In 2007 my husband and I went to Kauai.  Oh. My.  Hawaii is truly beautiful.  We left the Philadelphia Airport with a light snow on the ground and landed in Paradise.  The fresh breeze were heavenly.

It was in Kauai that I fell in love with Plumeria .  I could devour the scent until it permeates every cell in my body so that wherever I walked I would leave prints of deliciousness.

Well, we moved to the mid-west in 2009.  About two summers ago I was at an acquaintances house, and there, in her backyard were several tall sticks of plants with leaves on the top and beautiful flowers popping upward.  I grabbed her and asked what they were.  I knew already but I needed her to say it.

“Plumeria“, she stated, “I picked up a stick at the Honolulu Airport years ago and now I have several plants”.  She handed me a pot with a stick and leaves on the top.  It was mine.  I promptly named her Leilani.

A dear friend in Florida, whose husband is an avid gardener of tropical plants, showed me pics of hers and shared what fertilizer to use.  I was nervous. I live in Missouri and the winters are so cold – even in the house at night.

I prayed for Leilani often.  She began to grow taller.  Some leaves would drop and others always came in new.  We went to Florida shortly after that to visit my brother.  I left Leilani in the hands of our house/dog sitter and told him that if hail or tornados were in the forecast she must come inside.  He took care of her well.

While in Florida, I ended up with Sandra Dee, a Pony Tail Palm.  I also acquired a Hindu Rope Plant that I quickly named Slumdog Millionaire – after one of my favorite movies.  And to top  it all off – my friend and her gardener husband gave me a Plumeria that had three branches – I named her Carman Miranda. The back seat of the rental care was a jungle!  I was thrilled.

These plants are my indoor piece of Paradise.  I love it.  Last year Leilani bloomed for the first time.  Carmen Miranda has yet to bloom, but I’m rooting for her!  Spring came slowly this year but they are now on the front porch since temps are steadily in the sixties.  And yes, when hail is coming I bring them in the house!

Here are my babies:

You must know that both the plumeria lost ALL of their leaves in the fall.  I tried not to panic.  They remained naked all  winter but grew in height.  Then the leaves came back int the spring.  I was very pleased.

This next pic is Trini Lopez.  I threw some lemon seeds from my water last year into a pot of dirt – Tada!  Hope he grows well.

And my last picture came from my daughter-in-law.  She knows I fear Garden Gnomes.  I need one of these:

So, if one of your dreams is to have tropical plants and you live in Alaska or Missouri.  You CAN do it!  Have a great weekend and watch out for the Garden Gnomes!

Enjoy!

cate b