Soon to be history: The Olive trees of Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

 Apparently, the Black Olive trees linking the median of Las Olas Boulevard are aging, wracked by termites, etc.  But they are beautiful trees.  All will be removed over the next two to three years in favor of the construction of a new road pattern. ("Las Olas tree — doomed by termites — to be chopped down Thursday," "Fort Lauderdale to bid farewell to beloved black olive trees on Las Olas," South Florida Sun-Sentinel).

Photos: Amy Beth Bennett, South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Shade is a valuable commodity in climate change scenario when temperatures keep climbing.  Especially in the hot climes of Florida.  Photo: Carline Jean, South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Unlike the majority of the Fort Lauderdale Commissioners, I don't think I would have voted in favor of the destruction.  The median will be eliminated in favor of wider sidewalks ("Famous tree-lined median on Las Olas needs to go, Fort Lauderdale commission agrees" ).

Highway departments don't like such urban design treatments because they see the immobile objects of big trees as hazards if automobile operators lose control and crash. Still they are a distinctive feature that is unduplicated elsewhere ("Take out trees on Las Olas and you’ll turn into Anywhere, USA, critic warns Fort Lauderdale").