cracker:
How long will homegrown bananas keep until they’re overripe?
OzarkHillbilly
@JPL: He is interested in seeing them fail.
skerry
@satby: Thanks. I’ll run out for burlap today. Yes, we have had frosts already this year. Could be a harsh winter.
Like I said, I’m so upset. I was so happy with the blossoms last spring. I even took pictures of it. I never dreamed anyone would do this to a tree.
ETA: How do I share pictures on BJ?
Cervantes
@satby:
Technically, they are not trees but herbs.
And get this: technically, the fruit are berries.
debbie
@JPL:
I don’t know what Netanyahu thinks gives him the right to publicly overmeddle the way he’s been doing.
Amir Khalid
@JPL:
Bibi reckons you negotiate with Iran by nuking them first.
Cervantes
@skerry: It’s possible your landscaper is (or was) married to someone else who has commented here.
Amir Khalid
How’s this for chutzpah?
Skerry
Experiment
Pictures
OzarkHillbilly
@Tommy: Fruit trees are pruned regularly, others not so much (beyond suckers and low hanging branches) Every now and again I will see where a big old beautiful old granddaddy of a tree is “topped” (all major branches cut in order to “shape” the tree). This is always a bad idea. The new branches are very weak and prone to falling on houses, cars, and pedestrians.
Yours, being young, are probably OK to judiciously prune, tho I wonder why? But I am prejudiced that way.
Tommy
@Cervantes:
Totally understand the thinking. I have two Japanese Maples in my yard. Taken from my grandparents house to my yard (long story). I’ve had times in my life where people stopped me to tell me those are pretty trees.
*Somewhat paraphrased …
Cervantes
@debbie:
See Deuteronomy 7:6.
Skerry
@Tommy: your quote expresses my sentiments exactly
JPL
@debbie: I don’t know why we give him a forum. If his name was Putin, would CBS news air his opinion?
Skerry
@Cervantes: quite possibly. But I have no relationship with this landscaper except that he had mowed my lawn for 15 years and done some mulching type work. Still, I am beyond words to express my anger.
debbie
@Cervantes:
Makes me miss Yitzhak Rabin all the more.
Cervantes
@Amir Khalid: Impressive.
Cervantes
@Skerry:
It is a loss. I am sorry you’re having to deal with it.
JPL
@Amir Khalid: Wow!
Tommy
@OzarkHillbilly: Will let those darn trees grow as they will. Personally I see no reason to cut them back, unless it would be helpful for said tree. People all around me “groom” their trees with “professionals.” Why I even got this idea. I don’t get it really.
raven
@Tommy: Part of our sewer project will take the new line between our and our neighbor’s house. He has a japanese maple in his front yard and there was fear that digging the new line would kill it. Our solution was to pay for a private easement survey and locate his line on out property. His line already runs on our property so we figured it was worth it to keep the peace. I thought he was full of shit when he started complaining about the cost of the tree but I know better now.
OzarkHillbilly
@Amir Khalid: Must be a Republican.
@Skerry: Works, and don’t blame you.
raven
skerry
We have a magnolia that my bride grew from cuttings from one her folks had in their yard in Virginia. It’s about 20 feet tall and I’m pretty sure the sewer job is going to get it. The problem is that we thought we were going to lose a stand of pines and her garden with the original design so we are probably lucky. Also, in the last week she has been making noise about selling both of our houses and moving to a newer build in the neighborhood. I know she is frustrated by the 2 year delay on the renovation but it seems like a really bad idea to me.
OzarkHillbilly
Seen at the edge of a town in Mississippi:
Welcome to Port Gibson. “Too beautiful to burn.” US Grant
Yeah. The South really is different.
Tommy
@raven: Not so sure I’d get in a fight with you over a tree, even if we shared a property line.
Right after I bought my house the guy next to me wanted to turn his carport into a garage. I got these papers from the city telling me I could protest if I wanted. Instead I walked over to his house, knocked on his door, said we don’t talk much but if you want to build a garage fine. You own the land. If the city gives you any shit ask them to call me.
The guy still doesn’t talk to me much. I think he is a step up from the guy that lives in the van down by the river, but I do get the “head nod.”
Mustang Bobby
@JPL: Funny you should say that… I took some photos this morning and posted them. I’m not a great photographer, but you get the idea. I’ll send them on to Anne.
JPL
@Mustang Bobby: They are beautiful and Sunday morning garden posts are so much fun to read.
jurassicpork
We were had, by Obama, by Gruber, by the entire United States Congress.
Omnes Omnibus
@jurassicpork: Woohoo, another drive-by blogwhore by jurassicpork. My day, it is made.
max
@PsiFighter37: Now that I live in an apartment that gets decent lighting from the west – are there any herbs that could potentially be grown indoors in small quantities? It seems like a waste to pay a lot for herbs in a store, and I did enjoy growing veggies (mainly tomatoes) when I was a kid.
What do you mean by ‘decent lighting’? If you’re getting six hours of sun a day then it’s possible to grow things but most herbs are sun-lovers, and any indoors location even next to a well-lit window tends to not receive enough light. At least not without technical assistance.
Generally, if you want a plant that thrives indoors, you need a plant that thrives in shade (like ferns). Those will do OK with regular watering.
max
[‘Experience talking.’]
dance around in your bones
@JPL: Why??!! Why??!! Who needs the aggravation??!!
