Butia capitata Pindo Palm

The dog and I found a whole row of short (~10') fruiting Pindo Palms in a gas station parking lot in Georgia. I like Pindo Palms; they're dependably hardy to Zone 8b the silvery foliage is classically pinnate and typically clean. Native to dry savannas of southern South America they are dependably drought resistant. The leaf bases persist for some time providing a habitat for epiphytes, and the fruit is abundant and edible. Pindo Palm Jelly is an obscure tradition in those areas where Pindos are grown. The flavor is unique and delicious. Good palm.

We left Maryland about 3:30 am Thursday morning and arrived in Wildwood at 5:00; that's pretty good time for us. The dog gets a short walk every couple hundred miles, but otherwise we roll on. Our early arrival gave me time to do a walk through of the plantings. Nothing died; that's good. The Florida natives defenitely are among the happiest of the plants. Salvias, many I just threw in as temporary filler, are spectacular. The Salvia gregii selections and hybrids have all bulked up and are all flowering. Hummingbirds like them. Three Salvia leucophylla have become shrubs.

Sunrise is significantly later down here than it is in Washington: 6:43 versus 6:02 at home. Sunset is essentially the same: in Washington it sets at 8:26, down here, at 8:21. At any rate I find myself sitting here at 6:00 in the pitch dark. Oh well.