Westport Embraces Its Palm Tree

Posted on June 30, 2017 | 28 Comments

Perhaps the last photo of our new palm tree:

(Photo/Susan Saracena)

Then again, if we keep figuring out new ways to honor it, I’ll keep posting them.

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28 responses to “Westport Embraces Its Palm Tree”

  1. Bobbie Herman | June 30, 2017 at 5:05 pm |

    Everyone seems to love it. Can it survive?

  2. John Krause | June 30, 2017 at 5:15 pm |

    Change the camera angle, add some characters dressed-up as Skipper and Gilligan …
    😉

  3. Mami Varghese | June 30, 2017 at 5:43 pm |

    Looking good!

    On the way home today, I passed the parking lot of the Minute Man Cleaners and saw two work men with a small truck and a palm tree. They were shoveling soil into what looked like a large metal pot – perhaps getting it ready to plant somewhere in Westport –

    The first Palm Tree was so popular so – a second Palm tree for Westport?

  4. Joe Livecchi | June 30, 2017 at 5:46 pm |

    leave the palm tree up!!!!

  5. Scott Smith | June 30, 2017 at 5:48 pm |

    Dan, how ’bout a view of it from a drone?!

  6. Michael Don Sullivan | June 30, 2017 at 5:52 pm |

    Mami! Great idea! If I am correct in thinking it would be nice to see more palm trees arrive.Just seems fun!

    • Mary Cookman Schmerker '58 | July 1, 2017 at 5:32 pm |

      Red right return home to Cedar Point! So many wonderful sailing memories. In this picture the red buoy looks a little close to shore. Perhaps it’s just the angle.

  7. Buell Neidlinger | June 30, 2017 at 6:24 pm |

    love seeing those nun buoys once again, having sailed or motored past them in both directions thousands of times, going in and out of the old Cedar Point
    yacht basin. many good memories… thanks Jane and Nick for moving to Westport in 1938. always remember: red right returning !

  8. Peter Hannan | June 30, 2017 at 6:54 pm |

    I didn’t check with Butch but I am pretty sure the palm was not acclimated. Years ago the wealthy coastal residents would find mature trees in a southern growing zone that they liked. The trees would be transplanted and put on a barge. The process could take several years as the plants might have wintered in GA, SC, NC, Maryland and then the final destination Long Island sound. After a respite in each zone for a winter or more they continued their way north. The process allowed the trees to harden off and adjust to new climate variances each season. The process is similar to the recommended way of acclimating a live Christmas tree. First move to the garage for a few weeks, then to the house for a few weeks and then back to the garage for a few weeks and then to the last stop outside.
    If the palm becomes a beach icon then perhaps a solution for overwintering is a commercial container or box. Palms do not have much of a root system so a 4’ high 4.5’ circular container would work well. The height would protect it from cars, boat trailer etc. It could be easily moved in event of storms or change of location. It could be stored in a town facility for the winter and then reintroduced each spring. I made similar recommendation for the new trees on Main Street as an alternative plan.
    So as they say “where there is a will there is a way” and always keep smiling.

    • Bobbie Herman | June 30, 2017 at 6:57 pm |

      I wonder, though, if it can withstand salt water. Many trees near the Sound died during Hurricane Sandy when salt water swept over them.

  9. Debbie Wilson Hoult | June 30, 2017 at 7:16 pm |

    Global warming comes to Westport……

  10. Cathy Romano | June 30, 2017 at 7:32 pm |

    I love all the attention the tree is getting. Who wrote Westport around it Love that too.

    • Melissa Wilson | June 30, 2017 at 10:23 pm |

      My husband did that today! We had a ton of Florida shells from Shell Island that were unused and he got creative.

  11. Nancy Hunter | June 30, 2017 at 7:35 pm |

    Palms do best in zones 8-10, so if southern CT is zone 7 it could survive…
    It still will end up in the shredder, though. Disposable.

  12. Carol Mata | June 30, 2017 at 8:09 pm |

    I love Peter Hannan’s description of how to plant and take care of a palm tree in CT. My Westport born son (ok – Norwalk Hospital) now lives in Fairfield and is nurturing 2 palms and 2 banana trees. Supposedly, the palms will live in the garage over the winter and the banana trees (fibrous and not edible) are cut to the ground at the end of the summer and grow again to 15 – 20′ every summer! The photos of our Westport tree (especially the night-time reflection) are delightful!

  13. Frank Spero | July 1, 2017 at 8:39 am |

    hang a few coconuts on it

  14. Mary Anne Liesner | July 1, 2017 at 11:02 am |

    Climate change is taking it’s toll in Westport. >

  15. Tracy Ashley | July 2, 2017 at 10:57 am |

    Oh my gosh, a Palm Tree in Westport, CT? It does not be long here and looks completely ridiculous. And why? Because we are not Florida or California(thank God) or every other state that has Palm trees. All of CT and the New England area is beautiful as is. Palm trees don’t thrive here for a reason. I am embarrassed by this mistake.

  16. Rob Bolandian | July 2, 2017 at 12:03 pm |

    Plant more.

  17. Elaine Marino | July 2, 2017 at 2:17 pm |

    If you want to learn more about palm trees in our area, read the WTNH article below:

    http://wtnh.com/2017/04/24/fairfield-man-brings-florida-palm-trees-to-connecticut/

    • Nancy Hunter | July 2, 2017 at 6:03 pm |

      Good to know. How, though, do you know that your tree is the original that you bought? Trying to fool a child with a new goldfish? Either way, some things aren’t meant to be (waste).

  18. John Krause | July 2, 2017 at 2:33 pm |

    We’re going to need a Palm reader pretty soon
    yeah, that was bad… beatings begin at 3:00
    😉

  19. Brandon Hall | September 5, 2017 at 12:24 pm |

    CTpalm.com provides a lot of these palm trees! We have them at The Black Duck as well! We also did an event at the polo club 2 weeks ago! We love palm trees in Westport!! http://www.ctpalm.com for info!

  20. Brandon Hall | September 5, 2017 at 12:27 pm |

    and thank you Elaine for posting the news article! I appreciate that! It was a fun experience!