The Committee and the Toilet Brush

This post complements Chapter 24. Elegance Doesn’t Come Easy: The South Carolina State Flag in my book, The Palmetto Book: Histories and Mysteries of the Cabbage Palm, published by the University of Florida Press.

It’s been compared to a toilet brush and “a bouquet of blown-out umbrella skeletons.” What is it? The central element in a proposed redesign of the South Carolina state flag.

Proposed new flag design

In a textbook case of groupthink, five well-meaning white men proposed a new State Flag design that features a raggety cabbage palm design based, admittedly, on a mere sketch from over a century ago. The five had been charged by the South Carolina legislature with proposing an official state flag design that would be used in government contexts, which was an effort to replace various flag designs now in use with one agreed-upon design. 

Continue reading “The Committee and the Toilet Brush”

Zig-zag “Vines” on Cabbage Palms

Ever seen a vine zig-zagging up a cabbage palm? If so, have you ever thought about it? Ever wondered why you don’t see vines zig-zagging up oaks or pines?

Zig-zag “Vine”

The odds are great that zig-zag vine is not a vine at all, but rather a root. I’ve been noticing this phenomena for several years, but was reluctant to feature it, because I didn’t have much affirmation from others.

Continue reading “Zig-zag “Vines” on Cabbage Palms”

March or April 2021?

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.

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.

Continue reading “Cabbage palms in the urban environment”

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. 

Continue reading “Lethal Bronzing is Killing Cabbage Palms in the Myakka Watershed”

The old “hollow log” trope

This post complements Chapter 12. Birds and Bees: Wildlife in the Palms in my book, The Palmetto Book: Histories and Mysteries of the Cabbage Palm, published by the University of Florida Press.

Anyone remember watching cartoons with animals hiding in hollow logs?

How many hollow logs have you actually seen? They are fairly common with cabbage palms when the outer “pseudobark” remains and the center of the palm rots out. Sometimes I turn my flash on my cell phone and stick it in a hollow palm log and shoot. Below is one result:

Unknown frogs hiding in a hollow cabbage palm log.