Back in the 80's today, working inside and outside of the tropical house. The view from the door today:

Woohoo! What a great jungle! No wonder you keep making new discoveries! I love it.

with @plantmanager. what a fun jungle. There is a tree-like plant in the fore ground of the 2nd photo and i can't quite make out the leaves. Do you know what it is?

Here is part of a jungle going crazy during the rainy season in my prior garden.

vitrsna said: with @plantmanager. what a fun jungle. There is a tree-like plant in the fore ground of the 2nd photo and i can't quite make out the leaves. Do you know what it is?

Here is part of a jungle going crazy during the rainy season in my prior garden.

Young Caryota gigas palm

Awesome view!

Wait till the heliconias and Torch gingers start to bloom!!!!!

Gina, what a nice sized greenhouse, I'd probably live in it...LOL.

@vitrsna Hey Beverly I remember you from DG, aren't you the one I sent Mexican flame vines seeds too? I see it is your avatar . Your jungle is looking good.

@sunkissed oh yes, i was desperate for this vine and i remember i was so hopeful and grateful for the seeds you sent me. At the time in the US and UK every one was saying the seeds are sterile. I wish i could tell you my avatar was from your seeds, but true to their reputation they did not germinate. I looked in Mexico for these seeds and/or a plant for over 3 years. One day i was walking on the mountain/volcano and spotted a neglected vine growing on an abandoned shed. As i got closer i could not believe my eyes to see it was the "senecio" i had been looking for. I took 3 cuttings, and hurried back to town to get the cuttings in water. Interestingly, these seeds turned out to be viable and also the vine had a heavenly fragrance. I thought to send seeds to you and other people who were interested. The seeds were plentiful but they had a limited viablity time. Of the seeds i sent to the US, the 4 weeks it took the seeds to arrive was evidently too long because no one was able to germinate them. I had an 8 foot arch built for this vine and it was abundant and butterflies i had never seen before came to the garden and the humming birds nested in it.

After 4 years under an exploding volcano there was hardly a butterfly to be seen, wisely they re-routed to avoid the ash but the hummers remained. Colima City had become much hotter and drier and more populated. The plants were mostly sunburned. I moved to Manzanillo on the Pacific Ocean of Colima State in June of 2018 and plopped myself down in a condo unit on a mini mountain overlooking Santiago Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The good news is i have 3 good sized terraces to plant to my heart's content. Plus i am in the middle of a Barcino forest that i consider my back and front yards full of fauna and flora.

Okay, i have been very naughty and i apologize to Gina for putting too many words on your thread. I will look forward to @Gina1960 continuing the thread as new life comes to her wonderful jungle. And i don't really mind if you want to send me to the Sandbox

@vitrsna
Well glad to know you found your vine, good things come to those who wait. I know the seeds on my vine didn't work for you, they haven't for anyone, so sterile they are...my vine still thrives. Best wishes in your new place, sounds lovely.

Ok, Gina, back to tropical view...here're mine from my backdoor.

That's gorgeous, Sherri!

and more such beautiful jungles among us.

vitrsna said:@sunkissed oh yes, i was desperate for this vine and i remember i was so hopeful and grateful for the seeds you sent me. At the time in the US and UK every one was saying the seeds are sterile. I wish i could tell you my avatar was from your seeds, but true to their reputation they did not germinate. I looked in Mexico for these seeds and/or a plant for over 3 years. One day i was walking on the mountain/volcano and spotted a neglected vine growing on an abandoned shed. As i got closer i could not believe my eyes to see it was the "senecio" i had been looking for. I took 3 cuttings, and hurried back to town to get the cuttings in water. Interestingly, these seeds turned out to be viable and also the vine had a heavenly fragrance. I thought to send seeds to you and other people who were interested. The seeds were plentiful but they had a limited viablity time. Of the seeds i sent to the US, the 4 weeks it took the seeds to arrive was evidently too long because no one was able to germinate them. I had an 8 foot arch built for this vine and it was abundant and butterflies i had never seen before came to the garden and the humming birds nested in it.

