Sabal Palmetto “Lisa”- The Silver Anniversary of a Love Story
By Karen Maxwell, Horticultural Specialist
Did you know that cabbage palms (Sabal palmetto) grow in the South Pacific? Until about 10 years ago, neither did I. Then one lazy afternoon, I was watching the 1948 musical “On an Island With You,” featuring swimmer Esther Williams who portrays a movie star filming on location on a South Pacific island. Now with my horticultural experience focused on Southwest Florida, I should have been suspicious when Esther was shown swimming amongst bald cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss. Perhaps I was too scared for her, imagining the other things that naturally swim in bald cypress swamps to recognize that these are only native to the southeastern United States. It didn’t dawn on me to doubt my eyes until I caught a glimpse of our state tree, the cabbage palm, growing in the background scenes. This made me wonder. Always curious about plant origins, I decided to read up on our cabbage palm to see if it actually grows on any Pacific islands.
Of course, it can grow. But the important question that I was unconsciously asking myself, was the extent of its native origins. Cabbage palms, like many plants and trees do grow well outside of their native origins as I discovered in my research, but they are only endemic or naturally occurring to the Southeastern U.S.
Researching from the comfort of my couch, computer on my lap, movie running, the first article to pop up regarding Sabal palmetto was on Wikipedia. (Okay, groan, but it’s an easy place to start). Skimming most of the article, I perused the footnotes where “A new cultivar of Sabal palmetto in Fort Myers” prompted an immediate click through. And as for that film? It was shot on location alright – at Cypress Gardens in Florida!
During the spring of 1998, in the location we now know as I-75, exit 139 or Luckett Road in Fort Myers, a curious grouping of palms prompted a call to Robert Riefer. There, among the feral palms, stood some unusual looking specimens. Were they deformed? Or perhaps they were some sort of mutation. Either way, they were about to be bull-dozed by work crews. Some of you may recall that Robert of the University of Florida/IFAS is currently working with Edison Ford as we establish a collection of endangered native Florida orchids.
Robert rushed to the site to see a palm that looked a lot like a cabbage palm, only different! There, three palms stood – each probably close to 50 years old, two with “boots” as many cabbage palms have, and one without boots, but all three had fronds that appeared as if the leaves had not quite fully opened, and were quite stiff, unlike the way a cabbage palm frond freely falls. Robert was able to convince officials to save two of the palms, one with and one without boots and sadly, the third fell victim to the bulldozer.
The year prior, Robert’s wife of five years, Lisa, who is legally blind, had obtained her Florida horticulture certificate from The Center for Visually Impaired, in Daytona. A requirement of earning her certificate included demonstrating her ability to transplant cactus! Armed with her new certificate, she accepted a position at a Big Box Store; however, it turned out to be short lived and as she stayed home, contemplating her future, she fell into a deep depression as her husband Robert sadly watched. Realizing he needed to act, Robert thought back to that unusual palm tree – maybe, with Lisa’s help and horticultural training, they could try to propagate this unusual palm and re-populate it throughout Florida! In addition to the original three trees discovered at Luckett, there was one other tree, located on private property, nearly 100 miles away in Tampa. As luck would have it, that lone tree was seeding and Robert collected fistfuls of Sabal palmetto seeds from this unusual specimen.
In their tidy backyard, located on a ½ acre lot, Robert along with Lisa, set about planting 400 nursery pots of the newly acquired seeds along with maintaining detailed records of their growth progress. Over the course of several years, Lisa personally moved 40 cubic yards of potting material and together they raised more than 6,000 seedlings, selling or donating every last one. Cabbage palm seeds germinate easily, but they are very, very slow to grow; only growing approximately six inches per year. Because of the slow growth, it took the Riefers a number of years before they were able to definitively identify 68% of the seedlings; ones that were indeed exhibiting the unusual morphology of the rare Sabal palmetto.
With the assistance of Dr. Scott Zona, former Palm Biologist at Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Coral Gables and Co-Editor of the International Society of Palms newsletter “PALMS,” as well as the distinguished co-author of at least two encyclopedias on palms, the pair of palms isolated by Riefer were officially identified (Vol. 49-1 – IPS PALMS – March 2005) as a cultivar of the Sabal palmetto and furthermore, indigenous to Fort Myers! It was not a mutation, such as the double-crowned cabbage palms that result from a predatory action on the apical meristem of a young tree; nor was it a distinct species. As of this writing, to the best of our knowledge, DNA testing has never been done on S. palmetto Lisa.
