some taller Cocos nucifera in New Smyrna Beach, Florida

[Eric in Orlando]

Saturday I spotted this beach house in New Smyrna Beach with some taller Coconut Palms. It is on A1A on the beach. It is just south of the Errol By the Sea condos, between Silvia Dr. and Hiles Blvd.  They look to have been planted in the past 1-2 years. On Google streetview they aren't there in 2014 but are in Aug. 2016. You can also do streetview from the beach but the only view is from 2013. They also have big Bismarckia and Phoenix dactylifera and they are still braced and look recently planted.

[Eric in Orlando]

[Ricigliano]

They are less then 1 year in the ground. Welcome to my neighborhood Eric. There use to be a few planted around here. That lived for 15 plus years, until bud rot killed them after the  2010 winter.

[Eric in Orlando]

NSB looks like a great place to live. I used to surf so I used to be in NSB a lot. My wife was paddleboarding down by Turtle Mound and I went to TM and then Eldora and then to Apollo Beach. I saw a couple other houses south of those coconuts with young (4-5ft) coconut palms.

[ck_in_fla]

I have often wondered if Coconut palms would be long term if planted on some of the islands in the intercostal waterway over in New Smyrna Beach.  When crossing the South Causeway, you can see a number of islands.  Since they are surrounded by water, I would think they would represent a really good microclimate.

[Eric in Orlando]

Universal Studios is opening a new water park, Volcano Bay. It is right along I-4. They have planted quite a few larger Coconuts there too.

 

 

[ck_in_fla]

Has anyone had the opportunity to drive by these and see how they are doing?  I know Volusia County experienced some cold weather this season.  But, since these are growing immediately adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, I'm guessing they still look good.

[sur4z]

On 5/24/2017, 8:34:20, Eric in Orlando said:

NSB looks like a great place to live. I used to surf so I used to be in NSB a lot. My wife was paddleboarding down by Turtle Mound and I went to TM and then Eldora and then to Apollo Beach. I saw a couple other houses south of those coconuts with young (4-5ft) coconut palms.

I used to surf there a lot too...you are lucky to still have your toes...it's one of the sharkiest places on the planet.

[Eric in Orlando]

I had a shark ram my foot surfing down at Cape Canaveral, felt like a cement block being dropped on m,y foot. Then it brushed along side my leg, felt to be about 4-5 foot long. Probably a spinner. I did ha ve a barracuda slice a nice chunk off my foot at Ponce Inlet. And one time at NSB we were surfing up by the jetty. I fell off my board and kicked something big and solid. About 20 seconds later a huge manatee surfaced just past the break, poor thing.

[Eric in Orlando]

5 hours ago, ck_in_fla said:

Has anyone had the opportunity to drive by these and see how they are doing?  I know Volusia County experienced some cold weather this season.  But, since these are growing immediately adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, I'm guessing they still look good.

I was over there a few weeks ago. I forgot to go look at these. The one along Flager near the beach ramp still looked good and was still holding coconuts. It seemed to be warmer on the barrier island at NSB than it was in Orlando judging by the lack of damage.

[sur4z]

15 hours ago, Eric in Orlando said:

I had a shark ram my foot surfing down at Cape Canaveral, felt like a cement block being dropped on m,y foot. Then it brushed along side my leg, felt to be about 4-5 foot long. Probably a spinner. I did ha ve a barracuda slice a nice chunk off my foot at Ponce Inlet. And one time at NSB we were surfing up by the jetty. I fell off my board and kicked something big and solid. About 20 seconds later a huge manatee surfaced just past the break, poor thing.

I had a spinner shark jump (it wasn't trying to eat me...I don't think) over my board ( i had to duck)...needless to say i paddled in as quickly as possible.

[Chatta]

My brother got nipped by a shark while surfin at NSB!! Nothing serious just a small bite, left a nice round scar on his leg

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

I would really like to see updated photos of these palms, the one on Flagler near the beach, and the mature one in Daytona Beach, since my wintertime climate is very similar to the climate of that area.

John

[Eric in Orlando]

20 hours ago, sur4z said:

I had a spinner shark jump (it wasn't trying to eat me...I don't think) over my board ( i had to duck)...needless to say i paddled in as quickly as possible.

I always wanted to see a spinner shark leap from the water! We were surfing at Cape Canaveral early one morning, we got there just before sunrise and went out in the dark and was out there just as the sun rose. We had a small shark (2-3ft) keep coming up next to us and poking his nose out of the water. So the next time he came up I pet him, rubbed his back. He came back a few more times and then disappeared, a really cool experience.

[Eric in Orlando]

12 hours ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said:

I would really like to see updated photos of these palms, the one on Flagler near the beach, and the mature one in Daytona Beach, since my wintertime climate is very similar to the climate of that area.

John

This is the one on Flager in NSB

 

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

On ‎3‎/‎8‎/‎2018‎ ‎7‎:‎32‎:‎30‎, Eric in Orlando said:

This is the one on Flager in NSB

 

Eric,

Thanks for the new photo.  It looks pretty good after a bad winter.  If I can get mine to grow that big with some nuts on it like this one has, I will be very happy!

John

[GottmitAlex]

Not bad! It seems to have leaves as wide as two vehicles. (on both sides).  i was expecting 30ft long leaves..

