Bruised bananas

You can't help but feel sorry for the banana plants. Just as their leaves max out, along comes a storm and shreds them into pieces.

It's such a shame, because they look so majestic when it's calm, like huge sails catching a breeze.


Last night's storm was particularly vicious and actually managed to snap a leaf at the base. That takes some doing, considering these are tropical plants and they have developed to deal with this kind of thing.

That's the reason the leaves shred, to protect the plant and prevent it from being felled by strong wind.

They are also reasonably protected here in the garden, not exposed at all, with the house to the east of them and a bamboo screen to the south.

Just goes to show how strong these storms can be.