OK here's the banana tree:

     This is from a few weeks ago. It is now a little taller, but disheveled from high winds.

Bananas in Pennsylvania?

Not quite, but you can grow the plant and after dying back in the winter, this particular variety will come back. The one in my yard is a Japanese Fiber Banana. It is native to China actually. You can also grow some varieties of cactus, yucca, citrus, and more in our cold USDA Zone 6b climate. Here is a native cactus growing for about 4 or 5 years in this small hanging basket. I love the silhouette that it makes.

I'm back...

In case there is a soul out there still following my blog... I'm still here. I've used this blog in doing presentations and found a few mistakes and broken links. If anyone notices any please let me know somehow. This summer has been busy. My only vacation was a one night day trip to a BBQ in Jersey. I have a large yard and a lot of work to keep up with it. Summer here in northeast PA tends to be pleasant but brief. As much as I despise the winter I do tend to be more contemplative during foul weather. I still have a lot to say but just need the time to get my thoughts together.