It took nearly four years for the city to process the paperwork, but a former La Costa Canyon High School student has won city heritage tree status for the iconic Canary Island date palm at Moonlight Beach.

Source: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/encinitas/story/2023-08-05/moonlight-beach-palm-tree-wins-heritage-status

Legend has it that Father Junipero Serra planted California’s first new palm, a date palm, in 1769, in what is now Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

Source: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/visual-arts/story/2023-06-04/san-diego-cityscape-making-a-case-for-palm-trees-in-california-landscaping-and-urban-planning