Jodie WagnerPalm Beach Daily News
Each of the 121 trees in the town's historic and specimen tree program is old, rare or both.
Created in 1973 by the Garden Club of Palm Beach, the program helps to preserve the island’s beauty and connection to nature, said Richard Maxwell, the town's longtime arborist.
Maxwell inspects the trees in the program every year, and recommends pruning or other care.
Related: Historic and specimen tree list grows by two following council action
The program is sponsored by the Garden Club and administered by the town's Public Works Department.
"The Garden Club had such foresight all those years ago," Maxwell said of the nearly century-old organization, which lobbied the Town Council in the 1970s to enact an historic and specimen trees ordinance for tree protection purposes, and then assisted in identifying and documenting the trees.
"I didn't want to be a chemist. I wanted to be a tree guy. To have the opportunity to be the steward of the program is very unique."
Eighty-eight trees were on the town's first historic and specimen tree list in 1973, and that number has grown rapidly over the years.
Dozens of different species are currently represented, from live oaks and pigeon plums to sapodillas and weeping eucalyptus.
"This has tremendous species diversity, and it's an opportunity to protect some of these trees and showcase some of these trees," Maxwell said of the list.
The council designates historic or specimen trees at public hearings, but only with owner consent. Once a tree is on the list, it is recorded onto the property deed so the present and future owners are responsible for maintaining it under guidelines in the ordinance.
Maxwell, who has served as the town's arborist for 13 years, said the historic and specimen tree program is "doing great," and the overall health of the tree population on the island is better than it was when he first arrived.
Though all 121 of the town's historic and specimen trees are unique in their own way, Maxwell said, five in particular stand out.
Mysore fig in 100 years old
Mysore fig at 340 Royal Poinciana Way: This 100-year-old tree in the Royal Poinciana Plaza parking lot is "a testament to tree abuse tolerance," Maxwell said. The tree is surrounded by concrete and a curb and has no drainage, yet it continues to survive and thrive. "It's living in spite of us," he said. The tree is one of the largest, free-standing single canopies on the island.
Old Man Palm at Fours is about 50 years old
Old Man Palm at 100 Four Arts Plaza: This tree, located at the Garden Club Garden, is estimated to be about 50 years old. It is cold-sensitive and slow-growing, Maxwell said, and its trunk is covered by some of the leaflets of each frond that droop to form what looks like a thick beard. "In the Bahamas, kids braid the beard," Maxwell said.
Large Leaf Seagrape a small bush with big leaves
Large leaf seagrape at 141 S. County Road: Found at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-By-The-Sea, this tree is actually a small bush with large leaves that measure over 1 square foot, Maxwell said. The leaves stay rigid via match-head size "turtle shell" indentations. "What's cool to me is it's a little tiny bush with this really large leaf," he said.
Shaving Brush Tree now grows at 45-degree angle
Shaving Brush Tree at 1265 S. Ocean Blvd.: Located at Phipps Plaza Park, this tree was blown over in a storm, and it is now growing at a 45-degree angle. The bright green streaks that show through new bark at its base are actually chlorophyll, and are capable of photosynthesis, Maxwell said. "This is a miracleusually reserved for leaves," he said.
Green Buttonwood formerly at private residence
Green Buttonwood at 100 Bradley Place. In 2016, this tree was relocated to Bradley Park by barge from a private residence. It has a unique structure, Maxwell said, and it is an "excellent" host for native orchids. "This is a very cool, historic specimen tree," Maxwell said.
The Garden Club of Palm Beach was founded in 1928 and focuses on horticulture, the environment, conservation and civic improvements.
Its members maintain the Demonstration Gardens at the Society of the Four Arts, host two annual fundraisers, present a biennial flower show, and present programs for the club and the public.
For information, visit gardenclubpalmbeach.com/.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at thePalm Beach Daily News, part of theUSA TODAY Florida Network.You can reach heratjwagner@pbdailynews.com.Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
