23 Comments

Beautifully written and insightful essay. Reminded me so much of the best of Annie Dillard with its humanistic approach to nature.

Expand full comment

Thanks for a thoughtful and interesting exploration of a part of the Florida landscape that sort of seemed artificial to me growing up. I just double checked and the sabal palmetto's natural range doesn't include the part of the panhandle where I grew up. It is there now, I think both for some cultivation of its heart and also because it is associated with the state and planted to make it seem, I guess, like Florida for tourists. But I always found that the sabal palmetto seemed a bit out of place, planted as it was for decoration. I'll have to make a trip to see our state "tree" in its natural environment!

Expand full comment

What a good description of the tree life around and it's good to learn about the various palms and their backgrounds. In the essay you used the word dispirit and I wondered if you would prefer disrupt, although I do understand the use of dispirit there.

Expand full comment

It’s magical and fascinating as all your writing is. Keep up the good work 💚

Expand full comment

Wonderful as always 💚💚💚

Expand full comment

Very interesting... there's always so much complexity out there... right under (or way above, in this case) our noses. Thank you!

Expand full comment