Fruiting Coconut in Virginia? PRA treasure?

[Cindy Adair]

I know none of you are gullible enough to really believe this topic title.....

I went on what might be the first PRA (palm related activity) involving driving around and taking photos of palms specifically for posting on Palmtalk in Virginia Beach.

Well, it was really just my husband driving and me palm stalking. And actually it was on our way home from brunch at the oceanfront and so not a palm specific venture. It was the closest I've been able to get in Virginia Beach with only my husband to convince.

I did have to plan ahead since believe it or not, I don't yet carry a smartphone with a camera. I had to bring my trusty camera that weathered the Biennial in Thailand to the brunch so that should sort of count as a PRA. For Virginia, maybe.

I will post others eventually in the Cold Hardy Forum, but I do find the juxtaposition of real Sabal palmetto palms, a Butia capitata (I presume) and a Trachycarpus fortunei with two totally tacky plastic coconuts to be amusing.

It's at a local building that seems to alternate between Chinese and Mexican restaurants. They fail quickly and another doesn't learn from the mistakes and tries again. Dangerous feeder roads are a menace and it hasn't been worth the aggravation for me to ever try any of them. Maybe if they took out the plastic palms I'd give it a try.

[Zeeth]

Hey the title is not fair! I expected something like what I've seen in pics from Wisconsin and New Jersey where they import mature coconuts and plant them as annuals.

The palms are nice though, especially that far north. It might as well be Tampa because that's the selection that I see around school (besides the super rare crownshafted palm that someone happened to plant in a great microclimate and by chance it survived).

Also Trachycarpus aren't a bad palm considering how cold hardy they are. They sort of look like a Thrinax sometimes.

[Xenon]

Virginia? The washies look good! Are there any tall Washingtonia in Virginia?

[_Keith]

That is a special palm indeed, it is the elusive and very rare Cocos nucifera 'California.'

[PalmatierMeg]

I've seen those coconuts during a snowstorm in the mountains above Colorado Springs. Tough palms indeed.