Said with loving kindness :)
raven
@Tommy: This guy and I get along pretty well. He was a teacher and lost his job because of alcohol about 3 years ago. He get’s really really drunk and out of control. About 12 years ago he was hammered and said some really out of line shit to me. I waited until he was sober and told him “don’t EVER do any shit like that again, ever”. He hasn’t. As far as the line, I saw it as an act of good faith on our part to do what we could to save his tree. I think he appreciates it.
dance around in your bones
@Cervantes: I love those kind of details :)
Our banana ‘tree’ never seemed like much of a ‘tree’, but it would regularly put out a kind of purple leaf thingy? And the the leaf thingy would lift up and there were baby bananas under the purple leaf. They didn’t really taste very good – like I said, I think you had to cook them or something.
I was much more interested in my orange tree in the front yard. We got a LOT of use out of that tree, and if I’d known we would be living there for 15 years, I would’ve planted an avocado tree.
Luckily, my daughter just moved to a new house in SB that has an avocado tree in the backyard, if the 3 boys don’t kill it by climbing all over it. 8, 6 and 4 – and they LOVE to climb trees!
Eric S.
This year I brought some herbs in the house in an attempt to keep them shove over the Chicago winter. I bought a plant light and timer but are there ant l any other trucks to keeping them going? I have oregano, rosemary, and chocolate mint.
Violet
@Tommy: Find an arborist in your area. There are some who work independent from tree companies. Check with a local arboretum or nursery to see if they have any recommendations.
Get the person out to assess your trees. You’ll at least find out what they are and see if there is anything you need or want to do to them now before they get larger. If they are close enough to the house that they might fall on it or a branch might, then proper pruning and care starting when they’re young will help prevent that.
Anne Laurie
@PsiFighter37:
Most of the common ones (basil, oregano, chives, mint, parsley) are supposed to do okay, as long as you don’t keep your apartment too warm.
I’ll never be able to tell you from experience, because our cats are not friendly to indoor plants.
Anne Laurie
@Tommy:
Different species of tree need to be “cut back” (trimmed) different ways. Doing it wrong can damage stuff you don’t want damage, and if the tree is big enough, you can hurt yourself too.
If you don’t remember what kind of trees they are, go back to the place you bought them (or check with your neighbors who have gardens you admire) and get recommendations for a “tree service”. Let the professionals do the job right… and you might want to write down the name of the species somewhere for the next time :)
Anne Laurie
@skerry:
You post them on an ‘image hosting site’ (like Flickr or Dropbox) and put a link in your comment.
Or you email them to me, and I run them on a Sunday morning.
Betsy
@skerry: That is really too bad. I know how it feel to nurse a plant along for years and then something happens to it when the going seems really good at last.
I really think a magnolia like that will recover (fairly) quickly since it’s over the initial couple of years of establishment in which it built up its roots. And, since it’s fall, the carbs and strength of the plant had already retreated to the roots, so the loss to its system is not nearly as great as you would think given the amount of top they took off.
Maybe the guy can dig a free hole for your next shrub or tree to help make it up somewhat. Since that doesn’t involve plant care.
John Weiss
@skerry: The Magnolia will probably sprout from it’s dormant buds. Cross your fingers.
Betsy
@Skerry: Oh, wow. I see why you are unhappy. OK, so the other commenter said, burlap will help keep it sheltered through the first few freezes if you see new succulent growth on it (pruning stimulates new growth and so it may it out tender shoots that will freeze).
Place the burlap over and sloping down to the ground to keep the heat of the ground around the plant. Don’t tie the burlap up around the top like a Baggie, rather, slope it down and tack it to the ground with bricks or landscape pins or something. ( It’s the warm(er) ground that you want to help keep the worst cold off the plant. Wrapping the plant like a bundle doesn’t do anything because plants don’t have their own heat.)
After the first few freezes, it will naturally have hardened off and you won’t have to worry about extreme cold killing tender shoots as much and the burlap shouldn’t be necessary.
When growth starts in the spring, you will need to select a few main branches to rebuild the structure of the tree. Left to itself it will form a spray of new branches as all the many spouts come back and compete en masse. So you choose 4-5 of the strongest ones and clip the rest back near the spot where they come out. Do this as soon as the shoots have grown enough for you to determine which are the healthiest, stoutest, and best growing. These 4-5 branches will become the main structure that your tree lost in the chopping. If you continue to see willowy shoots come from the base of the cuts, you can continue to eliminate those with a clean low cut. The goal is to direct the energy of the plant back into a strong main structure and prevent it from becoming permanently bushy..
Fortunately with a small ornamental tree like this beautiful magnolia, a many-branched structure is desirable so the shape of your tree should be looking good again in just a year or two.
Finally, salve your upset feelings by planting something new that you’ve wanted. Nothing like a couple of irons in the fire to keep up your spirits up while you wait for next season. Another beautiful small tree you might love is a Montmorency pie cherry (sour cherry). Blossoms and edible cherries for jam and pies. Mostly carefree. Just an idea!
SWMBO
@skerry: @PsiFighter37: @Tommy: Call your local garden society. If they have master gardener classes, you can take them or ask to have one of the graduates come out to give you expert advice. The classes are for local flora and fauna (what bugs to look for) and they can also help with soil analysis, light requirements and so on. My sister took a master gardener class in IL and moved to AR and found a lot of what she had learned needed to be relearned for her new area. If you can’t find a master gardener in your area, call a local Agri Engineering Dept (there’s one at Arkansas State Univ. that is very good) that may be able to point you in the direction you need. Some trees need pruning to keep the trunks strong enough to withstand wind. Some don’t. Some need shoots trimmed to keep them from going “bushy”. Get someone who knows their stuff and can help in the real, practical details.