[ck_in_fla]

On 5/23/2017, 5:02:09, Eric in Orlando said:

Has anyone had a chance to check these to see if they were damaged during the winter and if they are recovering?  Just wondering...

 

[Eric in Orlando]

I'm not sure, I forget to drive down that way when I am in NSB.

 

 

[Ricigliano]

They are alive and recovering. We had heavy frost one morning last winter that zapped the tropical pretty good. I wish people would not trim all the damaged foliage off so soon. I saw more plants die from that then the cold damage.  

[Reeverse]

9 hours ago, Ricigliano said:

They are alive and recovering. We had heavy frost one morning last winter that zapped the tropical pretty good. I wish people would not trim all the damaged foliage off so soon. I saw more plants die from that then the cold damage.  

Did you plant those? I know your the guy that's responsible for most of the cool stuff down there. 

[Ricigliano]

On ‎8‎/‎16‎/‎2018‎ ‎7‎:‎17‎:‎21‎, Reeverse said:

Did you plant those? I know your the guy that's responsible for most of the cool stuff down there. 

I didn't plant the plant shown by Eric, Keller Outdoor did out of Sanford. But I do plant a lot of tropicals and some that are uncommon for here. New Smyrna Beach does have a microclimate allowing us to push some more tender plants. 

[ck_in_fla]

Has anyone been by these recently?  I have been curious how they did this past winter.

[ck_in_fla]

On 5/23/2017 at 5:02 PM, Eric in Orlando said:

Has anyone been by to take a look at these?  Nobody has reported on them in quite some time.  Just wondering if they are still there and (if so) how they are doing...

[RedRabbit]

On 5/23/2017 at 5:02 PM, Eric in Orlando said:

Wow, that's a very tropical looking scene for Volusia County. That property would fit right in with the ones I saw down in Sarasota last weekend. 

[ck_in_fla]

I won't get over that way until September.  My family always meets at NSB for Labor Day week, we have been doing this for as long as I can remember.  So, in September I will take a drive to see for myself.

Being that they are right on the beach and they were installed as mature (taller) trees, I believe they should still be there.  That's why I was hoping someone over there could weigh in to let everyone know.  And, (hopefully) provide the group with some updated pictures.

In some ways, Sarasota is similar to New Smyrna Beach.  The only coconut palms in either location would be right along the coast.  But, due to its more Southerly location, Sarasota is definitely warmer in the winter.

But, someone in NSB definitely spent some money on landscaping.  

[Reeverse]

South of that property there are some nice Psuedophoenix sargentii with about 4to5 ft of trunk. Check out the beacon restaurant on flagler there is a real nice Coconut there too 

[ck_in_fla]

My family didn't get to make our annual trip over to New Smyrna Beach this past September.  So, I didn't get to check these out myself.  Is there anyone over there who can report how these are doing?  With the mild weather this past winter, I suspect they look fantastic.  If anyone can give us a report (and perhaps some updated pictures), I'm sure everyone would appreciate it.

Thanks!

[Oviedo_z10b_lol]

I had lunch at Flagler tavern Thursday... at the table just to the left of the phone booth...  and can report the cocos and p. Elegans(I think) are doing well. The sabals  are gone. 

On 3/8/2018 at 8:32 AM, Eric in Orlando said:

This is the one on Flager in NSB

 

 

[NickJames]

I’ll check on these soon....just now discovering this thread

I figure I’ll do a pre-winter collage of all the local cocos

 

[RedRabbit]

I’m curious how these will do long-term. We know coconuts have done well long in Cocoa Beach and this is only about 30 miles north. I wonder though if Cocoa Beach being further east is the bigger contributing factor for why coconuts have done better there than Volusia County. 

Edited November 16, 2020 by RedRabbit

[NickJames]

3 hours ago, RedRabbit said:

I’m curious how these will do long-term. We know coconuts have done well long in Cocoa Beach and this is only about 30 miles north. I wonder though if Cocoa Beach being further east is the bigger contributing factor for why coconuts have done better there than Volusia County. 

Yes, and I think there is more opportunity for a northwest wind to be modulated by the combination of both the Indian River and Banana River. 

[ck_in_fla]

2 hours ago, NickJames said:

Yes, and I think there is more opportunity for a northwest wind to be modulated by the combination of both the Indian River and Banana River. 

I think the proximity of the Gulf Stream to the coast is a factor here.  I know it's much closer to the coast at Cocoa Beach than it is North of Cape Canaveral.  But, as we all know, water is our friend during cold events.

[RedRabbit]

5 hours ago, ck_in_fla said:

I think the proximity of the Gulf Stream to the coast is a factor here.  I know it's much closer to the coast at Cocoa Beach than it is North of Cape Canaveral.  But, as we all know, water is our friend during cold events.

That makes sense, but Cape Canaveral isn’t that close to the Gulf Stream:  

[ck_in_fla]

5 minutes ago, RedRabbit said:

That makes sense, but Cape Canaveral isn’t that close to the Gulf Stream:  

I suppose it is still a factor because Cocoa Beach is still much closer than points North of Cape Canaveral.  And, the further South you go on the peninsula, the greater the influence is.  This matches, perfectly, the climate we see.  Especially in the winter during cold weather events.