After 4 years under an exploding volcano there was hardly a butterfly to be seen, wisely they re-routed to avoid the ash but the hummers remained. Colima City had become much hotter and drier and more populated. The plants were mostly sunburned. I moved to Manzanillo on the Pacific Ocean of Colima State in June of 2018 and plopped myself down in a condo unit on a mini mountain overlooking Santiago Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The good news is i have 3 good sized terraces to plant to my heart's content. Plus i am in the middle of a Barcino forest that i consider my back and front yards full of fauna and flora.

Okay, i have been very naughty and i apologize to Gina for putting too many words on your thread. I will look forward to @Gina1960 continuing the thread as new life comes to her wonderful jungle. And i don't really mind if you want to send me to the Sandbox

No way! No apologies needed. I am not like some other people on here...I don't take offense when others share their experiences on my threads I feel everyone has something to teach and everyone something to learn.

sunkissed said:@vitrsna
Well glad to know you found your vine, good things come to those who wait. I know the seeds on my vine didn't work for you, they haven't for anyone, so sterile they are...my vine still thrives. Best wishes in your new place, sounds lovely.

Ok, Gina, back to tropical view...here're mine from my backdoor.

I love it! I am definitely working toward this look. And working toward using bromeliads to advantage. Like I have said in the past, I am poly just reclaiming my greenhouse after years of neglect. Its definitely a work in progress and needs a lot more color!

stunning photo @sunkissed and really good work, and @Gina1960 your jungle is no less beautiful and full of interest. I like so much the idea of creating jungles when one is in a climate permitting. I am inspired by both of your jungles.

Gina,

Blast from the past! Haven't seen you around for a few years! I've been absent myself for a couple years. We just bought our retirement home (early) & I'm finally getting around to gardening again. This one is 2/3 acre. It's kind of exciting getting to start all over again! This one is a challenge though as it's on the bay and windy!

Your collection looks stellar as always!
- Bren (St. Pete)

junglegal said:Gina,

Blast from the past! Haven't seen you around for a few years! I've been absent myself for a couple years. We just bought our retirement home (early) & I'm finally getting around to gardening again. This one is 2/3 acre. It's kind of exciting getting to start all over again! This one is a challenge though as it's on the bay and windy!

Your collection looks stellar as always!
- Bren (St. Pete)

Speaking of a blast from the past!
Brenda How have you been? How is the new garden coming along?
I think about you every time I walk by this Croton.

BREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@junglegal I am so glad to see you!!!!!!!!
I just started back to plant tending really last August. There were some problems for about 10 years or so that kept me from doing anything with my greenhouse or anything else. But I am back to looking after everything and replacing some of the things I lost.
So you are still in St. Pete? We go down to Sarasota and Anna Maria fairly frequently because my daughter lives in Sarasota (Ringling student, graduating this May but sticking around a while because her girlfriend is NOT graduating yet LOL). So we get to go to Sarasota and Anna Maria some more!
I think I traded plants with you more than almost anyone else. Since we are both starting again maybe we can trade some more! Good to see you here again!!!!!

Hi Scott,
We've been doing so much work to the new house that the landscape took a back-burner for the last 1.5yrs. I am finally ready to start designing and collecting again! I'll give you a call sometime soon for a get-together. It's been awhile. I miss gardening so much so I'm exciting to finally be back in the game.

Gina,
When we sold our old place in 2017, the gardens were the main selling point so I had to leave everything. I only brought 11 plants with me so the journey begins again from ground zero. Half the fun is in the pursuit though. I'll happily trade when I start my collection again. Oh and yes, still in St. Pete. Make sure you check out tropiflora in Sarasota and Michael's Bromeliads when visiting your daughter. Selby is awesome too!

I have been to Tropiflora several times since she moved down there 4 years ago (just went to the last sale). Michael's Bromeliads came to our local Plantfest in March. I used to be a member of Selby and go to all the sales, have not done that in years.
I'm glad you are back! Another person to tale tropicals and aroids with. They are in rare supply here it seems