Jim smiles back, knowing he can nap in the hammock he got for Father's Day or jump in the pool to cool off, something he does more now that the garden is off to a good start.
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"As my buddy, Joe, commented when visiting recently: 'I feel like I'm in Key West!'
"Bingo. Objective met."
Water, water everywhere!
When you live on a Peninsula, you cannot escape the water. But who would want to? It's beautiful to look at and a great source of fun. Today we continue a seven-day series highlighting the fun of living near the water.
Sunday: Boating to the Eastern Shore
Virginia Aquarium
Monday: Free outdoor summer concerts by the water
Tuesday: Water toys
Wednesday: Outdoor waterfront dining
Today: Pools
Friday: Water parks
Saturday: 5 great places to swim
See dailypress.com to read each installment.
Meet the gardener
Name: Jim Meadows
Residence: York County
Family: Wife Dee; daughters Carmen, 22, and her new husband Ben Mulherin, Laura, 19, and Catherine, 15; Coconut, 6-year-old bichon frise.
Career: Mechanical engineer with Northrop Grumman
Pastimes: Gardening, martial arts, watching Virginia Tech football, playing volleyball and shooting billiards.
Jim's Tips
Hardy is good. If you have minimum space indoors — like a sun room or garage — for keeping tropical plants over winter, stick with cold-hardy varieties that can be left outdoors. Musa basjoo is an exceptionally cold-hardy banana available at local garden centers.
Rich soil is good. Bananas like fertile, organic soil. Use a small tiller to work in lots of compost in each planting area.
Contrast is good. Sago palms have a fine foliage texture that is a nice look with the boldness of the large banana leaves.
Good maintenance is best. Keeping up with regular pool maintenance is less work than recovering after you let it go.
