Word from the University Press of Florida is that the plan is to have The Palmetto Book: Histories and Mysteries of the Cabbage Palm in their spring 2021 catalog. Still no decision on the cover art. Possibilities include a vintage postcard, a gorgeous photo, and a painting by a famous artist.
Month: June 2020
Cabbage palms in the urban environment
This post complements Chapter 9 Cabbage Palms in the Landscape in my book, The Palmetto Book: Histories and Mysteries of the Cabbage Palm, published by the University of Florida Press.
The urban environment can be a challenging place for trees. A species that makes sense in a park or nature preserve may or may not work well in a parking lot or between a curb and a storefront. The strong desire for natural leafy shade in urban environments can lead to species that outgrow the alloted space– lifting sidewalks or pavement, obscuring storefronts, or posing problems for infrastructure.
These challenges have led landscape architects and horticulturists to the maxim “right tree-right place”, which calls for careful consideration of landscape goals and matching plants to situations.
Our state tree, the cabbage palm, is frequently overlooked in urban areas, typically because of the observation that a single cabbage palm will never produce as much shade as an oak. But there is no rule that prevents the planting of multiple palms to create dense shade. Here are some facts related to the pros and cons of cabbage palms in urban settings.
Years in the making
You’ll see the title has changed in the past two years. The cover has not yet been determined, and it may be another year before anyone holds a hardbound copy.
Lethal Bronzing is Killing Cabbage Palms in the Myakka Watershed
This post complements Chapter 7 Diseases Stalk the Cabbage Palm in my book, The Palmetto Book: Histories and Mysteries of the Cabbage Palm, published by the University of Florida Press.
Disclaimer: I am not a plant pathologist, I am a natural historian. These observations are my own, based on my familiarity with cabbage palms and having attended three day-long UF/IFAS summits (2017,2018, & 2019) on Lethal Bronzing.
Lethal Bronzing is a fatal disease that affects many species of palm trees, including our native cabbage palm, Sabal palmetto. It was first diagnosed in Florida in 2006. It was noticed and diagnosed upstream of Myakka River State Park in in Manatee County late May 2020. It was probably present along the Myakka months, or possibly years earlier.
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