Here's an example on a pretty grand scale. Every winter when we hava a severe storm around here, all the local TV stations have reporters somehere on the area (New Jersey shore, and Long Island, New York) beaches, leaning into the howling wind, with the rain or snow pelting them in the face. Many times you can see, in the background a big ole dead palm tree.
Here's what happens. Each spring, some shore towns and beachfront businesses (and even some wealthy individuals, for their own homes) buy Queen palms in Florida and truck them up to plant on the beaches. They usually use Queens, because they grow fast, and are cheap. At the end of the season, they just leave them there. The winter kills them, and they plant new ones in the next spring.
Here's a picture of a 25 - 30 footer, taken at a Florida nursery trade show, last year. The man said I could have it for $50.00, and they could get about 40 of 'em on a truck. The transportation would run about $70.00 each, so the total would be about $120.00 each.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Here's a picture from the current website of a shore restaurant/beach club/amusement park.
[IMG]
[/IMG]