Comments on: Palm Tree Paranoia

By: Banana Joe

Banana Joe — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:05:59 +0000

Well written and so true. The most common palm species we grow here on Canada’s west coast is Trachycarpus fortunei. They are native to China. There are some beautiful tall old specimens where I live. Mississsippi & Alabama have Rhapydophyllum hystrix and Sabal minor as their native palms. There are also native palms found in Arkansas and Oklahoma as well, Sabal minor.

By: Martial Law Palms

Martial Law Palms — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:22:07 +0000

The Chinese Palms that sent you stumbling are known for their Kung Fu techniques applied on several types of people. They trained in absolute secrecy in the Guangdong mountains.
A palm can be one of the lowest maintenance plants you can choose. In a narrow place where you cannot have a branching tree, there is a palm which can get quite tall, but still with a natural look; you need to regularily trimm others to keep them confined in such a place- but not a palmtree.
BTW, Mississippi and Alabama have native palmtrees- maybe the author insisted to climb on them without success or even hurting himself. The rant against palmtrees may have its insidious roots right there, deep in the childhood. Type of “Medusa’s Head” roots!

By: Banana Joe

Banana Joe — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:04:34 +0000

Palm Trees are wonderful plants and when I here bafoons ranting about how terrible they are I think that these folks should be shipped to the Arctic ASAP where they would never have to worry about such majestic plants. Since most of these morons who rant about palms haven’t a clue about the species. They say palms should only be in California where they belong. Well I hate to burst your bubble, but there are no species of palms native to LosAngeles or any other coastal city. There is only one specie of palm tree native to California and that is Washingtonia filifera, only found in small groves in the south western desert. All palms you see in California have been introduced and as for Florida. There are several native species to that state, but all others have been introduced. Palms are absolutely beautiful plants and they say something about the climate. If you see palms, then generally you know it’s going to be a mild climate year round. I love all trees, but if I had a choice between oaks, pecans, pines or palms in my garden, it would be palms hands down! There are over 2,800 species of them, what’s not to like? I say plant more palms!!!

By: jj

jj — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:51:54 +0000

goood

By: M Flager

M Flager — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:43:02 +0000

Found your article while trying to determine if my hands were going to fall off; somewhat reassured to read of your experiences. I was spiked several times yesterday cutting down dead fronds; several fingers are still numb and swollen. Noticed also a split in the bark at the base of the tree that revealed that weird fiberous structure. Gross. Give me a nice old oak any day.

By: Tim Oliver

Tim Oliver — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:58:00 +0000

I’ll take palms any day over oaks and pines ! Palms have never tried to wreck my house, nor do they deposit cones, straw, limbs, leaves, and billions of acorns all over my deck, destined for the soft area between my Scottie’s paws. Green herons nest in the oaks, sending bucketsful of green and white droppings onto whatever is under it, usually, my car.
Admittedly, my palms are of the palmetto variety, producing benign fronds, and purple berries. The berries are supposed to be good for the prostate, and, when overly ripe, are known to give common and boat-tailed grackles a good buzz.

By: Beth Nelson

Beth Nelson — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:54:01 +0000

Not to mention roaches, or “palmetto bugs.” We have plenty of those here in Savannah, Georgia and you have to be careful when pruning palms or palmettos or you will be covered with those nasty bugs.

By: E.L. Sidney

E.L. Sidney — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:58:14 +0000

Not to add unduly to what appears to be very legitimate paranoia, but I also remember that when I lived in Phoenix some years ago the big problem people had with palms was that rats liked to nest in them.

By: LikeTheDew (LikeTheDew)

LikeTheDew (LikeTheDew) — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:53:48 +0000

New blog post: Palm Tree Paranoia http://tinyurl.com/dcu77a