Raise your hand if you took Biology in high school – if so, you may recall something called “Mendelian Genetics.” In my most elementary effort to explain: offspring inherit the complete gene set from both parents – which may include a mixture of dominant genes and recessive genes – such as brown (dominant) and blue (recessive) genes which determine eye color in humans. With only one brown eye gene, which is dominant, the offspring will have brown eyes. However, since the gene for blue eyes is recessive, the offspring must have both recessive genes of blue in order to have blue eyes. This is the case with this sabal palm – it is a recessive gene, and so all seeds from it do not result in offspring exhibiting the same characteristics of a stiff, not quite open frond known as a shallow sinus, as seen in the comparison photos.
For recognizing this new plant, Robert received the honor of naming it, and today, Sabal palmetto “Lisa” is no longer simply a footnote on the Wikipedia Sabal palmetto page. As of March 2005, it is now an accepted cultivar of Sabal palmetto.
The two trees originally researched by Robert and Dr. Zona can be seen today, standing side by side within the palm collection owned by the City of Fort Myers, known as Bennett-Hart Park at 2330 Martin Luther King Boulevard. Sabal palmetto Lisa has been saved thanks to Robert and Lisa’s extraordinary efforts and next spring marks the 25th anniversary of its discovery. It is now in healthy distribution around Florida and Edison Ford is fortunate to have two young Sabal palmetto Lisas in cultivation.
True to the characteristics of all Sabal palms, these palms transplant much easier when they are mature, than when they are young. This is important to know because mature S. palmetto Lisas are still not readily available to the public. Fortunately, many palm growers have now procured seed and are propagating this collectible palm. As a purchaser, be sure to only buy a S. palmetto Lisa that is at least four to five years old and exhibiting the tell-tale fronds and take great care when planting.
As far as we know, the Riefers conducted the only documented large scale trial of Sabal palmetto Lisa in an effort to determine the incident rate of the new cultivar from seed. While that trial produced a 68% success rate, year over year, that rate may change based on pollinator activity and weather factors. Despite all their efforts and personal expense to identify, save and propagate Sabal palmetto Lisa, today the Riefers do not have one of their own!
We have heard reports of young seedlings going into shock and sudden death. The most probable explanation for this is two-fold, according to Robert: a.) failure to provide adequate water with the newly transplanted palm known as transplant shock and b.) possible absence of compatible mycorrhizae from its indigenous location. Joyfully, if successfully acclimated to a new location, an owner can expect this palm to survive between 50 and 100 years, because as hearty native palms they naturally do extremely well in hurricanes.
Like all palms, (unlike the rings of hardwood trees) dating Sabal palmettos is a best guess based on its optimal growth rate of approximately 6” per year. The next time you stroll the grounds at Edison Ford, take a closer look at some of those really tall Sabal palmettos and do a rough calculation of their potential age!
In celebration of 25 years since it’s discovery, and in honor of the exhaustive work done by the Riefers, they would welcome a donation of a Sabal palmetto Lisa to be planted in Lehigh Acres at the welcome sign located at the Homestead Road and Lee Boulevard intersection as a permanent gift to the people of their hometown. Please contact me for further information at kmaxwell@edisonford.org if you are interested in helping.
This month, be on the Lookout as the hot humid and rainy days of August bring forth exotic blooms of our ginger collection! Don’t miss them!
The Reliance
By Matt Andres, Collections Registrar
As Thomas Edison raced from upriver toward his son Charles, shouts of, “We got a tarpon! We got a tarpon!” pierced the air. America’s favorite inventor was all smiles and began laughing wildly as he revealed his prize, a 40-pound tarpon captured from the depths of the Caloosahatchee River. Charles, who had stayed behind, unveiled another surprise, a 100-pound silver king (tarpon). Vanquished, Edison’s smile quickly turned to deflated disgust as he told his most trusted “mucker,” Freddie Ott, to throw his back overboard. Against Edison’s wishes, Ott refused and kept it – 118 years later, it hangs inside the Edison Ford museum. This all took place in 1904; Edison was a youthful 67 and Charles a mature 14 when the latter bested his father during their aquatic adventure. As if pouring salt water onto Mr. Edison’s wound, the Wizard’s son teased him for many years after this, reminding him on several occasions of his ultimate triumph.
