Most Loved, or Most Reviled?

Anna Maria certainly has its share of polarizing issues, but perhaps none with such possible long-term consequences as the battle over "native" vs. "non-native" plant species. Pictured here are two of the contested plants, a carrotwood tree in the foreground, and a big Australian Pine a little further back. I'll tell you right up front that mom and I LOVE these two shade-producing beauties, but some people will send us hate mail for saying that!

Certain influential individuals on the island would like to see all non-native species cut down and placed in the shredder, in large part because they feel that Anna Maria should go back to its original appearance as a Gulf Coast barrier island, filled with palmettos, cabbage palms, seagrapes, and other native species. They want to keep Anna Maria looking like itself, rather than have humans try to turn it into something that it was never intended to be. We can't argue with that desire...we want to keep the unique beauty that is Anna Maria, not see it turn into Key West. And we love their work; if you want to see great examples of native plantings, all you have to do is visit the Sandbar Restaurant, the Anna Maria City Hall, and Mrs. Chiles' beautiful art gallery at the corner of Gulf & Pine.

However, we agree with Thomas Edison when he arrived at what would be his new winter home on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River in Ft. Myers. Found in its native state, it was HOT! He planted a host of exotic species to bring shade to his family's winter headquarters, and many of them have been thriving for almost 100 years. They've withstood hurricanes, blights, and freezes, and have left the landscape enhanced, not endangered.

Non-native species that would be destroyed? Those beautiful Royal Poincianas just finishing their June bloom, all citrus trees, frangipanis in all their lovely hues, and our beloved Australian Pines and carrotwood trees. We hope people will start thinking this through, before the shredder gobbles up all of these Island treasures.