Where do I start? Palms. What type? Have been told Foxtail palms are gorgeous but not suitable for SA? What type of plants do I mass together. Start with the tall plants ? and then medium ? and small? etc. Which plants make beautiful screening plants? So many questions, so little time.

Thanks for reading and making any suggestions.

Cheers :)

Will definately seek out the plants and web sites. Will spend the winter season planning and preparing soil as I would think it too cold to be madly planting during winter? except for fruit trees.

Met a Vietnamese lady gardener recently who is so passionate about her garden that she will plant in the wee hours of the morning if the mood strikes her, as she cannot wait till the morning. Lights up the backyard and off she goes. I wish I could be that passionate or fearless. (Too worried about creepy crawlies)!

Cheers! and Happy Gardening.

Burkes Backyard magazine has had several stories on the 'tropical look in cold climes' : probably the most striking was a garden in Auckland that had the 'Polynesian look' : very 'tropical' at first glance, but on closer inspection they were all plants like tree ferns which can handle a temperate climate. I'd suggest taking a good walk around your local nursery and 'grouping' a few pots together to see what they will look like - the tropical 'feel' is as much about lush greenery and 'enclosure' as it is about particular species (assuming that your foundation plants are palms and the like).

Good luck,

Artie