![[collage of palms]](g/palmsup.gif)
![[B+W palms]](g/wanda.gif)
The Canary Island palms (Phoenix Canariencis) are such a natural part of Market Street now that it's hard to remember the ugly green fence they replaced. Bonnie Ng from the Department of Public Works helped develop the contract with MUNI to buy the trees as part of the "F" Line or Upper Market Street Transit Thoroughfare Project. "The palms from Castro to Church came from people's yards on the Peninsula. Those from Church to Dolores came from the Sacramento area. Homeowners were glad to get our offer to remove them. After 25 or 30 years of their 300+ year life span, they had become too large and people wanted to get rid of them." Each tree cost the DPW $3,000 and were guaranteed for two years. The palms were trimmed and cleaned to make them uniform and tied up to conserve water they might have lost in transport and during the early months in their new location. Those trees which suffered trauma during planting were replaced and all now are doing well.
Palms were chosen because instead of obstructing, they enhance the views, they don't interfere with the MUNI lines, they're drought resistant and easy to maintain because they don't shed leaves. They are actually a form of giant grass so do not have branches that people will climb on and damage.
![[Phoenix Canariencis]](g/canary.gif)
Artists, photographers and tourists started painting and photographing them as soon as they were planted. The trees have won several local and national awards. Some complained that the palms cost too much at a time when many worthy causes go unfunded. Berenice Palmer wrote to the Chronicle, "This is regarding Herb Caen's complaint against the Upper Market palm trees. As I walk my city, occasionally dropping quarters into outstretched palms, I need uplifting palms as well for myself."
