I have a bannana peel laying by danahue that isn't buried. If this works I'd be curious guess I will bury some tomorrow around various roses.. The Rose Clear has come out and the spraying commenced on the little buggers. I tried Neem Oil but it just does nothing but burn the leaves of my Austins. So we are now back to rose clear. I use another brand called growing success that has been bought out by Westland that is mostly organic. Then I spray soapy water if I'm in the mood but being they aren't fungused and blackspotted up yet the rose clear is the better choice. -- Nothing like your expensive roses smelling like lemon dish soap . lol

I learned most of what I know about perennials from books; so, I learned the Latin name. I don't know many of the common names. Add to that the problem of several plants going by the same name and mail order companies making up common names, and the situation defies my comprehension. I have started a flow chart of Latin nomenclature changes, and I refer to plants by both the "old" Latin name and the new one. (Of course there is always the problem of old "old" Latin names, e.g. Gertrude Jekyll's Megaseas.) I would hope that new gardeners would not be put off from using Latin names because they are intimated by the Latin pronunciation. They should realize that there is no standard prounuciation. While I normally try to follow the Church Latin pronunciations, I also make exceptions for those plants named in honor of persons with non-Latin surnames. Heucher=HOY-kehr-a Forsythe=For-SITHE-eea Kniphof=Knip-HOFF-eea And then there are personal quirks -- I say hoe-sta. (I just can't be hostile toward my plants. ;> ) I don't correct anyone's way of saying it, as long as I can figure out what he or she means.

Gabe, although it is not as common a variety, many bananas just goes from one person's backyard to another(just like the Namwah) and weren't bought in stores. May not be a common banana in the U.S. but may be very common in Southeast Asia. One reason I have come to believe that it is the Gros Michel(if it is the Chek Amboeing?!?) is because of its description, fragrant and mostly green when ripe. A description from Banana Tree(unfortunately I'm not allowed to link to it) shows a dwarf tree but it seems like either the description is wrong or the picture, the sight seems to be accurate with everything else, 12'?? but picture shows a dwarf type so I think there may some dwarf ones out there. It does state that "Fruits are green when ripe." Can anyone confirm this? Seems like ripe fruit changes color afterwards but not much in the beginning. Another site mentions the Malay name Pisang ambon or embung as the "Gros Michel", Malay name. I don't know if this could be a coincidence or not, sounds almost the same. My latest search actually led me back to one of our member's site Encanto farms with a mention of the cultivar "Ambon" which could just be something else. =) yeah, as you can tell I've been trying to figure out this backyard banana for a little while. I do have an "Amboeing?!?!" pup.

For years and years I have told my friends and acquaintances that NOTHING will eat a banana peel. My expertise relied on my jogging 3 days a week for years and picking up trash on the road. Kids driving to school late toss out banana skins on the road. Three years later the skin is still there! Eventually, fungi and mold destroy it. Now you have proven me WRONG. I'm 77 and not supposed to be wrong. Now I have to tell people that worms and Mr. LIncoln love to eat banana skins! Thanks a lot! PS. I'm using them now in my garden and worm bed! I can be taught, however reluntanly! Mr. Sam