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Today we’re on the road with Colleen. We’ve visited her home garden before, but today she’s taking us along on a tropical vacation.
I escaped my usual New York winter for a trip to South Florida and some glorious weather this month. I can’t help but think that I’ll go home and view my potted tropicals as slightly pathetic.
Iconic South Florida palms at the beach
I believe this is a look up at the dramatic leaves of the traveler’s palm (Ravenala madagascariensis), which is not a true palm at all but has a somewhat similar look. It is called traveler’s palm because, apparently, the leaf bases catch rainwater, and so it can be used as an emergency water supply for thirsty travelers.
The blooms of a parrot heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum), one of the many tropical ginger relatives grown for their showy flowers and bracts, are brilliant.
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Thanks for taking us to Florida, Colleen! If you’ve had the chance to visit a botanic garden or other garden destination, tropical or not, I hope you’ll send in photos so we can include them in our “GPOD on the Road” series!
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Comments
Great to see warmth and flowers on a snowy cold day.
13° at the moment in Pittsburgh...your Florida photos were a nice escape from my reality.
Love that beach photo with the palm trees!
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