Misc. on the palm trees in Hollywood in AtD

[Paul Mackin]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Kohut" <markekohut at yahoo.com>
To: "pynchon -l" <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 9:55 AM
Subject: Misc. on the palm trees in Hollywood in AtD


>I read an article in a 2006 Raritan mag about the palm trees
> in Los Angeles. Really.

>
> Here's the thing: seems they have lived longer in LA than in the 'wild". 
> No one quite knows why. But, it also seems, therefore, they will all sorta
> die together soon enough.......becuase almost all were planted after WW 1 
> and during the early 20s---Lew's time there in AtD.
>
>
They seemed to mostly occupy the areas between sidewalk and street (in what 
they call "the parking"),  They grew very tall with denuded trunks and bushy 
upper areas. They would catch fire easily due to the dry desert climate  and 
the fire might spread to neighboring trees due to wind conditions. I recall 
upon a few occasions seeing perhaps a whole block of of them with  tops 
aflame--resembling a row of giant tourches.