Palm trees are one of Hollywood's most enduring celebrities but now their time is up
There are many icons in L.A., the Hollywood sign, Sunset Boulevard, the Santa Monica pier and, of course the beaches.
But nothing captures the city like its tall, swaying palm trees. Like toddlers taking their first steps, palm trees lurch from side to side. But it looks like their time in this corner of the world is coming to an end.
According to a report in USA Today this week, that icon is going to be replaced by...oak trees.
The reason is simple - oak trees provide more cooling shade than palms and improve air and water quality. Forget about image it's all about the environment. Critics say palms aren't real trees - they don't help the environment, they crowd out native growth, and pose a hazard when sick.
USA Today quoted Paula Daniels who is heading up L.A.'s new program to plant a million trees over the next five years. "We're looking to drive environmental change," she said. "Palm trees are not part of what we will be targeting to achieve these environmental benefits."
Here in the city, many of the tall palms that line streets and adorn postcards are dying of old age or being chewed up by a deadly fungus. The city has no budget for palms - a mature one costs anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 (USD) - and that coupled with disease have made them less desirable.
I know that the palm isn't native to SoCal. I know that most of them were planted in the early 20th century and then again ahead of the 1932 Olympics. I know that environmentally it's the right thing to plant oaks and yet....and yet... palms are one of the things I love most about living here.
I miss Canada's snow, I miss when the leaves turn and I miss maple trees. In some ways I've been able to transfer my affection to palm trees. Some are spindly and look like carrot tops while others are chunky and all beautiful in their own way.
I suppose it comes down to survival of the fittest. Even though palm trees are a celebrity in this town - I've lost count of how many times I've seen tourists in Santa Monica grinning as they pose for a photo beneath one - they've been around for a long, long time. It was only a matter of time before their star lost its shine.
