Columbia Off-Topic

[Captain Worley]

Bradford pear trees are horrible trees for roadside plantings. I hope they plant something that will last. USC should really take queues from the Horseshoe, and plant more oak trees around campus. It takes a while for them to mature, but its well worth it in the long run. As for the median, anything will be better than a bradford pear.

Why are they so horrible for roadside planting? Do they not take well to that environment? I love the looks of them.

[Spartan]

They're just crappy trees. I don't care for them because they are so low in height. They are no good for creating a canopy. They a very fragile trees- it doesn't take much of a storm to mess them up. The only good thing about them is that they are pretty in the spring when they bloom.

[emerging.me]

They're just crappy trees. I don't care for them because they are so low in height. They are no good for creating a canopy. They a very fragile trees- it doesn't take much of a storm to mess them up. The only good thing about them is that they are pretty in the spring when they bloom.

they are also an invasive, non-native species, are they not?

(and they smell like fish when they bloom. ew.)

Edited July 20, 2007 by emerging.me

[BrasilnSC]

Yes, they do stink. The ones on Rosewood must go too. They have to trim them so much (for trucks and buses), that they look ridiculous.

[BryCola]

Yes, they do stink. The ones on Rosewood must go too. They have to trim them so much (for trucks and buses), that they look ridiculous.

Hmmm...it's interesting to see all the hate for these trees. I actually love them.

[BrasilnSC]

I don't hate them, they look beautiful when they bloom in the spring. But, I think they are not a good choice for medians. Like Spartan said they are easily damaged and have a low canopy (which requires lots of maintenance and blocks drivers views).

[Spartan]

Exactly. I don't hate them either. They are prefectly good trees in the right setting. Lining medians is just not one of them. They are one of the big mistakes in the past. They came to be populat areound the same time as pedestrian malls and the international architecture style.

[emerging.me]

Exactly. I don't hate them either. They are prefectly good trees in the right setting. Lining medians is just not one of them. They are one of the big mistakes in the past. They came to be populat areound the same time as pedestrian malls and the international architecture style.

I *DO* hate them!!!! Haha.

[digital_sandlapper]

they are also an invasive, non-native species, are they not?

(and they smell like fish when they bloom. ew.)

Bradford pears are also beautiful in fall--their colors are a knock-out. However, they are not well-suited as a street tree for tight spots like the median of Blossom Street, get battered by storms, etc. They are non-native, but not too invasive, fortunately.

Bottom line: there are better choices, and I think USC knows this. Glad to hear they are implementing a master landscaping plan! I think waccamatt had the best idea for this narrow spot: plant palmettos. They would not interfere with passing vehicles, wouldn't block the view, and would look so impressive.

[Ellen]

I like the median plantings on Gervais in the Vista. Beautiful.

Bradford pears are all clones, from what I've been told. Maybe that's why they drop huge limbs so easily. The ones on Sumter along the sidewalk at M Cafe have seen better days too. Should be replaced.

[BrasilnSC]

I was mistaken about the Bradford Pears along Rosewood, they are actually white crepe myrtle's. Either way, they have done a lot of trimming to the low canopy of these trees, resulting in a weird shape.

[krazeeboi]

You guys may be interested in this thread.

[CorgiMatt]

Recently there were postings on one of the forums about the Blossom Street median between Sumter and Pickens. I have looked all over the place and can't find it. Can someone please transfer this post to that forum if you can find it?

Anyway, the pear trees are gone, the irrigation hose has been laid, and Waccamatt, you got your wish! They are planting tall palmetto trees between the crepe myrtles in a staggered fashion. Instead of placing them evenly just across the wrought iron fence from each other, they're placing them diagonally.

Whether you're going up the hill or down it, that stretch is going to be a majorly beautiful drive with a tropical effect.

Good choice, Waccamatt

[waccamatt]

Thanks Corgi, I noticed them over the last couple of days and they will be a beautiful addition. One of these days I will replace the awful Sweetgum trees in my front yard with Palmettos and Maple Trees. The Sweetgums provide wonderful shade, but the gumballs are an annoyance - you can't rake them or mow them and they get caught in the gutters.

[emerging.me]

Thanks Corgi, I noticed them over the last couple of days and they will be a beautiful addition. One of these days I will replace the awful Sweetgum trees in my front yard with Palmettos and Maple Trees. The Sweetgums provide wonderful shade, but the gumballs are an annoyance - you can't rake them or mow them and they get caught in the gutters.

I swear sometimes I think people steal ideas from this board! Haha. Which is good, I guess because we are awesome. Ha!

Oh man... have you ever been hit by a sweetgum ball that the lawnmower sends flying?!? Not a good feeling. Ouch! Haha.

[emerging.me]

Hey, if you guys haven't checked out the Columbia area with the birds-eye view feature on maps.live.com, do it now. Very sweet!

[krazeeboi]

Pretty cool!

Now if only some of those surface lots would disappear...

[Hybrid0NE]

Hey, if you guys haven't checked out the Columbia area with the birds-eye view feature on maps.live.com, do it now. Very sweet!

Damn You. I thought I'd get to break the news after I stumbled across the Columbia birdseye after mapping an Atlanta address with it. It's pretty widespread (I didn't expect) everything from Downtown, Sandhill, Little Mountain and Lower Richland.

[803metlife]

Has anyone seen the commercial for Kevin Bacon's new movie Death Sentence....If you haven't please check it out....You can see different shots from around Columbia . I also saw a USC sign in the commerical where he's jumping off a parking garage downtown....

[803metlife]

I found the website for the movie and you guys can check it out yourself.....There's more than plenty of different shots of downtown Columbia.... I can't believe they pulled it off....Columbia going for Boston... Anyway here's the site Death Setence The Movie Offical Site

[krazeeboi]

I could recognize part of Columbia's skyline in the part in the trailer where the car went over the parking garage. Cool.

[Skyliner]

Thought you all might like to know about this new resource regarding the Gamecocks. TheBigSpur.com It's that time of year once again.

[krazeeboi]

Richard Florida of the "creative class" fame will be in Columbia next month to speak to the annual meeting of EngenuitySC and to the board of New Carolina, South Carolina

[Captain Worley]

Here's a trivia question. The paper said today that the Louries in Woodhill Mall closed in 84, but I could have sworn there was a store in that location until at least 1990. What replaced Louries at the opposite end from Richway/Gold Circle/Target?

[Spartan]

There is a good article in The State today about the history of Melrose Heights. Definitely worth a read.