Community Efforts and Non-Profit Initiatives Address Increasing Incidences of Falling Coral Trees
By Dolores Quintana
A magnificent coral tree that graced the median near Vicente Foods and Brentwood Presbyterian Church met a tragic fate on Monday when it toppled to the ground, as The Brentwood Community Council reported. Regrettably, such incidents are becoming increasingly frequent along Brentwood medians, attributable to various factors, including the advancing age of many coral trees.
This is the third coral tree down this year. A storm severely damaged one coral tree in January at San Vicente Blvd and Montana Ave. A second fell onto the road at Westbound San Vicente at Avondale on June 2, only two months ago.
A local non-profit organization with a commitment to preserving and nurturing coral trees has taken significant steps to mitigate the issue. Recent endeavors saw the organization arranging for the trimming of the coral trees, a proactive measure aimed at maintaining their stability. Moreover, their forward-looking approach includes nurturing a nursery with a specific focus on cultivating fifteen coral trees exclusively for the San Vicente median.
While these nascent trees hold promise for Brentwood’s future landscape, their current growth stage mandates patience. Despite the urgency, these young trees are several years away from attaining the maturity required for transplantation into the median.
