Q&A -- Tropical Ireland?

Q. Tucked away in some distant memory is a photo of an Irish coastline area where palm trees grow! As I recall, a warming tide keeps this area most temperate. Does this ring a bell with you?

A. You'll find palms in the island nation's southwest, notably in the Ring of Kerry area, the most famous scenic drive in Ireland. The loop through wild country and charming villages encircles the Iveragh Peninsula. The drive usually starts and ends in Kenmare, south of Killarney. The mild climate that allows cabbage palms to grow is produced by the Gulf Stream that holds its warmth all the way across the Atlantic and even moderates the climate in parts of coastal Scotland and Norway.