Palm Beach loses an old comrade

Tree-lover in Palm Beach, Florida, are mourning the passing of a century-old 90-foot banyan tree that was a focal point of the city's Society of the Four Arts chisel garden. The beloved tree had survived being struck from lightning, having roots cut away during sidewalk replacement, and being prun for power line intrusion, still fell to hypoxylon canker, a fatal and contagious fungus. skilled hands said the tree made other ficus tree and low trees vulnerable to the contagious fungus. Large limbs, united 5,000 pounds, crashed to the loam as the fungus spread fast and masters warned other ficus trees and low trees were in danger as wind spread the contagious fungus. As a memorial, officials said, a recently made known sculpture garden design is planned that will include three raised concentric circles planted with Majul palms and Canary Island date palms.

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