The famous Compo Beach palm tree (Photo/Dave Curtis, HDFAPhotography.com)
The Compo Beach palm tree, as seen through Amy Schneider’s glass lens ball …
… as well as the Compo playground …
… and the Ned Dimes Marina. (Photos/Amy Schneider)
Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day
Tagged Compo Beach palm tree, Compo Beach playground, Ned Dimes Marina
Last June, Westporters thrilled to the sudden appearance of a palm tree at — of all places — Compo Beach.
It was all a big — and very cool — mystery.
The next day, “06880” uncovered the story. Butch Izzo — whose Izzo’s Landscaping has a contract to plant trees around Westport — donated the palm. It replaced a different species that had died on South Beach, between the kayak launch and Ned Dimes Marina.
Parks and Recreation was not amused. But the public was. Quickly, Parks and Rec embraced — metaphorically, anyway — the unusual tree. It remained there, loved and admired and frequently photographed, until it was removed for the winter.
Now it’s back.
Or at least, a different palm tree is.
Butch Izzo and his crew planted it this morning.
The 2018 palm tree.
It’s there — presumably — for the season.
Last year, the palm tree was fun.
Now it’s a tradition.
(Hat tip: Tom Leyden)
Maybe it went south for the winter?
(Photo/Giulia Maiolo)
Tonight’s rainbow over Nash’s Pond… (Photo/Tricia Freeman)
… and over Saugatuck. (Photo/Amy Lamb)
Meanwhile, the sunset was spectacular as viewed from the Westport Library cafe… (Photo/Jo Shields)
,,, and on the river, with the Saugatuck Rowing Club … (Photo/Diana Kuen)
… in Greens Farms … (Photo/Jack Feuer)
… over Gorham Avenue …(Photo/Tom Cook)
… outside Staples High School … (Photo/Tomas Curwen)
… over Gray’s Creek … (Photo/June Eichbaum)
… and at Compo Beach. (Photo/Sarah Hock)
Posted in Beach, Downtown, Library, Pic of the Day
Tagged Compo Beach palm tree, Gray's Creek, Nash's Pond, Westport Library
Last night’s sunset, featuring the Compo palm tree — Westport’s newest icon. (Photo/Dave Dellinger)
When I posted yesterday’s photo of a palm tree that appeared suddenly last Friday at Compo Beach near Ned Dimes Marina, I thought it was just a cute little piece.
More than a dozen readers responded. Most loved it.
Charlie Haberstroh did not. The chair of Westport’s Parks and Recreation Commission commented:
Just to be clear, it was not planted by the Parks and Rec Department nor was it by the Tree Warden. Hopefully, whoever planted it will remove it and save the tree.
Boo!
One view of the palm tree … (Photo/Jaime Bairaktaris)
When I heard the back story (Butchie Izzo planted it as a replacement for a tree that died) — and posted it this morning — I figured folks would be amused.
Very quickly, over 40 “06880” readers added their thoughts. All of them love the palm tree. It’s fun; it’s quirky; it was done by a great guy, with a huge Westport heart.
Haberstroh heard you.
… and another. (Photo/Randy Christophersen)
A few minutes ago, he wrote:
Since the tree is a replacement for a tree originally planted with town authorization, we have decided to let the palm tree stand. It will replaced by Butchie by contract in the fall. Enjoy!
Yay!
Score one for Westport.
For Butchie Izzo.
And for our friends on the Parks and Rec Commission, who will hopefully enjoy our special palm tree with the rest of us, all summer long.
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