PHOENIX roebelenii: Miniature Date Palm

We stroll by this house every day when we walk the dogs & I have wanted to include this PHOENIX roebelenii in my journal for a long time.
Today, it made the cut, just when the shadow on the sidewalk perfectly
reflected this Miniature Date Palm.

I have loved this dwarf evergreen palm since the first time I saw it
in Arizona, many years ago, The graceful, lacy fronds caught my attention immediately. The name is even wonderful, & honors the famous orchid collector,  Carl Roebelenii.  How an orchid collector is connected to a palm tree native to Southeast Asia is probably an interesting story.

This palm is lovely planted in front of a house, (SEE EXTRA) near a pool, or even indoors in a container.  This beauty is not just a "pretty face."  It is easy to grow, resistant to pests, tolerates all kinds of soil & is somewhat drought & wind tolerant, which may be why it is popular in this area.  

It is not surprising it won the prestegious AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT from the Royal Horticultural Society.