The Tropical Paradise in the summer

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The dog days of summer are here in The Tropical Paradise. The high temperatures now in July are well into the 100s, and there is humidity because this is our thunderstorm season. Unfit for man or beast, but the plants like it! Actually, Macintosh, the good little wiener dog, doesn't seem to mind.

As you can see, the dioon spinulosum at the left is doing well. It sent up a flush last month that has now finished and hardened off. New flushes on cycads start soft, and when they reach their final size, they become stronger. And the length of the fronds varies depending on whether the plant is in shade or sun. The more shade, the longer the fronds, the more sun, the shorter. In fact, the dioon spinolum over by the kitchen window has very stunted and sunburned leaves. I may have to move that one!

If you look very carefully at the small cycad that is just right of center, the Macrozamia moorei, you will see a flush just beginning. I find it interesting that at this time of year, it gets morning shade directly from the trunk of the olive tree. Planting is like real estate, location, location, location! In the foreground in the lower left corner you can see some sunburn on the elephant ears. They do tend to burn during June and July, but I just trim the leaves off and new ones come up fast.

And the best part about this garden is that the turf is artificial, so no going out to mow it in 110 degrees today!

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