Category Archives: Fun facts to know and tell

In Praise of Cabbage Palms

Looking up

Looking up to the Heart of the Palm

One of the pleasures of living in Florida is waking up almost any morning, walking out into my backyard to watch the soft yellow sunlight illuminate the canopy of the Cabbage Palm rendering its shadows almost russet. The much maligned but indestructible Cabbage Palm.  I have no idea how old this palm is but I am certain no one planted it. A native of the peninsula, the state tree of Florida and perhaps the most common Palm in the state it will always have a place in my heart.

I have always referred to these as Sabal Palms; because of their botanical name – Palmetto sabal. They are called Cabbage Palms in reference to Swamp Cabbage, which in culinary terms is Hearts of Palm. I love Hearts of Palm but rarely eat it as a Palm tree gave its life for my salad. Palms are monocots, more closely related to grass than trees and only have one growing point, the apical meristem, botanically speaking. If this is removed the entire tree dies. The growing point is in the middle of the fronds, hence the name Hearts of Palm. Have a heart, save a Palm tree’s life and go for the artichokes instead.

These Palms usually attain a height of 30 feet, but can grow up to 60 feet tall. Cabbage Palms are not self cleaning and need trimming to maintain a neat appearance. Or just leave it untrimmed and say it is a bat habitat to control the mosquito population. That would be true. Just stay in the house during high winds.

Native Americans used these Palms for many things, roof thatch from the fronds, brooms and brushes from the sisally parts of the boot, the trunks were used for pilings in the water and bread was made from the seeds.  However , they did not eat the hearts..until Europeans arrived with metal tools. If you had been eating palm seed bread, I am betting the Hearts of Palm seemed really tasty.

Non Toxic Weed Killer

Non Toxic Weed Killer

Here it is. Dead Nut Grass. I love it. My mother called these “those awwfull sand burrs” Well, they are awful but this evil weed grows as far north as Minnesota and has higher reproductive powers than rabbits. I am not sure awwfulll sand burrs properly represents the dilemma.

These are correctly referred to as sedges, I think perhaps that gives a herbicide resistant coating to the leaves. My yard being as unmaintained as possible was infested with this plant. For the most part, I can ignore them – it looks sort of like grass if mowed. However, in the paver walkway, it is kind of offensive.

I read up on the weed killers for these things and if you have well water and domestic house pets or children or if you want to support plant life as we know it in the near future; the prescribed herbicides are not desirable. What kills the nut sedge/grass/ sand burrs also kills every else and for a long time after, do you really want this chemical in the groundwater. Really? Ever?

So, I decided to try the non toxic version. Which, oddly enough, kills the evil sand burr/sedge and does not kill your dog, child or render your front yard infertile for generations. I found the recipe here and there online and one of my Greyhounds seems to find it tasty (?) OK, he is a dog. Maybe this is dog salad dressing or something, just stay away from those mustard relative weeds..Dogs love them and they irritate the dog colon. Not pretty, you end up at the Emergency Vet getting Sub-Q fluids. A whole ‘nother post. Charles, the large spotted Greyhound, is OK. Even though he ate the non-toxic weed killer.

A combination of dish soap, vinegar and rubbing alcohol works. Truly meaningful, I am not sure I would use this stuff on my beds or lawn, but walkways, etc. YES!

About

I am a major market girl. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA.

A few years back, my husband and I returned from our annual sojourn to Maui and decided we had to get the heck out of the big city. So, he retired and we relocated to the Treasure Coast.

I had been coming to Southeast Florida on business for 25 years or so and my college roommate lives in Hobe Sound. I had been here, Larry had not.. so, we looked around, he loved it, we bought a house and relocated. Now my satellite radio gets stuck on Margaritaville (I had nothing to do with this – it is karmatic.)

I have practiced Landscape Architecture for almost 30 years and found the dearth of useful information on plants and landscaping for the Treasure Coast in general to be troubling, I knew a lot about what grows here, have learned a lot more and wanted to share the knowledge;  hence the blog. I love plants, fun facts, semi healthy food,wine and dogs. The complete lack of winter and local produce sweeten the deal.  The proximity to the beach sealed the deal.

So long Major Market…