Trees replaced on Palm Drive amid fungus concerns

A city-contracted West Coast Arborists team made fast work Thursday morning of removing a large palm tree on the 4600 block of Palm Drive and planting two replacements.

Gonzalo Venegas, La Cañada Flintridge’s facilities and maintenance superintendent, said the 50-foot tall California palm was infected with the mushroom-like ganoderma fungus, which would have eventually damaged the tree’s ability to remain standing and was contagious to neighboring palms.

A nearby palm tree was removed months ago after having been found to have the same disease, which is why the work crew planted two trees last week.

-Joe Piasecki