Ailing Italian stone pines slated for removal along East Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-A type of tree planted along streets and gardens and parks around the world is struggling along Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara.
Italian stone pines are a designated street tree in Santa Barbara.
But neighbors, including Maha Masoudi, have watched them fall following rainy days in March.
"We see the tree fall down on the car it was big tree like this we say wow maybe this the age of this tree is maybe more than 100 and it is sad, too sad for this I think it is better to keep all these tree for environment," said Masoudi.
Another fell, too, and several required emergency removal.
Now, the Santa Barbara's Urban Forestry staff is preparing to remove 5 more that are considered a threat to public safety.
The removal along the 300-800 block of East Anapamu will begin June 3rd.
The trees being removed have shown signs of decay.
Lab tests show they have a root rot called Phytophthora and Diplodia tip blight in their canopies.
Their botanical name is Pinus pinea and they are native to the Mediterranean region.
They are also known for edible pine nuts.
Neighbors love their canopies that appear to reach out and touch over the cars traveling up and down Anapamu St.
Susan Champion grew up enjoying the tree-lined street and now she walks under them with her baby boy.
"I know they have to take them down, but I really hope they plant something else," said Champion, " By the time he is growing up I want him to experience the street the way we were experiencing it."
One of the largest stone pines is right in front of Mickey Cornish's home.
"They are overgrown, they are dangerous," said Cornish, who has offered to donate money to replace them with more mature trees rather than seedlings.
The Historic Landmarks Commission, Street Tree Advisory Committee and Parks and Recreation Commission will all be involved in the process of deciding what to plant in their place.
