In the borders at Great Dixter banana trees grew with verbena, and spiky agave with dahlias.

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The leaves of the banana trees hung low, and the heads of the palms seemed as heavy as velvet.

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An elderly, heavy-set woman pruned the banana trees, while an enormous cauldron filled with the fruity tipple bubbled over a nearby open fire.

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The backwaters are similar to south Vietnam's Mekong Delta, featuring canals, lakes, banana trees and paddy fields, only much less populated.

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For example, did you know that banana trees are actually giant herbs?

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The final mile was on foot, past banana trees and rice fields.

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We ended up in a local outdoor cafe with banana trees and various leafy tropical plants, Brazilian hostesses (ahem) and locally inspired cuisine.

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As a child, Candy had ridden her bike between clumps of impatiens and begonia and stands of banana trees, clumsy with their thick, waxy leaves.

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Set in the midst of parched lands, it's an oasis of mango and banana trees, home to deer, peacocks and several other species of birds.

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Here in the Naranjo region, in Costa Rica's central highlands, Raul Herrera has been using profits from last year's high prices to plant banana trees among coffee plants.

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