It comes as no surprise that one of Edison’s favorite hobbies was fishing, where he made frequent bets with family members on the number and variety of fish caught during his excursions around Fort Myers. Initially fishing from his pier, Edison eventually spent some of his hard-earned money on a new toy – an electric launch. It gave Southwest Florida’s most famous resident unfettered access to new and even more remote waterways, which allowed him to explore its lush and pristine landscape, rich in wildlife and vegetation. As a result, boating quickly became another cherished pastime, with many hours spent out on the Caloosahatchee and beyond.
At a cost of $2,250.05, which was equivalent to four years pay for Edison’s caretaker, the Reliance, as it was named, was an impressive 36-foot electric vessel complete with wooden roof, canvas storm curtains, red, green, and white sailing lights, flag poles, and brass, brass, and more brass. Brass features included chocks, cleats, rowlocks, deck rails, and an air pump. The boat’s name could be seen glistening from afar as even this was spelled using brass lettering. Plush interior furnishings consisted of a divan seat, eight wicker chairs and table, brussels carpet, mahogany ladder, folding anchor, and a water closet with privacy curtains. A large whistle was installed and could be heard by all passersby. Yacht ensign and bow flag added an extra layer of respectability for the “Caloosahatchee’s Potamoi.”
Purchased from the Electric Launch Company based out of Bayonne City, New Jersey, it was initially shipped by truck to New York and later transported via the Clyde Steamship Line toward Jacksonville, Florida where it was placed on an Atlantic Coast Line Railway train bound for Punta Gorda. Upon its arrival, it was taken by steamer to Fort Myers, becoming the second vessel of Edison’s two-boat flotilla in 1904. It’s power source derived from rechargeable nickel iron alkaline batteries manufactured by the astute inventor and brought southward. Early on, Ott charged each battery using an old generator inside Edison’s original Fort Myers laboratory. Later, a newer onshore generator was installed that converted ac electricity from the city power grid to dc on Edison’s property. Staying true to his persona as master promoter, Edison would later boast of traveling over 100 miles on a fully charged series.
With a quick push of a button, many a good time were had navigating through Southwest Florida’s “boggy thoroughfares.” When not in use, it was housed inside a large boathouse (17’3” x 42’6”) situated alongside the pier’s pavilion. It was nearly destroyed in October 1910, when a horrendous hurricane made landfall near Fort Myers. It was described by Edison’s employee, Harvie Heitman, as “the most disastrous storm ever known to hit the city.” Approximately 200 feet of dock, as well as the boathouse storing Edison’s launch were swept away, pushing his vessel to parts unknown. It was eventually rescued by staff but sustained damage to its canopy, which was a total loss.
Another close call occurred in 1921 when stormy weather caused high tides, flooding, and rough seas. Ben Tinstman, Edison’s caretaker at the time, informed Mina Edison that the Reliance had broken loose and was set adrift. He later added that it nearly struck the city’s railroad dock downtown, but according to Tinstman, a Mr. Capling “at risk of his own life” saved it from complete destruction.
A couple of decades later, written evidence reveals that Henry Ford inquired about procuring the Reliance in hopes of displaying it inside his museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Unfortunately, the hurricane of 1944 obliterated Edison’s pier and with it his beloved launch. A letter sent to Ford in October 1944 mentioned, “Mr. Edison’s electric launch that you planned to take to Detroit was washed away and is down the beach about a mile a total wreck.”
Unsalvageable, it met an early demise amidst a watery grave. Today, a small replica model of Edison’s launch that embarked on a thousand fishing trips is on display within the “Fun in the Sun – Family & Friends” exhibit gallery inside the Edison Ford museum.
Helen Hendry
By Alexandria Edwards, Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator
Helen Hendry (Johnson) was a prominent landscape architect who left a lasting legacy in Southwest Florida through her beautification projects a n d co m m e rc i a l developments, which included garden installations at Edison and Ford Winter Estates. This pioneer gardener was a titan of horticulture whose passion and dedication to improving the lives of those around her carried her through a 61-year career. She paved the way for many future generations of people that are passionate about horticulture, botany, plant science, and landscape architecture.
