IN EXCESS

You know times are hard when ordinary, stable folk start talking about pulling up roots--from their gardens. A recent Palm Latitudes item that mentioned brokers who buy and sell palm trees prompted an avalanche of letters and phone calls from people with payments on their houses and palms in their gardens. They wanted names and numbers. Well, we aim to please so . . . in L.A. County, there’s Valley Crest Tree Co. (818) 899-1100 (in Orange County (714) 240-3321) and in San Diego County, Living Tree Movers (619) 749-8830. But before you pick up the phone--or a shovel--keep in mind that the seller must foot the bill for the tree to be pulled up, transported and inspected--not an inexpensive process. And, as the recession deepens, prices for trees are dropping. But if you think that all that stands between you and financial salvation is 15 feet of Phoenix canariensis , and you’ve already got a plan for the gaping hole that will be left in your yard, heck, go for it.