Using tropical plants to add an element of luxury and elegance to your outdoor spaces

Tropical plants can be difficult–expensive, fickle, and ill-suited to most of the year’s weather.  And when done incorrectly, a tropical installation can scream “70’s Tiki Party” reminiscent of cheap beer, grilled pineapple, and terrible shirts.  Mind you, all three of these things can be GREAT–just not necessarily what you may be intending to convey when utilizing tropical materials.

But when done correctly, a well-curated tropical installation can hearken back to earlier times when only the Elite could afford to have tropical elements cultivated and shipped on their behalf.

We recently executed a rush installation for one of our new clients in Montgomery County, preparing for a catered and valet’d July 4th party.  Although the actual installation was relatively quick (approximately a day’s work), curating a collection of pristine and coordinated elements can be difficult on short notice.  The basic design was established ahead of time, but some adjustments needed to be made to accommodate current stock at our favorite suppliers.

We created a more formal arrangement in the dual urns flanking the front door.  Elements include pink caladium, oregano, black sweet potato vine, white angelonia, variegated ivy, magenta sunpatiens, tall dark tropical foliage, and a large pink bromeliad.

The garage featured three cocoa-fiber windowbox style wrought iron trough planters, installed below a decorative lattice.  For these three planters we chose a brighter installment–pink mandevilla vine, pink caladium, white angelonia, blue “kauai mix” torenia, and variegated ivy.

Not pictured are two second story window boxes complete with pink begonias, diamond dust euphorbia, and variegated ivy; as well as two tropical mix urns featurining orange hibiscus centerpieces located on the back patio.

The tropical arrangements at this tudor estate complimented its outdoor themes well–the property also features a koi pond, tea house, and other “collected” elements reminiscent of turn of the century luxury living.

If you are interested in more tropical design ideas, get in touch!  Also make sure to check out our tropical feature garden at The Fareway within the Chestnut Hill Hotel outdoor compound.

PLANTS + PUPS OF SOUTH PHILADELPHIA

South Philadelphia–known for its colorful Italian markets, colorful characters, and colorful windows.

You only have to walk at most a block to see some sort of highly cultivated window display–generally some mix of religious artefacts, floral installations (real or, often, fake), or watchful creatures protecting their household from ruffians and solicitors alike.

This post spotlights two South Philadelphia windowbox installs–a large, 3′ wrought iron planter with copper insert, and one of a pair of smaller 2′ cocoa-fiber windowboxes.

Inspired by the silvery mirrored walls, red blush, and black asian lacquered tchotchkes, these window boxes share similar elements in red celosa flowers and silverleaf foliage.

Featured also: ever vigilant guardians of the stoop and window.

South Philadelphia’s Passyunk Avenue is a burgeoning hub of food and flora alike.  Keep an eye out for the “Gateway to Passyunk” installation under construction currently @ Broad & Passyunk Avenue, and enjoy also the planters decorating the Singing Fountain @ Tasker & Passyunk.

But…for the ultimate experience of the ultimate apple, one must make the trip to Solebury Orchard.  I don’t know what their magic is with this variety and perhaps it should be left at that…magic.

Eighteen years ago this month when we arrived in Philadelphia,  I got into the car and got lost, each day for months.  What  better way  to learn the byways and special spots.  That’s when I found Solebury Orchard, along a picturesque road under arched woodland.  At that time it was a small concern, owned by a young fellow with a passion.  And that’s when I first was introduced to this delectable treat.   Each year since I’ve made the pilgrimage, converting friends along the way.  I  guess I wasn’t alone in that holy mission!  In ensuing years the orchard has grown.  So have its converts.  And that young fellow, who looks young still, has added untold Honeycrisp trees to his grove.  In fairness, he also offers other common and not so common varieties and all are superior.

Of course, you can pick-ur-own.  There’s a frenetic cutting garden, bouquets by weight.  Warm, freshly made apple doughnuts. Iced cider slush.  Apple butters, applesauce, the freshest, sweetest cider I’ve ever tasted.  Pears and pumpkins.  New this year, cider vinegar.  In season: peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, tomatoes, berries too.

