Margie, the island is a great spot. Bob moved to Austin & I think took most of his plants with him, too bad, he had a good selection.
You can always come by the house, right now some of the crinums are blooming, the brugs look awful, I haven't cut down the avocado yet, the ragoon creeper has plenty of blooms, gingers are all up, but none are blooming, thunbergia erecta is in bloom, white coral vine blooming, thevetia looks good, some of the bromeliads are blooming, the nepenthes have pitchers right now, a lot of the cacti are blooming, plumeria looking good and blooming...
Tally HO!

You should ask Jerry Seymour (at his "jungle") and also Linda Gay (director at Mercer) about visiting Mike's place in the Sharpstown area. He has an incredible variety of bamboo, palms, succulents, flowering trees and a banyan (Ficus macrophylla) that is about 20' tall now, having been grown from seed formed by the biggest one in the U.S. (in Santa Barbara).

Mike can also be found on the International Palm Society Forum with the user name of
Mike in Houston

Here is a link that might be useful: IPS Forum

Margie,

You might try BobÂs Gingergarden in the Heights. You can visit by appointment by sending an email through the Âcontact tab on gingergarden.com.

Wayne

Call the Mermaid Inn on the island too. They have cashew, some rare plumeria, can't remember what else, lots of truly tropical.
Tally HO!