Garden Photo of the Day

A Bit of the Tropics in Virginia

A container garden brings the tropics north

My name is Lakshmi Reddy, and I live in the Northern Virginia suburbs. I am passionate about growing tropical plants in containers. They add such vibrant colors to my garden, and I like having my morning tea in my garden every day while I enjoy the beauty of nature around me. I have created a beautiful potted deck garden with a mix of tropicals, perennials, and annuals.

I love plumeria, Curcuma, and jasmine plants. I have been growing these beautiful plants in pots for the past 15 years. I love fragrant plants, and I also grow various types of jasmines and tuberoses that add intense fragrance to my garden. Over the years, I have learned that plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions, as gardening requires lot of hard work and patience. Growing these plants gives me immense peace and happiness.

WisteriaWisteria (Wisteria sinensis, Zones 5–9) unfurls fragrant lavender blooms on the fence.

Siam tulipCurcuma, aka Siam tulip, has beautiful flowers but equally lovely bold leaves. Most are only hardy to Zone 8, but they have rhizomes that can be overwintered indoors in a cool location.

PlumeriaPlumeria flowers are as pleasing to the nose as they are to the eye.

container gardenA variety of plants in pots makes a beautiful container garden. Placing the containers on different levels creates a lot of vertical interest and ensures that each plant can be seen and enjoyed.

Another portion of the potted deck garden. Simple shelving multiplies the number of plants that can be displayed.

Climbing rosesClimbing roses loaded down with blooms.

tropical plantsA bit of the tropics thrives in pots on the deck.

jasmineA jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) brings beauty and one of the world’s best scents.

PlumeriaPlumeria flowers showing all the colors of a tropical sunset.

 

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Comments

  1. avongardener 10/18/2019

    Wow! Your garden is gorgeous! You certainly have a green thumb! Growing tropical plants like jasmine and plumeria in Virginia is so difficult. Your containers are beautiful too! Thanks for sharing.

  2. LauraJaneS 10/18/2019

    Very impressive! You obviously know what you are doing :) Brava!

  3. User avater
    treasuresmom 10/18/2019

    It is all so very lovely!

  4. davlinkun 10/18/2019

    Such a beautiful display of gardening love !

  5. Doxnmomx2 10/18/2019

    Why hasn't someone invented a way to add scent to photos? Just beautiful! What is growing behind the plumeria in the first photo? It looks a bit like Rangoon Creeper or is that a type of jasmine? Thank you for sharing your beautiful plants!

  6. btucker9675 10/18/2019

    Wish we could scratch and sniff - I'll bet that jasmine is just delicious smelling! And your plumeria are divine - you've created a garden for all of the senses.

  7. User avater
    simplesue 10/18/2019

    That's the most amazing "deck garden" I've ever seen! Fantastic! I'd have tea there every morning too if I had a deck like that! What I like about it, is that there is so much open space around you, yet you created an intimate and cozy spot. The plants you chose are all perfect with fragrance, color and tropical interest!

  8. NewberryNikki 10/18/2019

    I can smell your lovely garden all the way in Pennsylvania!

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