Weston Branch Has a Green Thumb

           
        Weston, FL, Letter Carrier Mike Felling saves a rare Copernicia Baileyana Palm.

In November 1998, the construction of the Weston, FL, Post Office was completed. The Post Office was open for business, but the lanscaping lacked trees. Letter Carrier Mike Felling wanted to beautify the grounds with a tropical look, and in 2002, received permission to plant a Copernicia Baileyana Palm.

“As a member of the South Florida Palm Society, I had a $25 bid on this baby palm at a rare palm auction at the Broward College Horticulture Center two years earlier,”said Felling.

Fast forward to 2015. A building was constructed to handle the extra equipment and mail volume for the new zone that was transferring to the Weston, FL, Post Office.  Before this construction took place, it would be necessary to relocate the Baileyana, which was on the site of the future building. 

The survival rate of this palm after transplant is “zero to slim,” according to Felling. Then Fort Lauderdale Officer In Charge (OIC) David Guiney wanted to engage Weston, FL, employees and approached Manager, Customer Services Duane Hunt about having employees vote on a new location for the palm.

The employees chose a location, and the transplant took place in July 2015.

“Within one month all the leaves were dying as the foliage turned brown,” Felling said. “We kept watering it anyway, and maintained specific nutrition mineral requirements on schedule.” 

Just as employees were about to pronounce the palm dead, new green shoots began to emerge in mid- September.  At seven feet tall, and now valued at $1,400, this palm survived the shock of the transplant.  This species of palm will grow to fifty feet tall.

“Being so rare in South Florida, the only place I have seen them is at Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Miami where they receive protection and care,” said Felling.

“The survival of this palm is due to the engagement of our emlpoyees, including Manager, Customer Services Duane Hunt, who initiated the action and oversaw the project to the end,” said Guiney.