Contrary to what one might think, palms don’t love living in the Pacific Northwest. (I actually would have guessed that, but now I have proof in my backyard.)
Palm root balls are large-ish. Dead palm trunks are filled with yellow goo.
Rhubarb starts can travel safely across the country in a trash bag. In a suitcase. On a plane.
Trash bags full of rhubarb starts will cause TSA to inspect your suitcase and leave you a note. However, they will not confiscate your rhubarb starts (and your home-grown popcorn kernels). Hopefully the rhubarb will do better here than the palm did.
Sooo… What did the note say?
I wish it had said something cool! Unfortunately, it was just their standard little, “Your bag looked sketchy so we inspected it,” notification. I really thought there was a chance they might take the plants though.
Really? Just a note? Heck, I was pulled out of line because I had seasoning salt in my luggage. The salt was checked for explosives, I was not. Both the salt and myself were eventually allowed to board the plane.
I think I might have gotten that if I had tried to carry them on. Decided to check bags at the last minute, which was probably a good call.
Sorry. Of all the things you can grow in the Pacific Northwest and you are growing a palm? Sorry. Just saying.
Haha, I know. They were here when we bought the house and I said, “Really? Palms? Really?” One was definitely dead, one is probably dead, and one is maybe alive. The two that remain will be coming out in the next couple of weeks.
hi jess! i saw that you won the recycled hedgehog i made in the one small change giveaways! send me an e-mail with where you’d like it sent! byhandathome{at}gmail.com
i’m glad your rhubarb made it! i think palms can make it in the pacific nw too (although i don’t know where you are specifically) – the crazy little starbucks in downtown portland has some type of them growing, but they cover them in plastic in the winter when it’s real cold. maybe it was just too much of a shock for that guy? all the best in your gardening!
Oh my gosh, cuteness!! E-mail incoming.
I think maybe the palms would have made it if it weren’t for the hard freeze we got last fall. It was in the single digits for several weeks, and I can’t imagine liking that if I were a palm. No way of knowing though, since we weren’t here, but that is my completely uneducated guess
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Jess embrace the rhubarb! They will love you.
They are growing! And so, so fast. I’m amazed at how quickly it’s bounced back!