I fear this is the end of the line for Cape Coral's renowned Sabal Row, defier of hurricanes and house protector. Yesterday evening 3 dump trunks emptied loads of fill dirt for a house on the sole vacant lot beside us where I planted seed-grown Sabal spp 15 years ago to block the abandoned house two lots east (Great Recession and all that). I have discovered that besides being dandy visual blocks, large Sabals planted zig-zag style shield our house from devastation by major hurricanes, i.e., Irma and Ian. Superior wind blocks that don't budge even under cat 4/5 winds. Something good to know if you want a near impenetrable wind block.

I'm resigned to losing nearly all those Sabals, but my husband hopes to plead mercy for our massive Sabal causiarum close to our property line. It's his favorite palm. If he fails I think I have a few potted seedlings from a prior crop to raise a replacement.

So, take a cup o' kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne

Sabal Row, Cape Coral, FL, June 2024

Perhaps the final photos of the Sabal causiarum, undisputed King of Sabal Row. It's so big I can't take a photo of the whole palm and do it justice.

Sabal causiarum, Cape Coral, FL 2024

 

Meg so sorry to hear this news. The palms are probably large enough to be transplanted now, is this an option that can be explored?

Nice job growing those! You could get lucky with the new owner, and I hope you do. I guess we all recognize the fact of what often happens in such cases. 🙁

Such a nice display of palms . It is hard to imagine anyone wanting to remove them all . Hopefully at least some will be left or maybe all. Sabal are just beefy and strong . Easy to take care of and , as you say , able to take the worst of mother natures wrath. Harry

4 hours ago, RJ said:

Meg so sorry to hear this news. The palms are probably large enough to be transplanted now, is this an option that can be explored?

Here’s the thing: I don’t’ own them because I don’t own the land I (intentionally) planted them on. They are at the mercy of the owner/builder that does own them. If he accepts them as landscaping, woo hoo! But if he’s a Yankee he likely will tear them out (“we don’t grow those up north”) to make room for familiar plants that will die miserable deaths in our sweltering climate. But if I’m lucky he will be that rare Yankee that loves and appreciates palms, even Sabals.

Free, mature, native wall of low maintenance tropical screening plants.   Seems like a nice score for the buyers of that plot of land.  Only problem is if they block the impending fence placement.   

1 hour ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Here’s the thing: I don’t’ own them because I don’t own the land I (intentionally) planted them on. They are at the mercy of the owner/builder that does own them. If he accepts them as landscaping, woo hoo! But if he’s a Yankee he likely will tear them out (“we don’t grow those up north”) to make room for familiar plants that will die miserable deaths in our sweltering climate. But if I’m lucky he will be that rare Yankee that loves and appreciates palms, even Sabals.

I love rare Yankee’s 😉

 

I guess my point was to offer to transplant them if they’re insistent upon clearing them out, this is one of those circumstances that being as proactive with the future landowners/builders is the best option for their survival. 
 

fingers crossed hoping for the best. The real estate economy is in the dumps right now so perhaps  nothing will happen 🤞

Cue the Blue spruces and maple trees👎

My fingers are crossed also for the world famous Sabal Row ! Would be a damn shame for someone to spend good money to remove all them palms. I'm really hoping to one day to see sabal row in person. 

T J 

14 hours ago, Chester B said:

Cue the Blue spruces and maple trees👎

Oh, ick. Include hydrangea, hostas and Kentucky blue grass too

Hate to see anything happen to those sabals, they look so naturally beautiful.