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COCONUT PALMJust a couple weeks ago on March 11, Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota held a celebration in honor of three separate religious holidays falling on the same day. The three holidays were Jewish Purim (celebrating the story of Queen Esther), Hindu Holi (celebrating several Hindu myths and springtime), and Muslim Mawlid al-Nabi (celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad). Now we have moved into April and there are other religious festivals to celebrate. In the Jewish tradition, this is near the time of Pesach, or what we commonly call Passover. This year, it begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 8 and commemorates their Exodus from Egypt out of slavery. In the Christian tradition, today is Palm Sunday in remembrance of Jesus’ triumphant ride into the city of Jerusalem. The people expected him to liberate them from the oppressive government, so they were excited to see him and spread palm branches on the road before him. It is in honor of that day that this post focuses on palms. The opening photo is looking up into a tall coconut palm in a friend’s yard over in Na`alehu, loaded with coconuts. I just hoped none would fall on me as I was taking the picture. The tall palms all over Hawai`i are beautiful, although not native. Here is one in the middle of the Ala Moana Shopping Center on Oahu.
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ALA MOANA PALMSWhen I visited some of the Hawai`ian sacred sites in Hilo with a group of students last month, I took these pictures of the tall palms scattered around the area.
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SACRED SITE IN HILO
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PALMS AT SACRED SITE
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MORE SACRED SITE PALMSThen we have the banana palm trees. Here is a small one in a friend’s yard. I have a few but they are still way too small to even think about bearing.
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BANANA PALMThis little coconut palm in my yard has a long way to go to match the one on top of this post! It has been badly damaged by the wind and sulfur dioxide.
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SMALL COCONUT PALMI was given this saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) in a large pot by another friend.
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SAW PALMETTOSince then I have taken it out of the pot and planted it in the ground.
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SAW PALMETTO IN GROUNDOver the past couple of years, I’ve been putting in triangle palms (Neodypsis decaryi) to line my driveway. Here are a couple of photos to show you. Maybe in about five years or so, they’ll be closer to the size I want. This shot was taken before my driveway was put in.
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TRIANGLES ALONG DRIVEWAYThis shows the cinder dumped onto the driveway, with a friend and his son on the bobcat, ready to grade it down for me.
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CLOSER VIEW OF TRIANGLESThis gift triangle was already about three times as big when I got it as the others I have. Such a prize!
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MY LARGEST TRIANGLEThen I was given four small triangles to put into the ground. One has made it, but the other three are still waiting to be planted. Someday I’ll get around to it – along with all my other projects!
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SMALL TRIANGLES READY TO PLANTPerhaps someday, mine will be as big as the one a friend has on Maui. He planted these in 2003.
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MAUI TRIANGLEA post on palms wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the “Sago Palm,” which isn’t even a palm at all! I think people call it a "palm" because of the way the branches look, but it is really a cycad. Perhaps I’ll do a post on that another day. Here is one that belongs to my friend on Maui.
"SAGO PALM"If you are interested in knowing more about the various religious holidays I’ve mentioned, check out one of the following websites. I highly recommend this Interfaith calendar that lists all the religious festivals. The Religious Tolerance site is also very informative. Time to go water my palms!
