A Nuisance Tree Grows in Disney World (LONG POST) June UPDATE

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by montessori
You're joking, right?

Do you really believe that Disney World had the desire to acquire a permit to plant a noxious, non-native weed that will proliferate and cause great harm to Florida's natural environment and wildlife?

"I may be reading it incorrectly, but, I believe they can have this plant. Disney has their own waste water plant." GAIL HAYDEN

Why would they want it??
Did you read anything I posted about the dangers of this plant?

The Brazilian Pepper Tree poses a GREAT threat to Florida's unique and fragile ecosystem.

There are hundreds of agencies, university programs, restoration projects, even special "Pepper Tree Assault Teams and Task Forces" dedicated to the eradication of this NOXIOUS and harmful WEED.

So, Disney World decides they want to plant some??

Even Eisner's not that crazy.



Thanks for your input, chamonix.

I read what you wrote, I also read other very informative articles on this plant. I did not say they did, I suggested they might.
Did you read my post? I did not state anything except a possibility. I did not try to play Devil's advocate or any other thing, I looked up the plant and the rules and put them out for discussion. Sorry you thought it more than that.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I did some research and I will be interested in what Disney says, but, I do believe this is NOT a Brazilian Pepper, but, a Dahoon Holly, which is often mistaken for the Brazilian Pepper.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I do believe this is NOT a Brazilian Pepper, but, a Dahoon Holly, which is often mistaken for the Brazilian Pepper.

They look the same to me. I guess there may not be a horticultural disaster after all.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Bojangles
They look the same to me. I guess there may not be a horticultural disaster after all.

Lets hope that is what it is. And, if it is, I am very happy that people let Disney groundspeople do their jobs.

 

[Serena]

I'm sure someone before now has noticed that tree and has said something to disney about it. Either they know what they are doing, or perchance they missed it, whatever.
Let disney know what you saw or thought you saw and then let it go. They will handle it as they see fit.
The suggestions for vandalizing disney property because someone thinks they know it's a bad tree is not the answer.

 

[montessori]

Thanks for the interest and research.
I would be happy to learn that this is indeed a Dahoon Holly, but I'm 99% sure it is not.
I showed my husband a picture of each tree side by side and he knew which one was which immediately. There's no doubt in his mind that the tree is a Brazilian Pepper Tree and he is usually very good at recognizing trees and plants.
We've had pepper trees sprout in our own yard. We have taken great care to make our yard and gardens ecologically friendly, only planting trees and plants that are native to Florida and are drought resistant. It's called "zeriscape".

I am not OBSESSING over this tree growing in DW.

I AM interested in protecting the environment...
that's a crazy concept isn't it?

It took only ten minutes out of my busy life to write a letter and mail it to DW. I can spare that for something I happen to feel is important.
If the tree is what we think it is, I trust that it will be removed from the property.
We love DW and vacation there 5-6 times a year, we've been doing so for almost 20 years.
It's a pretty perfect place, but it's not perfect.
Even DW makes mistakes.
Cutbacks in maintenance have affected all of WDW over the past few years.

If the tree is something else, and no threat to the environment and wildlife...well, that's all the better!

I'll gladly "let it go" when the issue is resolved.

We don't plan on vandalizing Disney property and won't be packing a chain saw on our next trip!

I'll post what I find out, and I'll say "We were wrong" if we are wrong.
If we are right, I'll be glad that my small efforts helped protect something I care about.

 

[PamOKW]

Isn't it possible that Disney did not plant this but that it was growing there, spread to the area naturally? The whole BW area was an untouched wetland for many years before the BW was built.

I'm guessing that your e-mail will be forwarded to the horticulture folks at WDW. I'm hoping they will call and discuss it with you. I'm guessing they are aware of what it is and they may have some explanation to offer as to why it hasn't been removed. Next time you're there, you might try giving them a call to help alleviate your concern. I wouldn't recommend that anyone take landscaping into their own hands. As Gail points out, it is possible to make a mistake and destruction of property is something Disney will not take lightly.

 

[PamOKW]

I just did a quick Google search on the topic and the very first article was from National Geographic last August. An interview with Disney's horticulturist mentions how they are working to remove the Brazillian Pepper from Disney property. I'm sure someone will be happy to discuss the plant you found.

National Geographic Article

The paragraph about nuisance plants is down a bit in the article.

