Local Realtor Speaks Out

CITY PLANNING FOR SANTA MONICA SHOULD NOT INCLUDE DESTROYING HEALTHY TREES. IT WASN’T COOL IN 1934, AND IT’S NOT COOL NOW.

It seems like the City never learns. If you look on www.SantaMonicaLandmarks.com you’ll realize that Santa Monica went through a similar tree crisis in the 1930s.

Many of our sensational trees were planted in the 1920s by Hugh Evans, a well-known Santa Monica Horticulturist in the early part of the 20th century. He was the proprietor of Evans Rare Plant Garden in Santa Monica and was well regarded in the field of tree care. Mr. Evans spoke at the first annual Western Shade Tree conference, held in 1934 at the Miles Playhouse in Santa Monica.

At the 1934 conference, Mr. Evans was critical of the fact that large old trees were being removed even then and emphasized the importance of retaining old growth trees. He further elaborated on the value of the Eucalyptus tree in the landscape, and discussed the advantages and limitations of new ornamental varieties then starting to be imported from Western Australia.

The conference was held in large part due to the efforts of Ed Scanlon, the City Forrester for the City of Santa Monica and Mayor William H. Carter, a supporter of City tree planting programs, who gave the opening address. The Western Shade Tree Conference eventually evolved into the western chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). The ISA is considered to be the premier organization in the field of Arboriculture.

Perhaps it’s time we hold another conference and figure out the best way to save our beautiful trees.

City planning should not include destroying healthy trees.

Jodi Summers
Sotheby’s International Realty
jodis@verizon.net