Glen Cove -- Robert Wong Gardens

Many gardens utilize ornamental tropical plants for bedding or in seasonal containers. Since 2000 this small property, less than one-fifth acre in a northern residential neighborhood, has masses of enormous tropical plants growing as they would in their native climates, a practice known as "zone denial". These include banana plants that can be found at specialty nurseries, big-leaf taro from the grocers that roots much like sweet potatoes and sprouts huge black leaves, angel's trumpets with poisonous vanilla-scented flowers, and more conventional begonias, cannas and dahlias. Tropical and tender perennials do not survive cold winters out-of- doors. Some of the plants that are in colorful glazed containers from Vietnam are cut back and wintered over in a cold basement or greenhouse, rhizomes and tubers are dug up after the first frost and stored wrapped in damp paper, and banana plants are replaced each year.

Persons associated with the garden include Robert Wong (garden designer, 2000- ).