The Palm Whisperer
While my blog brother Paul N. te H. is currently rubbing his hands at the thought of the approaching 11-month death-cold winter – nothing pleases this arctic fox more than temperatures of thirty degrees below zero, a weather condition Paul classifies as 'comfortably chilly' – and the Dutch in my native country will soon be taking the cassette tape with 'Tis Weer Voorbij Die Mooi Zomer' out of the drawer, I look out from my 'sala' over the khlong to the bank on the other side which is overgrown with palms and other tropical foliage…
You know, dear reader, I've had a thing for palms all my life. I still remember the day when I first saw a date palm that was not in a pot and that was in Athens, where I had arrived after a fifty-hour train journey. I was sixteen, had an Interrail ticket and saw a meter-high date palm through the train window. I shivered with happiness.
Thailand, where I live, is teeming with palms. That's because there is always warm and palms, like me, love warmth. Let's take a closer look at a few palm species so that you, oh reader, know what we're talking about:
Let's start with the royal palm. The trunk of this stately palm is reminiscent of a lamppost, straight, gray and smooth.
A king palm does that good, such a warm hugAnd then of course there is the unsurpassed coconut tree, the most useful tree on the planet. Coconut palms are rightly associated with Paradise by people who toil at higher latitudes. A world without coconut palm would be a world without pina coladas. You don't have to think about that, do you?
No Christmas trees or leafless beeches for me, I don't get out of bed for less than a palm...
Well Cor, that 'dying cold winter' is still far away in the Netherlands. It will be almost 30 degrees again this week. Subtropical temperatures. Could be due to climate change?
I am thinking of planting palm trees in my garden. When they have grown a bit I invite you for a hug (from the tree of course).
hello palm hugger,
first i want to tell you this is a common Wodyetia bifucata or colloquially
foxtail palm
and royal palms do not exist
or Roystonia regia
learn more about palms
come and have a look at my nursery
Joop
Dear Joop, I just looked at some pictures of the Foxtail Palm and this palm species looks a lot like its twin sister, the Royal Palm. Both species, if I understand correctly, are endemic to Cuba. Can you, as a grower, shed some light on this?
My dear Cor, isn't this the Betel palm?
the fruits are chewed, resulting in a red mouth and teeth and a slight stupor.
I don't think he falls under the opium law yet.
Dear Mr Cor,
You mention 3 different palm species and the story is nice, as always, but this time it is a bit short. Aren't there more types of palms to sniff out, is this all you've experienced all these years with your beloved palms? And the dog, didn't do anything either? In short… Is there more to come or is this it for now?
Unfortunately, dear fellow palm enthusiasts, that's all there is to it. I must confess, to my great shame and embarrassment, that a taxonomic hortensological argument is not in it.
By the way, dear @Joop, the Royal Palm does exist.
http://palmvrienden.net/wiki/Roystonea_regia_(Koningspalm)
For normal mortals like me, plants and animals have a name that everyone can remember in addition to a Latin name.
@Guido, no, it's not the betel palm that looks like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areca_catechu
As for the freezing winter, my blogging brother Paul lives in Swedish Lapland and it gets freaking cold there. Temperatures of minus thirty are normal there, although Paul complains that the winters there aren't what they used to be either.