Editorial
Martin Gibbons, c/o The Palm Centre
Chamaerops No. 14, published online 23-08-2002
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Spring Down The Tube
A month of north winds and freezing temperatures
followed by two weeks of sunshine followed by another 3 weeks of
rain, north winds and well-below-average temperatures is not the
sort of weather that puts your editor in a good spring and summer
mood. But that's what we in London have had so far this 'spring'.
I stomp about cursing the wind and the rain and dreaming of 1976
when we had a wonderful summer and I've been waiting since then
for it to return.
Thank heaven for the close proximity of le continent
with its guaranteed good weather. Thank heaven also for le tunnel,
which I for one am going to be a regular traveller through (if you'll
forgive my ending that sentence with a preposition). Thank heaven
also, finally, for our summer meeting in the south of France, and
for the Fous de Palmiers, the French Palm Society, for doing so
much to organize and plan it.
News Of Our Get-together
Along with this issue of Chamaerops you will find
the official programme and invitation. There is one important though
small change and that is that in order for our meeting to coincide
with the 'Journée Mediterranéennes' (a wonderful festival
of plants and flowers with the emphasis on Mediterranean species),
the actual start date of our get-together will be two days earlier
than previously thought, that is, Saturday September 10th.
The programme will be planned for four days, but
as many of you know, there is much to do down there, and I'm sure
that many people will want to spend a few extra days after the end
of the official programme.
Finally on this subject I would like to say that
I am available at more or less any time to answer questions about
this trip so for anyone who has any doubts or queries just give
me a call. I do hope that as many people as possible will attend,
and help to make it the success it deserves to be.
Late As Usual
Despite the despicable weather so far this year,
it's been extremely busy here at The Palm Centre, and that is one
of the reasons why Chamaerops is a bit on the late side. Additionally
I've done one or two small trips, which also cut down on the time
I can spend at the computer. In February, for instance, I went to
Florida to look, for the first time, at palm nurseries there and
I must say, my eyes were well and truly opened.
Palms USA Style
In the U.S.A. they don't do things by halves, and
they don't grow palms in tens and twenties. They grow them by the
hundred and by the thousand, and some of the nurseries are so big
that you have to drive round them in a golf buggy and take a packed
lunch. It was like going shopping in a 100 acre Safeway with the
shelves lined with palms and cycads. I must compliment the Americans
on the quality of their plants and the efficiency of the staff at
the nurseries. The quality and range was so good, it almost made
me want to give up the palm business in shame. Instead I took a
deep breath and went shopping! What else could I do?! So apologies
again for the late appearance of this issue, and those are my excuses.
Appeal Answered
In the autumn '93 Chamaerops I made an appeal for
more contributions from writers outside the U.K. My call was answered
and in this issue we have four good articles by overseas members,
and, as though that weren't enough, two of them are ladies! The
standard of all the articles that we get seems to be excellent,
as do the wonderful photographs that are sent in to accompany them.
We are the only palm society magazine (and there are lots) to make
such use of colour and I hope you'll agree that it's used this time
to wonderful effect. One criticism I have received is that there
are not enough articles of a practical nature in Chamaerops but
I say, "You write it and I'll print it". However, if that
sounds too flippant, perhaps I should add that if you would like
to see an article on a particular subject, just ask, and I'll see
what can be done. Certainly one on the germination of palm and cycad
seeds is well overdue and I hope one will appear next time.
Finally, I would like to say a big 'Thank you' to
our printers, Messrs Simmons of Chelmsford. I've been meaning to
do this for some time but here's an opportunity at last. They are
such 'nice people to do business with' and they don't realize (or
they're too polite to mention) that with each issue they are doing
just a little more work in terms of preparation of the magazine.
I really can't praise them highly enough, so if you want any printing
work done, just give me a call and I'll put you in touch. M.G.
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