Helen was born on November 12, 1930, in Wigham, Georgia, near Thomasville and moved to Fort Myers with her family in 1937. The family lived on McGregor Boulevard, adjacent to the Everglades Nursery, which was incorporated in 1909 and owned by Jim Hendry, Jr., Helen’s future father-inlaw. As a child, Helen attended Edison Park School and spent her free time running around barefoot between her home and the nursery. When she was just 12 years old, she asked Mr. Hendry about job opportunities. She shared with him that she would be willing to pull weeds, pot plants, or do any task in the nursery in return for a few dollars to buy Christmas presents. Jim agreed to the offer and decided to pay her $1.50 per day to maintain the weeds and plant shrubs and other plants throughout his garden.
The young landscape architect continued to work at the nursery until she graduated from Fort Myers High School in 1949. After graduation, she was promoted to a full-time employee at the nursery and studied horticulture with Jim Hendry and Vincent Honc, a German immigrant who taught her planting techniques, such as air-layering and grafting. Helen shared a deep admiration for improving gardens and expanding the community’s knowledge on plants with her employer and mentor. Under Mr. Hendry’s leadership, the nursery planted 6,000 trees in Fort Myers – the most significant public beautification project ever undertaken in the city.
The garden center was known for cultivating bougainvilleas, a passion that originated from Captain A. Hendry – Jim Hendry’s grandfather, who received one of the first bougainvilleas in Florida. Helen recalled that Hendry propagated a red thornless bougainvillea for her, that he named “Helen Johnson” because “he said that I had no thorns. I think that was a great compliment for anybody.” Helen in turn propagated a yellow hibiscus for Hendry.
The nursery also grew a multitude of plants, including palms from seed that were shipped to Arizona, California, Texas and Canada. As a teenager and through her adult years, Helen volunteered at Lee Memorial Hospital when she was not working in the garden.
Many local residents admired Helen’s hard work and contributions to the nursery, which gave her the opportunity to design the gardens of many influential individuals, including Mina Edison. When Mrs. Edison deeded her estate to the City of Fort Myers in 1947, Helen helped design the landscape throughout the site. This included the rosy-pink bougainvillea hedge by the entrance to the Garden Shoppe on Larchmont Avenue that shows off its bright colors throughout the winter months. Planted in the 1950s, it is a notable feature of gardens in Southwest Florida, and many people consider this to be one of her finest designs.
The landscape artist met Mina Edison when she was exploring the botanical gardens along the Edison’s 13.5- acre estate as a young girl. The two women formed a fast friendship, and Mina often consulted with Helen on gardening and landscape design during her frequent trips to Everglades Nursery. Helen reported to the press that Mrs. Edison was “an elegant lady who had been very kind to me and I was always in awe of her.”
As Helen branched out into the field of landscape architecture, she worked with many prominent clients in Naples, Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva to beautify private residences as well as on municipal and government projects. She drove to Gainesville to attend classes on landscape architecture and was awarded her license in 1965, making her the first woman and third person to earn her architecture license in Florida. She went on to serve on the Florida Board of Landscape Architects for 14 years, where she helped design the standards for those seeking their professional licensure.
She was chosen to be a director of the Florida Nursery and Growers Association (FNGA) for her extensive horticultural knowledge and contributions to the landscaping community, serving as the first female president of the Royal Palm Chapter of FNGA in 1965- 1966. One of the main projects she was involved in on behalf of the organization was lobbying for the Florida State Legislature to pass a bill requiring the registration and examination of landscape architects.
In 1969, Helen married James E. Hendry III, a graduate of Princeton University and an expert on tropical fruit crops. James helped her manage the Everglades Nursery that he, his former wife, and daughters inherited after James Hendry II passed away in 1955. After Helen assumed more responsibility, she maintained a rigid work schedule, often arriving at the nursery around 7:30 a.m. and working until roughly 6 p.m. in a little office just a few yards from McGregor. As she continued caring for the property, she followed her former boss’s advice “to play with the earth, sort of grow with the plants so you understand their needs.” In 1987, the nursery closed down and was sold to land developers.
Helen later became a trustee of Edison and Ford Winter Estates, providing staff with historical tidbits and knowledge on plant science. Her expertise was invaluable to the estates, and she spent countless hours helping to manicure and secure the future of the thousands of plants grown at Seminole Lodge. She rode around in a cart with staff, pointing out the largest and rarest species of bougainvillea, palms, and philodendron. The designer also discussed different blends of fertilizer and recommended moving orchids strapped to tree trunks that she felt were overexposed to high winds. Her legacy at Edison Ford included the development of a long-range plan for garden restoration and conservation.
