I just wanted to send my thanks to all of you for your help. As it turns out, I ended up taking everyone's advice and, with the exception of two plants, have already located and purchased them all. Dutchlady1, thank you for recommending the bananas and Bird of Paradise. I used your recommendation as a good excuse to expand the types of bananas I grow and added 'Praying Hands', 'Ice Cream', 'Truly Tiny', 'Lacatan' and 'Zebrina' to the ones I already have (a great big thank you to Kabby, too, for recommending more bananas). I also located some starter Bird of Paradise and took both your and Pniksch advice and purchased both the standard orange and the gold ones (2 of each). I will keep my eye out for more mature plants but at least I have the starter plants and all have really nice root structures. Pniksch, I also purchased 2 of the variegated tapiocas that you recommended. Thank you for introducing me to them - the foliage is fantastic!
Tennessee Dave and Kabby, I couldn't agree with you more when you said I had to get more elephant ears and cannas. I purchased more of both - both alocasias and colocasias and also more of the aquatic cannas to boot - to fill out what I already had. TDave, that 'Maui Punch' is still calling to me so, if I end up with more room when I am done, I will purchase that one, too. It really is a stunner!
Dyzzypyxxy, thank you for encouraging me to look deeper into gingers. I purchased a variety of types - hedychium (thank you, Kabby, too, for the heads-up), asarum, and alpinias to add to the 'Luna Moth' and 'White Butterfly' (thank you, Dr. Dawg) that I previously had. I planted the (2) variegated Costus in shade as both you and Dutchlady1 advised and they are doing incredibly well (they have nearly tripled in size since planting).
Kabby, thank you for bringing up Crinum to me. I purchased some 'Sangria' and can hardly wait for them to get large enough to bloom.
Tarev, the Schefflera has finally overcome the shock of being transplanted and it has a nice new corner to itself where it can shine (it is underplanted with some ajuga which is filling in quickly). Thank you for your suggestion!
DrDawg, the cannas are working out well. They really do have that beautiful tropical feel about them.
Swayback, I am still searching for the Tetrapanax for the slope and I refuse to give up until I locate one. Hopefully, I can get one planted come autumn so that the yard is complete. I will be careful about adding cannas and I appreciate the warning about the virus. It would be so sad to get the yard done only to find out that my cannas had a problem.
And finally, Xeramtheum, I keep peeking at the Anthuriums. I am sure by next year there will a pair on potted up on either side of the steps.
CTCarol and Extranjera, thank you for your comments. Both impacted the decisions that I made and I am sure that my garden is all for the better due to your advice and observations.
Anyway, I apologize for the length of this post but wanted to thank each and every one of you for your help. I will be sure to take photos in the autumn after everything has had time to grow. Again thank you for making this yard possible!
