one might say that palm trees are to el lay as, say, potatoes are to idaho...neil diamond even sang about los angeles as a place where “palm trees grow and rents are low” (remind me to ask neil who *his* landlord was!) however, the long-time symbol of classic southern california landscape is slowly being phased out as the trees are dying from fungal disease and old age. the city is replacing the sick palms with oaks, sycamores, and other native species with greater environmental benefits such as shade cover, air-pollution trapping, and wildlife habitat (although i know that owls nest in palms...and rats too!).
although we're not going to wake up tomorrow to a palm-less city, it is likely that our treescape will continue to be altered through the million trees initiative launched earlier this month 'cause palms didn't make that the cut for that either. (via msnbc)
i am quite happy with the push for natives as i don't consider palms more than ornamental picks (remind me to tell you about the thumb-numbing work i did at the american academy in rome carving model-bound trees from toothpicks!) and crave streets lined with real trees like the ones that they use up north...you know, ones with leaves and stuff!
image titled "transition 5 ( sunrise )", 2006,
by my incredibly talented friend and local venetian kenny littlejohn harris
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