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

[chamonix]

Way to go! Give yourself a big pat on the back. This just goes to show that one person CAN make a difference!!

This is the kind of thing that inspires me every day. I can make a difference. You can make a difference. Caring is not obsessing, LOL.

 

[montessori]

Originally posted by chamonix
... Caring is not obsessing, LOL.

Thanks guys.
I wasn't obsessed about the trees but I did care about the problems they pose to the environment, for reasons stated in all the previous posts.
I was willing to admit I was wrong, if I was wrong.

I knew they weren't Dahoon Holly trees, which is what one poster was sure they were from seeing some pictures on the internet while doing her research to prove me wrong.

I didn't have to go searching for these trees, the biggest one was right there as you walk up the bridge to go to Epcot from the Boardwalk.
The groundskeepers, who are NOT Disney horticulturists, didn't know what the trees were, which is what we thought.
Now, they know. They also know the trees have to be eradicated.
They didn't go on a "hunt down and destroy" mission just to make one "obsessed" Disney fan happy.
They got rid of the trees because the trees are BAD!

I'm not and I have plenty of other things to worry about.
I'm just glad that the few minutes it took me to send a letter actually made a difference.

 

[zurgswife]

Kudos ..... I just have to remember to look the next time I go back to the BWV...

 

[montessori]

We celebrated our 26th anniversary at The Boardwalk on Memorial Day weekend.
It was fantastic, as usual!

The Flower and Garden Show at Epcot was more glorious than ever!

BUT...that pesky Brazilian Pepper tree!!
The one huge tree on the walkway from The Boardwalk to Epcot was cut down.
The roots were left and now 4 new trees are growing around it!

the picture is hard to see but I thought I'd post it anyway.

We did see some groundskeepers on an early walk around the lake and mentioned it to them. One guy was aware that the trees are dangerous and are supposed to be eradicated, but he didn't know about the specific area we were talking about. (We were over by the Yacht Club at the time).
I'm just surprised that these guys can cut down a tree and then allow 4 of the very same trees to continue growing in the very same spot!
On the way to DW, we noticed an area along the turnpike where all the Brazilian Pepper Trees were dead but the other trees they were taking over were still alive.
There is a way to destroy these trees, just cutting them down and leaving the roots exposed doesn't work.
I guess I'll have to do some more research and let the Disney horticulturists in on it!

 

[Saffron]

This thread makes me smile! I'm glad it is all working out and I'm glad to see the thread have a happy ending. For a minute there I thought it was going to get as heated as the "shoes on in the house - shoes off in the house" debate!

It's a little funny and ironic that they cut down one tree and now four are growing in it's place. LOL!

 

[zurgswife]

I'll have too look for this in July....

 

[jfulcer]

They may just have to take most of the stump and roots out. Which may be difficult for them to arrange/schedule. Maybe they are going to do it during a scheduled refurbishment in the future??

 

[my3kids]

Cut down the tree then paint the stump with Round-Up.

But if those things would grow in the mid Atlantic, I just might bring some seeds home. I've got a utility 'thing" for lack of a better word that is in an easement behind our property. If these trees really grow like wildfire, I'll throw some seeds out there and let nature take its course.

 

[jfulcer]

Was just doing some quick reading on this plant.

Try here for a quite detailed document.

Multiple sources have said that simply cutting it down will not work, that the remaining roots produce sprouts to replace the original.

They have natural insect enemies, but Disney may not want to risk their other vegetation. That document recommends some herbicides to be applied to a growing tree, maybe recommend those?

This may be why they just cut down the main tree and will be back for the sprouts - because it's so hard to eliminate. At least they got rid of all the berries so birds won't spread it.

They would almost have to board it up and spray frequently with herbicides which they may not want to do.