Taking Palmtalk & Sabal palmetto to the German people

[PalmatierMeg]

Hello Fellow Palmophiles

Tomorrow I'm flying from Cape Coral to Frankfurt, Germany. Ostensibly, I'm guest clarinetist for the Little German Band of Raleigh, NC but I am taking a couple thousand Sabal palmetto seeds I collected and cleaned which I plan to dole out to anyone who is interested in growing this palm in Germany (assuming seeds aren't seized by German Customs even though I have filled out a US Customs green form). We will spend 4-5 days in the Frankfurt area at the Kiedrich Wine Festival, then a couple days in Munich before finishing our tour at a town in the former East Germany. And I'll leave Sabal palmetto in our wake. Can this palm survive that climate? I haven't a clue. But maybe I can turn more German citizens into palm lovers. Because my German is pathetic, I will use the following photos as illustrations. And, of course, the Florida state seal has S. palmetto.

[bgl]

Meg,

Have a great trip! And even though I don't know much about Sabal palmetto, I have serious doubts about its ability to survive in most areas in Germany. The area with the mildest climate is right around Bodensee (I believe it's English name is Lake Constance) where some palms will certainly grow. That's all the way in the south, on the border with Switzerland.

And if you want to have a very unique culinary experience, ask for "Handkäse mit Musik" at a typical German restaurant in the Frankfurt area!

Bo-Göran

[_Keith]

Wow Meg, that is a noble mission. Have you posted this on the Eurpoean Palm Society Forum ( http://www.palmsociety.org.uk/forum/ ) There are a few German posters there. You might get to make some new friends.

[ron@springhammock]

Meg,

Have a great trip! And even though I don't know much about Sabal palmetto, I have serious doubts about its ability to survive in most areas in Germany. The area with the mildest climate is right around Bodensee (I believe it's English name is Lake Constance) where some palms will certainly grow. That's all the way in the south, on the border with Switzerland.

And if you want to have a very unique culinary experience, ask for "Handkäse mit Musik" at a typical German restaurant in the Frankfurt area!

Bo-Göran

Is that similar to "Fußkäse mit fernsehen"?

[PalmatierMeg]

Bo & Ron: You guys got me worried about "unique culinary experiences". I'm not someone who seeks out "Bizarre Foods". Or is the joke on me?

Keith, great suggestion. I applied/registered for EPS. Hope they don't run me out of town on a rail.

As for S. palmetto's chances in Germany. Probably not good, but they might last a while in a pot or under a heat lamp. In Scandanavia, they build tents/boxes/shower stalls heated with Christmas lights or candles (not recommended).

[bgl]

Meg,

"Handkäse mit Musik" would probably fall under the category of "acquired taste". I only had it once, and that was in May 1963, as I was on a 3 week driving trip around Europe in my 1954 Citroên. I have no idea how much the meal was, but considering the fact I still remember it vividly after 45 years definitely puts in the category of "priceless"!

Good luck with the Sabal palmettto project!

Bo-Göran

[Kris]

Dear Meg

iam glad to hear your travelling with a mission..i have heard in movies about bussiness cum pleasure trip.but you are on a mission to propogate the sabal.sp of palms in Father Land.that's a really note worthy gesture.and inspite of your own busy schedules,you have thought of palms & its propogation..that's really very amazing !

And have a safe journey and our best wishes are with you,and most of the time seeds & fruits which are along with us in our baggage,its seldom confisticated...so it want be a problem at all !

lots of love,

Kris

.

[simona]

Hello Meg,

your generosity is unlimited....really amazing! God bless you!

There are some Sabals in Germany which I know of , and here some links which I gathered in a hurry from one of our specialized forum:

f.e.: in Ammerland Sabal minor http://soeda72.so.funpic.de/winterhart.php , in Kiel,

Sabal palmetto in Rheinland http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g162/mos...os/P1012858.jpg

and in Karlsruhe http://80.190.202.79/pic/b/bananenzentrum/...atarschutz2.jpg

More Sabals in http://www.startbilder.de/site/galerie/a/s...baf7728139.html

....I've got my Sabal seeds & seedlings from german forum-friends from Germany.

So, as you see, Sabals survive in some areas in Germany and with the last milder winters and the more to come....they start to seriously thinking of planting more palm varieties than the usual already (Trachycarpus, Brahea, Butia, Washingtonia....)

I've encouraged that idea by editing Sabal's winter tolerance in one of these german forums:

Laut dieser Seite: http://www.horticulturalconsultants.com/palm/sabal.html

1. Sabal bermudana - Bermuda Palmetto

Kältetoleranz: 8F (-14C) USDA Zone: 8-11

2. Sabal etonia - Florida Scrub Palmetto

Kältetoleranz: 8F (-14C) USDA Zone: 8-11

3. Sabal guatemalensis - Maya Palme

Kältetoleranz: 8F (-14C) USDA Zones: 8-11

4. Sabal mexicana / Syn. Sabal texana - Texas Palmetto, Texas Sabal Palme, Mexicanische Palmetto,

Palma de Micharos

Kältetoleranz: 8F (-14C) USDA Zone: 8-11

5. Sabal minor - Dwarf Palmetto, Latanier

Kältetoleranz: 4F (-20C) USDA Zone: 7b-11

6. Sabal palmetto - Cabbage Palm, Palmetto, Florida Sabal Palm

Kältetoleranz: 8F (-14C) USDA Zone: 8-11

7. Sabal uresana - Sonoran Blue Palmetto

Kältetoleranz: 6F (-15C) USDA Zone: 7b-11

8. Sabal x texensis - Brazoria Palm, Sabal Lousiana

Kältetoleranz: 14F (-10C) USDA Zone: 8b-11

You'll find that there are lots of palms growing interested in Germany.

Have a nice trip Meg, a wonderful time and be back safe with lots of good news!