NOW THAT'S A TREE HUGGER

I understand the sentiment. Who does not enjoy a sunset? A waterfall? A clear lake?

In fact, if I were going to participate in any green movement or protest, it might just be the date palm trees that we have in Phoenix.

It seems that there's a neighborhood with lush black date palms. I don't imagine I have the nomenclature right, but if it is black palm dates, it sounds like Black Prom dates, so I didn't want to confuse. These palms line the streets and are very rare. Not just in AZ, but in the world. Their fruit is considered a delicacy and sold at only a few places.

But the city is tired of trimming them three times a year. They offered to pay people for cutting them down. (It was similar to our HOA who asked neighbors to remove their queen palms and replant with Mexican fan palms or some other more suitable for our climate. We were some of the few neighbors who took them up on their offer.) But queen palms are everywhere. Planted here because of their inexpensiveness. They thrive around pools, but not much anywhere else because of our soil. Too much or too little acid; I don't remember.

But if you have a world class palm and the city wants to cut it, well I'm somewhat up in arms about it. At least I raised my wrists off the keyboard in protest.

I think arborists should unite though. What would the endangered animals people do? Well, there are lots of cases where protected owls, frogs, lizards, and birds have been spared at considerable cost. A whole lot more than tree trimmers being put out a little.

I know times are tough and probably going to get tougher for awhile. But let some common sense rule and not make this unkindly cut.