Sounds grim, right? Actually, not.
Today W went to our old farm out in the country. It has not sold yet for complicated reasons I don't want to go into. She took some snapshots of the palms I was not able to dig up due to my back injury. They were left to their fate.
These palms have received no care since August. No water despite days of 102 F / 40 C; no fertilizer, wilt-pruf, mulch, cover, etc. Basically, a worst-case scenario.
Except for one thing: after the hottest summer, ever, we are having an unnaturally mild winter. Like, at the nearest airport, the low so far has been +17 F / -8 C with every day above freezing. 8)

First two photos show my Chammie, in the ground for several years.

After that, a couple of the Sabal "Lou" with the little Sabal minor NE Texas (from Amazing Gardens). In one, you can see the remnants of W's Washy robusta.

Then a Trachy.

Finally another Washy robusta.

Conclusion: Chammie, Sabal and Trachy do fine in zone 8b conditions. Washingtonia robusta do not. No surprise....

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1DdXqw9L3fcd8GV-1S198tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsit e"><img src=" " height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/108135750778677958260/PalmsJanuary2012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsit e">Palms January 2012</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_sge-0OZ2cvHnoPHni3PNtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsit e"><img src=" " height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/108135750778677958260/PalmsJanuary2012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsit e">Palms January 2012</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/24ZUm4jeHzLm0q7JOtgkytMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsit e"><img src=" " height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/108135750778677958260/PalmsJanuary2012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsit e">Palms January 2012</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6Q_GAY__JS5rbLbUBgKZ49MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsit e"><img src=" " height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/108135750778677958260/PalmsJanuary2012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsit e">Palms January 2012</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1seREKNNlQ4MWT37vEZMWdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsit e"><img src=" " height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/108135750778677958260/PalmsJanuary2012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsit e">Palms January 2012</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pUCVHnNF1OKD1r746OxtadMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsit e"><img src=" " height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/108135750778677958260/PalmsJanuary2012?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsit e">Palms January 2012</a></td></tr></table>

Then a windmill.