Mid August Update - Rising Prices, Groceries, Roofs & Diseased Palms

Gas prices going up again down here.  It was $3.65 per gallon for 87 grade at Hess last Friday.  Why are the prices going up?  I hear there are tankers full of oil not pulling into port, waiting for the prices to rise again.  I'm taking comfort that gas is not as high has my sister is paying outside Chicago.  Their gas is back up to over $4 per gallon.


But my little car is a gas guzzler.  I'm going to have to switch to this 

to get me back & forth to Publix, which is also no bargain.  Publix has very little competition to keep prices from rising, now that Albertson's is gone. When I visited up north last year, I noticed prices for grocery items were about 20-30% cheaper than what we're paying down here.


The new Publix at Alico Commons doesn't have nearly as many customers as some of the other Publix in the area.  Because there are so few customers, the stock doesn't move as quickly.  I've noticed that goods on shelves are often near or past their expiration dates.  Be careful when you shop there.

Many of us had our roofs replaced in 2006.  I'm very happy with the results,...... but thought I'd report that for the 2nd time this year, there is a leak in my new roof. 

  

The first leak was discovered in January, in my guest room, when my sister & her husband came to visit.  Called Dr. Goodroof, & they were out the next day to fix the problem, which involved a broken tile (?) & coating some flashing with tar.  


What is disturbing is that both leaks have occurred in the EXACT SAME SPOTS where the old roof leaked.  Perhaps I'm not the only resident with leaks in their new roof.  Anyone who has had a leak fixed since the new roofs went on, please email me with your info so we can keep track of these occurances.  If there are enough of these leaks, we might have to call a PowWow to discuss our options.

Finally, sorry to report that yet another one of my palm trees has contracted Ganoderma Butt Rot.

Queen Palm with "Conk" Fungus at base of tree trunk

Here is a description of the tree disease found on-line.


 Ganoderma zonatum

Description
Ganoderma butt rot is a relatively new and lethal disease of Florida palm trees. It is caused by a fungus, Ganoderma zonatum, which invades the base or butt of palm trees up to a height of three to four feet above the ground. The disease was first discovered in Florida in 1994 and in only a few years it has spread to infect palms throughout the state. At this time, it cannot be said with certainty that there are any palm trees resistant to ganoderma butt rot.
The ganoderma zonatum fungus most often invades a palm tree by means of a wound at the base of the tree. The fungus then begins to rapidly work its way through the tree’s butt area essentially rotting the wood. Once the fungus has worked its way through the centre of the tree to the surface, it forms a fruiting body called a ‘conk’, a spongy, whitish mushroom-like growth which grows to form a horizontal disc extending out from the bark.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there is currently no effective treatment for ganoderma butt rot. By the time the conk has appeared on the bark, the tree is effectively dead and must be removed. While the wood above the butt area can be safely mulched, use extreme care when disposing of the butt wood in order to avoid spreading the fungus to other palms. Wrap the wood in plastic and dispose of it by incineration or take it to a landfill. Sterilize all tools and even be careful with clothing and gloves.
While there is no sure-fire way of preventing ganoderma butt rot infestation, the danger can be reduced by avoiding injuring the trunks of the palm trees on your property. Be especially careful when using lawnmowers and other gardening implements. Should you suspect a ganoderma butt rot infestation on your property, consult with your local forestry officials for information and advice.

Close Up of "Conk" Fungus

My stand of Areca Palms, on the side of my villa, are dying a slow death, and now I'm about to lose this 40' palm in the side/front of the villa.  


In the last year or so, there have been at least 3 other trees in Forest Villas that had to be removed due to this disease.  Once this fungus has invaded the soil around the tree, you cannot replace the dying palm with another palm.  The disease will simply make it's way to the new tree.  If you find you have a palm with this disease, it's a good idea to report it to the FVHOA.

Sorry, this posting is kind of a 'downer'.  The good news is that it's sunny & warm every day, & the mosquitoes seem to have called off their offensive for the time being.


Have a great weekend, bj

This is my personal blog, not affiliated in anyway with the FVHOA.