Had the treat of a lifetime last weekend. Friends Preasley & Nancy Cooper showed us the wonders of Hill Country springtime wildflower blooms.  And I even discovered a treasure I didn't even know existed -- a pink Indian Blanket.  First time I've ever seen that one.

This weekend, Apr. 9-10, even more blooms should peak around the Mason/Llano/Fredericksburg area which we explored. If you can go, don't miss the Willow City Loop (extraordinary!) and the awesome red poppy fields at Wildseed Farms.

WED., APR. 13:  EARTH DAY 2016: A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CELEBRATION, Green Building Resource Center, 1002 Washington Ave. 6-8pm, Free - sort of! Details:  greenhoustontx.gov/gbrceducation.pdf. A joint project of GBRC, Air Alliance Houston, Citizens Environmental Coalition, The Story of Stuff Project, Texas Campaign for the Environment, Transition Houston, and the Texas Gulf Coast Region of the U.S. Green Building Council.   

 

SAT., APR. 23: HOUSTON ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER EARTH DAY CELEBRATION,  10am-2pm, 4501 Woodway in Memorial Park. Lots of activities.  $20, children 12-under free. Take your plastic flower pots/trays to be recycled!   houstonarboretum.org

And my own personal recommendation: Everyone, especially children, should see "National Parks Adventure 3D" at the Houston Museum of Natural Science's IMAX theater. It is not only an incredible journey into the heart of our most awesome treasures. This gorgeous, exciting, sometimes heart-pounding visual journey really makes you feel one with the Earth in ways I've personally never felt before. This is the ultimate way to celebrate Earth Day. 

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TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT is just what I need after even thinking about that National Parks show . . . something calming!  Palms do that for me, like taking a tranquilizer. I didn't always feel that way. We seldom do about sights we've seen since childhood. 

But after Hurricane Ike, when we returned to Bolivar Peninsula, we found not our beloved beachhouse, but a bare slab and miles of almost nothing but brown sand everywhere. Except, that is, for the palms, beautifully green as always . . . stately . . .  reassuring, most undamaged in spite of the devastation around them. They swayed in the breeze as always, as tho they were just yawning and sighing to the wind, "Well, my, that was quite a blow!" I fell in love with them for the first time in my 70+ years. 

Oh, to have such strength amid such disaster.

But not all palms do well here, even tho many inappropriate ones are sold by less reputable folks to unsuspecting homeowners. If you're in the market for a palm, do take a lesson from Galveston County Master Gardener O. J. Miller in our Spotlight below.  Hopefully this brief preview of his upcoming lecture will help you to invest wisely.

The list goes on with wet feet lovers, bullet proof perennials, citrus, avocados, figs, you name it.  Randy's not only cute, he's got a lot of experience under his belt and this is an easy-read that shares so much. Randy will be signing his book Sunday, Apr. 17, 11am-1pm at The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920 in Tomball. You can hear Randy on Newsradio 740 KTRH 6-10am every Sat. & Sun.

And now . . PALMS!!! 

 

Above, left to right, Bismarck palm, Canary Island date palm, True Date Palm, Everglades palm.

 

 

Question: When should I plant palms? How should I plant them? What varieties are good for this area and which ones should I avoid?

 

The best time to plant palms is after the last frost in the spring. This gives palms time to get established before the heat of summer. Many stores do not begin stocking palms until March or April so plant as soon as they are available.

Palms that are grown in containers can be easily planted. However, this does not apply to palms that are being relocated. Only relocate palms that have developed a trunk.

Palms that have not developed a trunk are difficult to relocate because they cannot tolerate root disturbance. Plant your palm as you would any other tree. Mulch and water thoroughly. It is best to keep turfgrass and trimmers away from your palm.

Staking might be necessary for palms over 6-8' tall. Nails should NEVER be driven into the trunk as this damages the trunk and invites unwanted pests. One method is to use three one-foot sections of 2x4's bound around the trunk using metal or rubber strapping material. Then the braces can be set against and nailed into the 2x4's, NOT the trunk. Stakes should not be left in place over a year.

After about a week, you can begin your fertilization schedule. There are fertilizers specifically for palms but you can also use a balanced tree fertilizer. No high nitrogen fertilizers, please. Fertilize every 4-6 weeks during the growing season with your last application being around the first of August.

Water your palm when soil is dry to about your second knuckle. Except for the Everglades Palm, most palms don't like wet feet.

Palms should be pruned to remove dead fronds, but take care not to over-prune. As with crepe myrtles, many palms have suffered at the hands of an overzealous pruner. Fronds are critical to the growth and development of the palm. Fronds that are starting to turn yellow should not be removed as they are still contributing to the health of the palm. Remove fronds once they have turned brown.

Our weather over the last several years has brought some interesting challenges to palm growers. Even though palms are often found along the coast, they can suffer from salt buildup in the soil during periods of drought. It is important to water regularly to reduce salt buildup. Similarly, our last couple of winters have taken a toll on palms in our area. When near freezing weather is predicted, it is important that plants are thoroughly watered. A dehydrated plant, especially with a northern exposure does not fare well in a freeze.

 

 

 

 

Some palms should be avoided, as they might require replacement every few years, such as the Alexander, Bottle, Foxtail and the Christmas Tree palm (known as Adonidia or Dwarf Royal palm, Veitchia merrillii). Varieties that do well in our area include the Everglades, Australian Fan, Washington Fan, California Fan, Needle, Sabal palms, the Pindo and Jelly palm (the Butia genus), and the Phoenix genus palms (includes the true Date palm, Canary Island Date and Wild Date (Phoenix sylvestris).  

 

About the only feather palms that will do well are the Jelly or Pindo palms. If you are lucky enough to find it on-line, one fishtail palm that has done well for me here is the Himalayan fishtail palm (Caryota maxima 'Himalaya'). With plenty of water, it is a fast grower with some cold tolerance.

 

Another notable palm (and a personal favorite of mine) that does well in our area is the Bismarck palm. This native of Madagascar is a rather slow grower here, so consider planting a 15-20 gallon size plant. Unlike many other palms, this one does not tolerate root ball disturbance. Remove it from the container and set it into the prepared site. With some care, this majestic palm with its blue-grey fronds will be a wonderful addition to your landscape.

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SAT., APRIL 9: CULTURE AND CARE OF PALMS, by O.J. MILLER, 9-11:30am, and THE FABULOUS FRAGRANT FRANGIPANI (PLUMERIA) lecture by LORETTA OSTEEN, 1-3 pm, Galveston County AgriLife Extension, Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Free, but reservations required for each: galv@wt.net; http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/

 

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