Pretty or 💩?

We recently posted this POD, asking what you think about Bradford Pear trees.

"This street shot in Shandon is beautiful – but the trees pictured: some say not so lovely. They’re Bradford Pears, and people have a lot of feelings about them. This trending Greenville News op-ed on the “evil” trees says that they are an “environmental disaster” due to cross-pollination – rallying for people to cut down the trees. According to USA Today, they’re “structurally unstable” and consist of “bad smelling flowers.” So *that’s* the smell we keep sniffing in the Vista…

What do you think – love your Bradford Pear tree, or down for cutting them all down? 📩"

...and you answered. (We told you people have a lot of feelings about these trees.)

Here's what some of you said:

"I agree - the bad smell is overwhelming. I'm glad I don't live close to this street." -Elfi

"The roots go everywhere and sprout shoots all over the yard. The branches will break to look at them. The office park where I work (SCRA/Carolina Research Park/Farrow and Parklane) is full of them and in the wooded areas, lots have sprouted and have "reverted/gone wild". It's these that have 3"-4" "thorns" on the limbs that I swear will puncture a tire. I cut ours down about 2 years ago (so did the neighbor across the street). About 40 years ago I lived on Wheat Street (2700 block) and the trees I remember blooming there were the dogwoods. Compact tree, beautiful blooms in spring, filtered shade in summer, gorgeous fall foliage, slow growing, long-lived. The snow white blooms juxtaposed with the red and pink azaleas and purple wisteria was what made springtime in Shandon my favorite time of year." -Buzz

"Chloe, This is my opportunity to perhaps prevent a new generation from butchering crape myrtles. ( Don't get me started!) On Bradford Pears, I agree they are not good sturdy trees and having a choice, should not be planted, but my heart lies in stopping "crape murder". On the Clemson edu website you can find - how to prune crape myrtles - why people think they should "top" them and why those reasons are incorrect, etc and it shows great photos comparing the ones hacked off as opposed to properly pruned. These are beautiful TREES( not shrubs) summer AND winter if allowed to be trees and not hacked off so that they are simply gnarled stumps until the few months they bloom. It's better to just leave them alone altogether than to cut the whole top off as seen all over this wonderful city. Please! Even the crape myrtles on 277 going into Cola on to BullStreet, which could provide a nice tree lined corridor, have been cut. Doesn't the state/county have a horticulturalist or arborist?? See I can't stop! Help me spread the word." -Robin

"They’re evil and should be wiped out. Some of my worst allergy days are while they’re blooming. I completely agree with your aunt Robin on crape murder! It’s brutal treatment on such beautiful trees." -Elizabeth

Southern Living also says "I just hate Bradford Pears..." but "don't touch the crepe myrtles!"

Keep your opinions coming, Cola.