The orchard is open Thursdays through Sundays.

 http://soleburyorchards.com/index.html

3325 Creamery Road, New Hope, PA  18938  215-297-8079

 An apple’s core principle is to not get eaten. And who wants to eat the core of an apple anyway?  Jarod Kintz

Above, Calocasia (Elephant Ears, aptly named) “Mojito”.

An elegant assemblage of tropicals in what used to serve as a fountain trough.  Each is planted into its own pot and brought indoors for winter.

Caladium “Garden White” with a companion Boston Fern, wonderful texture.

A full tilt tropical garden at the Fareway in Chestnut Hill.  Blue-flowering plant is the herb African Blue Basil.

Canna tubers can be dug and stored in the basement til spring.

Bananas in a classic perennial/annual border.  Banana trees can be left in the ground, cut back, stump covered with a plastic pot and a pile of leaves over all.  They’ll return in spring with lots of offshoots, even in harsh winters (as we discovered last spring).

Baby bananas!

I like words. Words are places, rooms, distant airs, thin and tropical. They make us feel and imagine we are more than our bodies.  Rickie Lee Jones

Coreopsis “Zagreb” is a cheery perennial that blooms throughout the summer.  Here with tangy “Fire” Profusion Zinnia and a bit of Angelonia.  Pale colors can wash out in the late summer light. For that reason, aside from white which always pops (especially at night) we prefer to use bolder colors in our borders.

Annuals come into their own, especially when provided with fertilizer through the season.  They can smother the most insistent weed.  Above, Angelonia in two colors, “Punch” Vinca, Salvia “Victoria Blue” and Coleus.  None of these varieties require deadheading beyond a rare snip.

Salvia “Mystic Spires” (this relatively recent introduction deserves to be more available), Melampodium, Magenta Sunpatiens, Dreamland mixed Zinnias, a lime Echinacea, “Fire” Profusion Zinnias, Rudbeckia “Indian Summer”.  There are a host of incredibly showy Salvias more widely grown in recent years. Beloved by hummingbirds and butterflies due to vivid colors and tubular flowers, they come into their own in late summer and fall.  We were awed that the Salvia “Mystic Spires” we planted in 2013 bloomed through the first few fairly hard frosts that did in everything else.

A perky lime-colored Echinacea (Coneflower).  Wish I’d kept the tag for identification!  Stems are short and sturdy.  The Sunpatiens in the background  have become a staple for us in both sun and part shade.  Here, Magenta.  We love the Bright Orange, Dark Rose, White and Hot Coral varieties as well.

Eye-popping Hardy Hibiscus.

Angelonia, Magenta Sunpatiens, Rudbeckia Indian Summer, Salvia “Mystic Spires”, Phlox “David”, “Fire” Profusion Zinnia.  Unlike the commonly planted Rudbeckia “Goldsturm”, which sports golden flowers that can be coarse in a field of pinks and blues, “Indian Summer” blooms are overblown and a bright, sunny yellow – a hue that plays more effectively with most other colors in the garden.

So find a comfy chaise, put your feet up and enjoy the show.  You’ve earned it.

“More than anything, I must have flowers, always, always.”   Claude Monet

Fresh strawberry slices

Fresh cucumber slices

2 fresh limes

Fresh mint or basil.

Simple syrup.

Club soda or other sparkler.

Prepare your glass by adding sugar sprinkles to the rim.  Adhere with a bit of honey or some simple syrup.  In your glass, combine the juice from the limes, 1 tbsp simple syrup and ice.  Sparkling water to taste.  Add the slices and herb for garnish.  To further infuse the limeade, simmer  additional cucumbers and strawberries with the sugar.

Homemade simple syrup…simple!  1 part sugar and one part water simmered over medium heat until the mixture is completely liquid.  Let it cool.  The syrup will keep, covered and refrigerated, for a day or two.

Thank you to Elsie and Emma.

“To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.”   Jane Austen

Well, today is your lucky day.

Here is a slick infographic that supplies all the information on seasonal availability of “vegetables” (a term used a bit beyond its definition, as it does include some fruits.. but who’s counting?).

Enjoy and make sure you get your 6-8 servings in today!

“Cabbage:  a vegetable about as large and wise as a man’s head”   Ambrose Bierce

 “Lay down upon your pillow

And turn the lights down low

let me take you to the garden

where the passion flower grows.”

Charles M. Moore