AboutDavid Somerfleck Expertise I can answer just about every question about West Palm Beach, FL and it`s surrounding areas, having lived here for several years now. I`m intimately familiar with its business climate, weather, housing, employment issues, and most else.
Experience I have experience as a journalist, editor, and teacher.
Question why is it illegal in florida to plant or have a tree with leaves? or fruit? or one that provides shade?
Answer Gail,
You know, I'm not sure if I know the exact answer to this, since I lived in West Palm Beach for several years as an average "working stiff," not as a botanist or lawyer. However, that being said, I did work in West Palm Beach as a journalist, and I do recall covering a story in the area just on this topic. I don't know if I can dig up that story to reference for you, but if essentially had to do with this exact problem. People come to Florida from all over the world to retire or visit. They end up bringing exotic animals and plants with them; ones that often are predatorial toward native plant and animal species. The canker bug is a very serious problem in Florida, so I imagine this is a superficial answer to your query. If I can find the article that further explicates this, I'll write back and/or post it.
Most trees with leaves or fruit, would fall under the exotic category and would probably choke surrounding plants, since the battle for water and nutrients is so fierce for plants in a subtropical region like Florida-especially with droughts and monsoon rains and hurricanes. Most plants/trees dont' get tall enough to ever provide shade...
