The NMB Tree Board’s March 2022 Trees of the Month are a grove of Bald Cypress trees along a wetland on 5th avenue south in North Myrtle Beach. Once upon a time, 5th avenue south was a very hilly dirt road that climbed up and down what was known by NMB natives as “Roller Coaster Hill”. Over the years, the steepness of the hill has been softened but the low lying wetlands have been saved, as has their drainage and water filtering potential. The trees were nominated by Mr Bill Davis who lives in Palms 5th Avenue neighborhood which has grown up along 5th avenue south. Davis has lived in that area since retiring to NMB from southern Maryland in 2007 and, since then, he has served on the Palms’ HOA as member, President, and, most recently, Vice President. He and the HOA express appreciation for the developer and the City having preserved the wetlands and the trees when the area was developed in 2002. It is that appreciation that led Mr. Davis to nominate the trees for Tree(s) of the Month.
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is native to the Carolina coast where it thrives in poorly drained wetland soil. These trees require relatively low maintenance and can grow to 100 feett tall and 30 feet across. Their leaves are lime green in Spring turning to darker green in Summer and finally to reddish brown in Autumn before they fall.
Anyone interested in nominating a tree for Tree of the Month or in learning more about trees in North Myrtle Beach is encouraged to contact the NMB Tree Board at 843-280-5571 or nmbtreeboard@nmb.us