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Eagle’s Area Cleanup in March and April  - May 2004

Typical growth at the base of another tree.

Typical Eagle’s area tree before cleanup (above left)

 and a different tree after cleanup-up (above middle)

New monster mower used in the cleanup (right)

Work o the Eagle’s area in March and April included  taking out some of the pepper trees (considered a nuisance tree by the County and most environmentalists.)

Management Plan for Florida, Recommendations from the Brazilian Pepper Task Force, published in 1997, refers to the tree this way: “Brazilian pepper ( Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) is identified as a species that is widespread in Florida, and poses a significant threat to Florida’s natural areas.”

Special attention was paid to those pepper trees at the base of several of the tall pine trees.  Some pepper trees remain because of both the expense of removal and some residents living around the preserve like them because the block the view of  homes across the property.

Landscape staff hired by the LMA used a new technique to make the cleanup more efficient.  The new piece of hardware has a huge flat blade mower on the front capable of cutting at any angle from parallel to the ground to 90 degrees vertical.  It was still a multi-day project.