 

[Deb in IA]

Interesting article, Pam.

Good to know the experts from Disney are on the case.

 

[montessori]

Pam,
Thank you for the link to a very interesting article.
I never doubted that DW horticulturists are aware of the danger pepper trees pose to Florida's environment.
What I figure MAY have happened is that the particular groundskeeping crew who have been working on this one particular area are not recognizing the tree as a Brazilian Pepper Tree.
Which is what we think it is.

I do not think it was planted there. I believe it grew from a seed dropped by a bird.

Anyway, we are going back in a couple of weeks and, if I haven't heard anything by then, I'll check into it in person.

And just so everyone understands...
we have no intention of cutting down the tree.
We aren't vandals, just residents of Florida who care about our environment.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by montessori
Pam,
Thank you for the link to a very interesting article.
I never doubted that DW horticulturists are aware of the danger pepper trees pose to Florida's environment.
What I figure MAY have happened is that the particular groundskeeping crew who have been working on this one particular area are not recognizing the tree as a Brazilian Pepper Tree.
Which is what we think it is.

I do not think it was planted there. I believe it grew from a seed dropped by a bird.

Anyway, we are going back in a couple of weeks and, if I haven't heard anything by then, I'll check into it in person.

And just so everyone understands...
we have no intention of cutting down the tree.
We aren't vandals, just residents of Florida who care about our environment.

But you really are not OBSESSING about this, right?

 

[PamOKW]

Montessori, I didn't think that you would take a hatchet to the tree (you would have done it already if that was your goal). But, the suggestion came up along the way in this thread and I just think the rule of thumb for everyone should be not to touch or pick anything.

I really hope you get to talk to someone. You have such an interest that I think it would be fun for you to hear how they handle this. And, of course, we'll all love to hear what the verdict is on the plant!

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Don't you people know that there are hidden reasons for these plants existence in certain locations!

They actually use the Kudzu as a secret communication system for the government!


Let me state for the record that , I am not crazy! I actually read some science fiction novel where they used these invasive plant species as some type of futuristic, communication device to infiltrate certain areas. No, I really don't believe it!

 

[montessori]

Originally posted by Eeyore1954
But you really are not OBSESSING about this, right?

That's right, Steve.
I wrote a letter, I emailed it and snail mailed it.
Taking steps to try to correct a problem is not obsessing.


There are others here who are dedicating a lot more time to this subject than I am!
And they don't even care about the tree being there!

Just WHAT ARE THEY obsessing about??

 

[montessori]

Pam,
Thank you for your nice replies.
I am curious how this is going to turn out and I will certainly post the results.
As I said in a previous post, I'll gladly admit if we are wrong about the tree.
If we are right about the tree, and it's gone soon, we'll be very happy.
We'll just have to wait and see what happens next.

We have a 3 night weekend at AKL coming up later this month!
THREE WHOLE DAYS to hunt down pesky, noxious, non-native vegetation growing at DW!!!
WOO-HOO!!!

 

[jaysue]

I too will be non-native vegetation hunting as well

thanks
jaysue

 

[montessori]

I had a message on my phone from Joan in Disney Guest Relations a few weeks ago.
She was very nice and sounded genuinely grateful that I had taken the time to write about the Brazilian Peppertrees.
She asked me to call her back and I finally did last week.
(I've been busy)
When I spoke to Joan, she said the letter had been passed on to the right people but she wasn't sure what the outcome was.
She told me she would send along another copy of the letter and ask for a reply.

She just called me!

She said that the groundskeepers have been on a mission to hunt down and destroy all the peppertrees on the property.
They didn't get them all on the first go around, and had to go back and destroy more of them.
She said this was a direct result from my letter and she was really happy to tell me that my letter made a difference.

I will see for myself when I go on Memorial Day weekend!!

 

[PamOKW]

What timing! The other night I was thinking I should try and do a search and see how this turned out. That's great! You were right and by taking the time to pursue it, you helped out WDW. Congratulations on your sleuthing and thank you for your follow-up!

 

[Dan Murphy]

That is great, montessori, people like you, sticking their necks out a bit, are who make such a difference in the world. Great.

And again, good wishes are with you and the building.

 

[Aprille]

Thanks for the update. I've been wondering how this all turned out. Please continue to keep us posted.