Bert's Back Yard
Summer 2004
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Musa Sikimensis in background with left to right Ensete Ventricosum Maurelii & Ensete Ventricosum
Now let me see, what a disappointing summer after the one we had in 2003, no really long spells of prolonged heat to get the bananas growing. However all grew to good effect with the musa basjoo's and sikimensis all throwing up a good amount of pups, which was rather nice. I do wonder how much growth the ensete's would put on if the weather had been warmer. One thing I must say about the ensete's is that I think that if space is at a premium in the garden, would it be worth growing them for more than two years anyway? These plants do grow rather well and with a little bit more heat I think that one could have some massive plants on ones hands! I have heard of one person whom over wintered an ensete in a spare bedroom, very successfully I might add, the problems began in the spring when he came to move it. Apparently the ensete liked it there, and didn't really want to go, it turned out harder to remove from the house than it was to get it in to begin with. As you can see from the photo at the top the ventricosum is up to fence height, and it's a one year old plant! But very good for the jungle effect!
Fine leaf colouring of Musa Sikimensis.
No disappointments from any of the plants that where mentioned in the spring 2004 to be planted. However I was unable to plant a Musa Yunnan, I could not get hold of one, but I did get a Musa Chini Champa, this is a relatively new and untried edible banana for this country, and it's from the eastern borders of India. So it could be an interesting plant to grow here.
A young Musa China Champa flanked by a pair of young Ensete Ventricosum Maurelii.
Flower and leaf of Canna Striata.
Left an unnamed Canna species with the ginger Cautleya Spicta to the right.
Brugmansia Sauveolens red form.
Oh yes by the way as you may recall, that I had thought that the Strelitzia's had succumbed to the winter frosts, the good news was that after having dug one up and examining it, I found it still green in the centre. So the other one was left in place after which it started back into growth again in early summer, and is still growing away, so it's got another winter to survive. Here's to a mild winter.