Last week, something really spectacular occurred
in my little corner garden!!
We added some MAJESTIC, Tropical
BAMBOO
to our piece of Paradise!!
HOW COOL IS THAT?!!??!?!?!
in my little corner garden!!
We added some MAJESTIC, Tropical
BAMBOO
to our piece of Paradise!!
HOW COOL IS THAT?!!??!?!?!
I must admit my fear of bamboo...
I'd always heard of it's aggressive, invasive qualities
so I only admired it from afar.
However, there are many varieties of clumping bamboo
that are NOT invasive.
Hallelujah!!
I'd always heard of it's aggressive, invasive qualities
so I only admired it from afar.
However, there are many varieties of clumping bamboo
that are NOT invasive.
Hallelujah!!
Clumping bamboo still grows in a 360 degree pattern,
but within inches of each other
and only to a diameter of approximately 10-20 feet.
Another exciting factoid...it's cold tolerant...even to 10 derees F!
AND...as if that's not exciting enough,
bamboo reaches maturity in about 3-1/2 years.
It makes a fantastic hedge / privacy screen in no time.
After a bit of conversation about it,
my husband and I decided to head down the road
to one of our local nurseries, Jupiter Jungle.
This nursery offers wonderful varieties of bamboo,
citrus and rare fruit trees, palms, and orchids.
It's owned and operated by a great guy named
Russell, aka"the jungle man".
Russell is such an interesting gentleman
that we ended up spending the next couple of hours
chatting with him and his son, Shane!!
(great name, by the way!)
Russ is the kind of guy that you're really glad
to be friends with...sincere, kind, and genuine.
So what did we get?
my husband and I decided to head down the road
to one of our local nurseries, Jupiter Jungle.
This nursery offers wonderful varieties of bamboo,
citrus and rare fruit trees, palms, and orchids.
It's owned and operated by a great guy named
Russell, aka"the jungle man".
Russell is such an interesting gentleman
that we ended up spending the next couple of hours
chatting with him and his son, Shane!!
(great name, by the way!)
Russ is the kind of guy that you're really glad
to be friends with...sincere, kind, and genuine.
So what did we get?
Bambusa textilis gracilis...
a lovely "graceful" bamboo variety.
This type is tightly clumping and very erect
with gracefully nodding leaves giving an Asian garden ambiance.
We opted to plant it next to the pond,
accented by the water lilies.
Check out a more mature speciman at
We also brought home the lovely
China Gold Bamboo,
or officially, Bambusa eutuldoides var ‘Viridi vittata’.
Mature bamboo will grow to 2.5-3 inches in diameter.
Beautiful, isn't it?
Decorative is an understatement with China Gold...
golden canes, or culms as they call them,
with bright green vertical stripes...a show stopper!
We placed this one in our newly formed Asian garden.
Here's a shot of the young striped trunks...
Quite a difference from the mature trunks above,
but it won't take long for this beauty to bulk up.
After a couple of days, Russ, aka Jungle Man,
asked that I stop by.
I knew Russ had something on his mind,
but like I said before, he's the kind of guy
that you just want to hang out with.
So I was happy to stop by.
This is what was on Russ' mind....
Yup...the Jungle Man gifted me this
AMAZINGLY AWESOME Vulgaris (wamin),
or DWARF BUDHA BELLY BAMBOO!!!!
I probably shouldn't boast Russ' generousity,
but this is the heart of the jungle,
as it beats in the Jungle Man, my friend, Russell!!
Many, many thanks!!!!
What makes the Budha Belly Bamboo
so extraordinary is its knotty canes
and its manageable height of 15'.
Check out JupiterJungle.com
for a glimpse of a gorgeous mature Budha!
To make matters even MORE exciting (if it's possible)
bamboo wasn't the only newcomer last week.
I was gifted a poor soul of an orchid by a coworker.
The plant was found on a construction job site.
Although it's definitely seen better days,
bamboo wasn't the only newcomer last week.
I was gifted a poor soul of an orchid by a coworker.
The plant was found on a construction job site.
Although it's definitely seen better days,
it'll be back to good health shortly.
I gave it a good drink, and the roots plumped right up!!
I gave it a good drink, and the roots plumped right up!!
I think this variety is a Paphiopedilum, or a Lady Slipper.
There's no way for an amateur like me
to know for certain, though, until it flowers
...which could be a while.
I'm not sure if the burned leaves are the result of
sunburn or our cold winter temps.
I repotted in two seperate pots,
and will keep moist in filtered light.
BREAKING NEWS!!!!
A reader (see comments below...Anonymous - Thank you!) has identified this orchid as an invasive African Orchid commonly named Monk Orchid, or Oeceoclades maculata. My orchid completely matches the description, down to the obvious seed pods. Although it is considered invasive, I will keep it, and control it by housing it in a screened area and disposing of the seed pods before they mature.
Looking back,
it's been an especially CRAAAAZY week,
but my new garden additions have provided
so much peace, tranquility, and joy
to me and my ever-evolving
Garden in Paradise!!
There's no way for an amateur like me
to know for certain, though, until it flowers
...which could be a while.
I'm not sure if the burned leaves are the result of
sunburn or our cold winter temps.
I repotted in two seperate pots,
and will keep moist in filtered light.
BREAKING NEWS!!!!
A reader (see comments below...Anonymous - Thank you!) has identified this orchid as an invasive African Orchid commonly named Monk Orchid, or Oeceoclades maculata. My orchid completely matches the description, down to the obvious seed pods. Although it is considered invasive, I will keep it, and control it by housing it in a screened area and disposing of the seed pods before they mature.
Looking back,
it's been an especially CRAAAAZY week,
but my new garden additions have provided
so much peace, tranquility, and joy
to me and my ever-evolving
Garden in Paradise!!
