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Editorial• Martin Gibbons, E-ditor, martin@palmsociety.orgThe year is rushing by, not so many weeksbefore it’s over and we’re in 2001. Who everwould have imagined it? However, we have winterto get through first and I for one am gamblingon the continuation of the lucky streak we (atleast in the UK) have been having for 10 or 11years now. We haven’t had a severe winter sincethen, and each autumn I pray for ‘just one moremild winter. Please?’ Evidence that it has been along time since we had a ‘decent’ winter can beseen all across London. Cordyline australis, whichwill be killed by a hard frost, can be seen inenormous sizes across and around the capital.After a bad winter these plants, which, at 8-10feet are starting to get ‘interesting’ are reducedto stumps, only to begin the cycle again, fromsuckers, which are put up in great numbers inthe spring. Should you be unlucky enough to havethis happen to you, don’t be tempted to leavethem all in place (there may be 15 or 20), or youwill end up with a shapeless mass of shoots.Instead, choose the biggest and strongest, andremove the rest. With all the energy from the hugeroot ball that would have been supporting theparent plant, the lucky seedling will grow so fastit will make you head spin. With adequatewatering, some good soil and the judiciousapplication of fertilizer, within a very few years itwill be back where it was.Much has been written (not least inChamaerops) over the years about protection ofpalms, and other exotics over the winter. But howto find it? Well, there is a way. If you have optedfor on-line membership, you can browse all ourback issues (well, many of them. More are beingadded all the time) using key words. Type in theword ‘snow’ for example and all mentions of thisword in all these back issues will be brought upon the screen for you to examine further. Or try‘shelter’, winter protection’ or even ‘fleece’ andyou will be able to find everything that has beenwritten on these subjects since the European PalmSociety began.Due to the enormous amount of work doneby Toby and Rudolph Spanner, we are soon goingto be back on track, and they are to becomplimented. As it happens we have a goodnumber of articles on hand at the moment, andI would like to thank all those who contribute toour magazine, regularly or intermittently. Wouldyou perhaps like to write but don’t know asubject? Here’s a few suggestions to inspire you.Interviews are really popular. Do you knowa palm nut? Sit down for half an hour and chatto him (or her) about the things you would mostlike to know. Chances are, they’re the kind ofthings that other members would like to knowalso. Tape the interview and simply type it later.The interviewee does not have to be well-known.Ordinary people often have the most interestingstories to tell.Could you organize a quiz? The one we hadbefore was very successful. How well do you knowyour palms and other exotics? Could you set 20questions? Maybe you’re a crossword fanatic.Could you design your own? Let us have it forChamaerops.Got a favourite palm book? Could you write600 words (about the length of this Editorial)about it. Or 300? Get down who wrote it, howmuch it cost and what you think about it. Ormaybe you’ve come across one that you hate, orthat is ‘replete with errors’. Write about that onetoo. There are so many palm books about thesedays, a bit of guidance would go a long way.Well, there’s a few ideas to get you started.You could also write about favourite palms (upclose and personal!), Botanic Gardens, where tosee spectacular species, lesser known hardy palms,palm pests – a short series maybe.The important thing is that you writesomething. Most people have a story in them andit’s highly likely that our members would beinterested in yours!Enjoy this issue; it was written by people likeyou!page 3