Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 24 Sep 2023

Go Bananas!
10 good reasons to plant bananas in your garden

Cat  with  bananas  in  refrigerator

Adding banana plants to your subtropical garden or plant collection can enhance the aesthetics of your outdoor and indoor space, provide fresh and nutritious fruits, and offer a fun gardening experience with relatively low maintenance requirements. It's a delightful way to connect with nature and enjoy the benefits of homegrown produce.

1. Tropical Ambiance: Banana plants bring a touch of the tropics to your subtropical garden. Their large, lush leaves create a lush and exotic atmosphere that can transform your garden into a tropical paradise.

2. Homegrown Flavor: Growing your own banana trees allows you to enjoy the freshest, most flavorful bananas right from your garden. Homegrown bananas often have a superior taste compared to store-bought varieties.

3. Nutritional Benefits: Bananas are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. By cultivating your own banana trees, you gain access to a nutritious and healthy snack option right in your backyard.

4. Quick Results: Banana plants are known for their fast growth. In subtropical climates, they can produce fruit in as little as one to two years. This means you don't have to wait long to savor the fruits of your labor!

5. Low Maintenance: Banana trees are relatively low-maintenance once established. They require regular watering, but their hardy nature makes them a relatively easy addition to your garden. They are not messy in a landscape.

6. Versatility: Bananas offer versatility in your garden. You can choose from dessert bananas for snacking, cooking bananas like plantains for culinary experiments, or even ornamental banana varieties to enhance your garden's aesthetics. There are so many varieties to enjoy! You can't find this big selection in a grocery store.

7. Sustainable Living: Growing your own bananas reduces your reliance on store-bought produce, contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle. It also minimizes the carbon footprint associated with transporting fruits to market.

8. Educational Value: Cultivating banana plants can be an educational experience for both adults and children. It offers insights into tropical horticulture and can foster an appreciation for gardening and botany.

9. Landscaping Appeal: Beyond their fruit-bearing potential, banana plants add visual interest to your garden. Their unique form and striking leaves make them an excellent choice for landscaping and providing shade in your outdoor space.

10. Resilience: While bananas thrive in tropical conditions, many banana varieties are hardy enough to withstand cooler climates, making them a durable addition to your garden.

bananas  and  banana  trees

Date: 17 Sep 2023

Cat Horoscope
Virgo Zodiac Cats 08/22-09/23

By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

Virgo  Zodiac  cat

How to know the astrological sign of your cat?
The astrological sign of a cat can be determined by either their date of birth or adoption, as adoption is often considered a second birth for cats...
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Purrrrfect office companions!

Are you someone who occasionally finds themselves in a state of disarray, struggling to maintain a tidy living space and manage your time effectively? Do you often find yourself behind schedule, struggling to fulfill your plans punctually? If this sounds familiar, let the Virgo Cat lend a helping paw to restore order and rhythm to your life... The Virgo Cats are more than just a pet; it's a dedicated companion that excels at instilling structure and cleanliness...
Eventually, you will realise that they want to accompany you to the office to be your office mate. This is why Virgo cats spread themselves over your laptop or sit deliberately in front of the screen - it is not because they need your attention, but because they (and you!) need to get to work...

Jacques  -  September,  Virgo  Zodiac  cat

In the photo: introducing a new member of Top Tropicals PeopleCats family - Jacques, September cat by point of entry. He is only 5 months old and still learning how to be an office cat... but he already has very daring plans!

Virgo  Zodiac  Plants

See Virgo Zodiac Plants

Date: 17 May 2023

Horoscope for Guanabana tree?

A  blonde  girl  holding  Soursop,  Guanabana  fruit

By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

Q: What is the ruling planet of Guanabana? I have searched the internet, but can't find anything. Thought maybe you might know?

A: Annona muricata is native to the Caribbean and Central America, which falls under the patronage of the Pisces constellation. The planets that rule the house for this constellation are the Moon, Jupiter, and Neptune, with Water being a key element of its essence. These planets can be considered the ruling planets for the Guanabana plant...

Guanabana  tree  with  full  moon

Date: 22 Jan 2023

Cat Zodiac:
Capricorn Cats 12/22-1/19

Capricorn  cat  sitting  in  cassia  tree

By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

The astrological sign of a cat can be determined by either their date of birth or adoption, as adoption is often considered a second birth for cats. With this information, one can discover the astrological traits that describe the cat, such as their independence, diva-like tendencies, sense of humor, intelligence, and more. Additionally, it's also important to consider the astrological relationship between cats and plants...

The Capricorn cat is a busy feline. They are known for climbing curtains and scaling ladders in the garden with ease. No fear of heights here! As they age, Capricorn cats become wise and practical, they are cautious and consider their options before acting impulsively. It is easy to see the wheels turning in their head when they are faced with problems. Capricorn cats take daily necessities like grooming and litter box etiquette seriously. They are skilled hunters, companions, bodyguards, nurses, and box-inspectors, and they love their jobs. Similar to Capricorn humans, Capricorn cats have a love for plants that grow outdoors in gardens or patios...
CONTINUE READING>>

Find out the best plants for a Capricorn Cat...

Plant Horoscope for Humans: Capricorn

Capricorn  zodiac  lucky  plants

Check Out Capricorn Sign

Date: 14 Apr 2022

Our Ukrainian team update:
Happy Birthday Dasha!
Born amid the war...

Anatoly  and  Dasha

A happy update from our Sunshine Boosters team member in Ukraine, Anatoly Bychko: a baby girl is born!
"...We expected our baby when the war started... So my wife and I left the basement and drove hundreds of miles trying to get away from deadly missiles and find a working hospital... We left everything we had, lost our home, only took our Cat Belyash ("dumpling"). Now we started our new life in a new city... with a newborn little person - our Angel. Her name is Dasha!.."

Dasha

Belyash  Cat

All profits from Sunshine Boosters sales are used to help families of our Ukrainian Team

Miltonia  spectabilis

Photo above: Easter present for Top Tropicals, Miltonia spectabilis var. moreliana, hand-crafted cross-stitch embroidery by our Editor Marina Rybka, the original photo