The majority of the droopy trees are cypresses that were recently planted as part of the Master Lakefront Landscaping plan aimed at restoring the flora along the Lakefront that was destroyed by Katrina.
“We lost 10 to 15 big cypresses and about eight big oaks that were over 100 years old,” Mayor Eddie Price said.
 Fall'€™s come early for some of the cypresses recently planted along Mandeville'€™s Lakefront. (Staff Photo by Chad Ruiz) |
The latest was the tree installation project where $50,000 in grant money was used to purchase and install 100 trees of varying species across the 1-mile swath of land frequented by hundreds of people every week.
When the project was first proposed and the contract awarded several weeks ago, city officials wanted to wait to install the trees, most measuring eight to 12 feet in height, until fall when conditions would be more suitable for the plants to survive their first few years of life. But in order to be reimbursed, the plants had to be in the ground by July 31.
The city understood the shock the trees could undergo if planting occurred during the heat of the summer so they filed for a deadline extension, but to no avail.
To compensate for the inhospitable conditions, officials chose to use potted trees, which Price said would fare better then earth-grown trees.
The installation of the trees was completed several weeks ago and today several of the cypresses have turned brown.
Officials are reluctant to say the trees are dying and instead, they said the trees are simply in shock.
“Some of the cypress trees have turned orange but we’ll just have to wait and see what happens,” Price said. “We’re watering them everyday.”
To alleviate the fears of Lakefront residents, Price said that thanks to a three-year maintenance agreement any tree that dies would be replaced by the contractor.
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