By DAVID ROGERS
Daily News Staff Writer
Copyright 2006 Palm Beach Daily News
Preservation consultant Jane Day is investigating ways to perpetuate the Australian pines on Wells Road in a way that minimizes the foreign plant's ability to spread and crowd out native species.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission recently gave Day approval to research ways to install new Australian pines along the scenic vista as old trees die.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection prohibits the planting of Australian pines. The invasive, exotic species uses lots of water and crowds out native plants. It also has a shallow root system that is vulnerable to high winds.
Since 2000, the state and federal governments have worked together to eliminate Australian pines and other exotic plants from the Everglades and other public preserves and parks.
Day said the Town of Gulf Stream has gotten around the Australian pine ban by having its stretch of State Road A1A designated a state scenic highway. Gulf Stream has gotten permission to replace dying trees with a sterile variety, she said.
According to Floridata.com, a Florida plant and nature reference guide, grafting non-seeding species of Casuarina onto non-suckering C. equisetifolia rootstock "might yield an acceptable non-invasive plant" for salt barrier hedges.
"If they can do this grafting of these sterile varieties, that might be a good solution so we can have the historic look without the destructive characteristic of the Australian pines," Day said.
The consultant said she was encouraged to study the issue by landmarks Commissioner Judy Wells Hoffman, who told her podocarpus is not a suitable replacement for the pines on Wells Road.
Day prepared the report that led the town in 1996 to designated the 50-foot Wells Road right of way a scenic vista. The report's cover featured an old postcard showing the trees on the street several decades earlier, she said.
Town staff has reported that some of the trees date to the 1920s. At that time, the state encouraged towns to plant Australian pines to prevent erosion, Day said.
"The rationale was they held in the sandy beach soil. They were a recommended plant in beach-side communities," Day said.
The state has long since reversed its position.
"It's not like we want to plant Australian pines in other segments, at new construction in town," Day said. "We only want to plant them along Wells Road as they die. It's a replacement strategy."
Day said she plans to talk soon with town horticulturist Joseph Ugi to determine what state contacts she will need to complete her research and make the project legally feasible.
Landmarks Commissioner Wendy Victor said she supports the idea.
Victor said recent trimming near power lines on North County Road has reduced the "lovely" overhang of banyan trees on that road.
"I think this is such a shame but, if we are going to lose North County, at the very least, let's keep the Australian pines," Victor said.
