Welcome to the first newsletter sent from Cape Coral, Florida where a new latitude calls for a new and different photo project. In the past I would capture unique faces, diverse neon signs, wall art, etc. Anything that is in abundance and varies will do for me. Today is the start of “Palm Sunday”, where once a week I will share images from all the Florida frond foliage found and photographed, and probably even share a few words about them.

Palm trees are usually what comes to mind regarding beautiful, exotic islands and vacationing. But with all trees, there is so much more to learn and think about.

A lot of civilizations use products made from these trees such as cosmetics, cooking oils, lotions, jelly, wine, and biodiesel. However, not many know about the symbolic meaning of these large, evergreen plants.

There are over 3,000 species of palms, making them some of the most common and easily recognized plants. They thrive in tropical regions and are considered among the hardiest trees in the world as they’re resistant to most pests and diseases.

Coconuts are some of the most popular palms, with their nuts known for their nutritional benefits and distinct taste. Their hard brown shells protect the nut from damage when they fall from the tree, and the white flesh inside is used for making oil and cooking in many Asian countries. Coconut oil is considered the healthiest oil made from palms.

And because today is a Sunday, here are a few quotes: In Psalms 92:12, those who are righteous were compared to palm trees. It states that righteous people shall flourish and grow “like palms and cedar trees in Lebanon…” In Psalms 7:7-9, the palm tree is associated with victory, where getting hold of its fruit was compared to triumph.

Next week, I’ll share some palms taken from either Sanibel Island or Fort Myers beach. Oh, and as a little bonus, here is an image of a girl chasing seagulls on the shore:

-Chris in Cape Coral