Peter Herman and his banana tree. Bananas come from herbaceous plants, which produce this commonly eaten fruit. They are native to the tropical region of Southeast Asia. Bananas are likely to have been first domesticated in Papua, New Guinea but are cultivated in more than 100 countries throughout the tropics today.

But it wasn't until this year that a banana tree grew in Massapequa Park.

Massapequa is far from a tropical isle, but at least one local resident believed he could cultivate a tropical fruit here. And after trying for three years, he's done just that. Peter Herman, who lives on Hawthorne Street, Massapequa Park has succeeded in nurturing a banana plant that has yielded its fruit and brought a lot of excitement to the Herman household and beyond.

"My husband tried for thee years to get bananas to grow on the tree," said Amy Herman, Peter's wife. "I can't tell you the excitement the entire family felt when he succeeded this year."

The Hermans recently had a death in the family and a large number of people coming from long distances to pay their respects as the family sat Shiva.

"Everyone said how nice Massapequa Park was and how well everyone kept their homes," said Amy. "And they all remarked with amazement at our banana tree."