Bonita banyan could become biggest in a town square
And the city is planning a tribute to its predecessor
The president of the Bonita Springs Historical Society wants to extend a branch all the way to Hawaii. Derek Botana says the Bonita Springs banyan tree on Old US 41 would become the largest banyan in a town square in the United States if the one in Maui does not survive damage from the recent fire.
“It would just be an offering of goodwill,” Botana began. “We both have a love of banyan trees in Maui and in Bonita, and what a great offering to build a relationship with that city.”
The banyan tree in Lahaina on the island of Maui was severely damaged during the massive wildfires. If it does not survive, Botana wants to offer them a clipping of the Bonita Springs tree. He recently brought the issue before Bonita City Council where members debated the idea for more than 30 minutes before voting unanimously to send it to the tree advisory committee for further research.
“I already reached out to the Hawaiian department of agriculture and they said they would embrace a cutting,” Botana explained. “They just have such a love for their tree, and I know a lot of Bonitians love the banyan tree as well. I can understand the pain the people of Maui feel. I know how it would feel if our tree caught on fire.”
Councilman Chris Corrie presented the idea during the last council meeting.
“Should the Lahaina tree be destroyed or dead as a result of the fire, Bonita Springs will have the largest banyan tree of any town center in the United States,” Corrie began. “So, the Bonita Springs Historical Society, as an act of compassion, suggested that we should send a cutting of that tree over to Lahaina at an appropriate time in recognition of their loss. Hopefully they won’t have a loss, but if they determine their tree will not survive, we will provide a cutting from our tree so they can start another tree.”
“I think it is a very nice gesture,” said Councilman Jesse Purdon. “But I think it is way, way, way too early. They are still doing search and rescue for bodies. If you think about Ian, we had nice, well-intended people sending us a lot of crap we didn’t need. Not that this is crap they don’t need, but at this point this is probably not a priority for them. It is a very well-intended thing, but I don’t think it is helpful to them at this juncture. In general, it is a great idea. As a concept it is nice and it is thoughtful.”
Corrie stressed that it is not something Bonita Springs would do immediately. He said the historical society just wants approval so, when the time is right, they can make the offer.
Purdon said the committee will come up with recommendations of how it would all work if the city offers a cutting. They would look at everything from how the cutting would be made, to who it would get sent to, to whether the city or the county would make the actual offering. Then council will have a final vote.
“It could be a very nice gesture when and if those dots are connected,” Purdon said. “Let them get through the recovery, and when that it appropriate, we will start the process of seeing what that will look like.”
The Lahaina banyan is considered the largest banyan tree in the United States. It began as an eight-foot sapling that was planted on April 24, 1873, to mark the 50th anniversary of the town’s first Protestant mission, according to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation. The tree has grown to more than 60 feet, spans 1.94 acres and has 16 main trunks. It is a landmark in the courthouse square in Lahaina.
More than 115 people are now confirmed dead from the Lahaina fire and dozens are still missing. The blaze destroyed more than 2,200 buildings and caused more than $6 billion in damages. In an interview on KITV, Arborist Steve Nimz, a consultant to Hawaii’s lead arborist, said the historic Banyan is currently like “a person that is in a coma.” He and his crew found live tissue on all the tree’s 16 main trunks, and some low sap flow.
Botana says the Bonita Springs tree spans one-fourth of an acre. While there are many that are larger, such as the tree at the Edison Home, he found that after Lahaina, it is the largest in a town square.
Charlie Strader, past president of the Bonita Springs Historical Society, says the Bonita banyan has a great history.
“It was planted by Cordele Smith, he lived down the road with his aunt, and he was a very unique character in town,” Strader described.
The tree was originally on the corner of Bonita Beach Road and Heitman Avenue (now Old 41). When that area was slated to be developed, Smith didn’t want to see the tree killed. So, in 1921 Smith apparently carried the tree 2.5 miles on his back and planted it in its current location which was beside a pavilion and a social hub of the community. It sparked the phase “meet me at the banyan tree.” The historic tree on Old 41 Road between Childers and Reynolds Streets, is the second oldest banyan tree in Southwest Florida. The oldest is at the Edison Ford Winter Estates.
Strader supports the idea of sending a clipping to Hawaii if the tree there does not survive.
“The historical society has always been really community minded,” Strader said. “I think Derek is trying to carry on that tradition.”
Botana has been a longtime advocate of the Bonita Springs banyan tree. He is leading the effort to have it become a focal point in downtown Bonita. He would like to see the tree lit at night. He also envisions benches near the tree and a walkway around it. He hopes to host cultural festivals and events under its large canopy. Botana says he just loves banyan trees.
“Just the human aspect of it,” he stressed. “They are called council trees. They are called gathering trees. I think a lot of people in Bonita would embrace offering a cutting of tree as goodwill. You just feel it in your heart.”
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