The Division Street Palm
July 19, 2006
The Division Street Palm was originally located on the southwest corner of the Division Street overpass to Texas Highway 360 in Arlington Texas. Classified as a Washingtonia Filifera or California Palm, the tree grew to massive size on a steep slope surrounded by bridge pavement and railing, a light tower, highway sign, and wires above. The ground at its base was littered with large slabs of concrete and other debris. The original planting of the tree and how it survived and grow to this size without care is a mystery.
I first noticed the Division Street Palm while driving north on Texas Highway 360 on my way home to Carrollton from the University of Texas at Arlington. After entering TX 360 from the Abrams Rd. ramp I caught a glimpse of the tree to the west near the Dicvision Street overpass. Subsequently I explored for the tree and found it adjacent to the Division Street overpass. After my discovery I changed my normal route to the University and used the Division Street ramps to and from TX 360. This way I could check the condition and admire the tree each time I went to the University.
May 10, 2009
July 16, 2006
During the long hot dry months of North Texas I would carry five gallon buckets of water, in the early morning hours, from Carrollton to the tree for irrigation. California Palms, not native to North Texas, have been included in landscapes at selected locations in the DFW area. How this tree could grow to this size without irrigation, adjacent to a busy highway overpass, dodging maintenance crews, on a steep slope littered with debris, and crowded by surrounding structures, in the harsh North Texas climate has always filled me with wonder and motivated me to transport water for irrigation of the tree.
The Division Street Palm was located adjacent to a busy highway in an industrial/commercial area, with an automotive assembly plant and railroad yard just to the south, far removed from regular care or irrigation. The trunk of the tree was adjacent to the overpass pavement and railings and fronds from the tree were enveloping a light pole just to the northwest and approaching wires above. To the west a freeway sign blocked views of the tree from cars eastbound on Division Street. South of the tree was the steep slope rising to the overpass.
May 10, 2009
October 15, 2009
Conditions at the base of the trunk were also less than ideal. Large slabs of concrete were embedded in the soil and concrete debris surrounded the trunk at the base already crowded by the adjacent light pole and overpass concrete. Perhaps the concrete waste was an indicator that the Division Street Palm had survived an earlier round of construction or had somehow found a space and grew among the ruins?!
Looking west from the overpass one gets a sense for the promenance and isolation of the tree in an area of heavy traffic flow. This was a key factor in saving the tree as key supporters knew of the unusal tree and would regularly enjoy seeing it when passing through the area (including the author). The Division Street Palm continues to add new supporters and admirers at Carrollton Rainforest Pool location.
May 10, 2009
September 19, 2009
A view of the Division Street Palm in Arlington looking north from a position just south of the Union Pacific railroad overpass reflects the tree canopy among signs from business neighbors to the north. Over the years the tree was blasted by howling, frigid, north Texas winds followed by the blistering heat that accompanies north Texas summers.
In the early Fall of 2009 the Division Street Palm seemed helpless and doomed by the approaching overpass construction. The author contacted a number of government and private organizations and included images and information about the plight of the Division Street Palm with the hope of getting ideas on how the tree might be saved. Unfortunately this solicitation did not generate any helpful interest.
September 19, 2009
October 15, 2009
A ray of hope emerged when Jacquielynn Floyd, Dallas Morning News Columnist, responded to my email on October 8 and then called to arrange a meeting at the tree in Arlington on October 15, 2009. On October 15 Jacquielynn Floyd met the author at the tree accompaned by a Dallas Morning News Photographer. Jacquielynn collected information to write a story about the Division Street Palm at that time and which was published in her column on October 16, 2009 entitled: "Man's Rooting for Tree he Found on Highway."
The day after publication of the Dallas Morning News article the author received a call from Lorri Dennis, Arborist for the city of Carrollton, TX with an offer to move the tree to Carrollton. Lorri and Robert Hafkesbring, owner of Carrollton tree contractor The Tree Place, were familiar with the The Division Street Palm and had a plan to move the tree to the Carrollton Rainforest Pool. The stage was now set for the redemption of the Division Street Palm. Lorri Dennis and Robert Halfkesbring coordinated planning activities for the move to Carrollton with TXDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) who had jurisdiction over the Division Street Palm and adjacent property. The date for the move was finally set as December 11, 2009.
October 15, 2009
December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009 was a chilly, overcast day. Texas Dept. of Transportation (TXDOT) had already removed the massive debris that previously existed around the base of the tree and was assisting with traffic management to facillitate transplanting activities. The Tree Place (Designs in Nature) started early removing years of old fronds for access to the trunk and base of the Division Street Palm, carefully hand digging around the base of the tree for excavation of a substantial root ball, and staging equipment for the removal and transport. Jacquielynn Floyd and Lorri Dennis were both there to provide support.
December 11, 2009
The professionals from The Tree Place (formerly Designs in Nature) started early carefully excavating a root ball. Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) had already cleared all debris from around the base of the tree including massive slabs of concrete. TXDOT was also managing traffic flow for the move and closed the south eastbound lane of the Division Street overpass. Tree Place staff positioned heavy equipment, including a large fork lift, in the closed lane for the removal and move.
In a remarkable display of ingenuity, and skill Robert Hafkesbring of The Tree Place operates a large fork lift, connected to the tree with a strap, to remove The Division Street Palm from the steep overpass slope. The tree is lifted over a bridge railing, beneath wires, and around a light pole into the eastbound lane of the Division Street overpass to Texas Highway 360.
December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009
Robert Hafkesbring transports The Division Street Palm to a staging area southwest of the overpass. The next step was to load and secure the tree on to a flatbed trailer for the 25 mile drive northeast to Carrollton, TX and the Rosmeade Rainforest Aquatics Center.
Texas Department of Transportation helped again by applying on-site heavy equipment with a fork attachment to load The Division Street Palm on to the Tree Place (formerly Designs in Nature) flatbed trailer. Note the pipe on the back of the trailer that is wrapped in burlap and designed to support the upper trunk of the tree and hold the fronds (palm leaves) above the road surface. This is another example of the innumerable issues The Tree Place professionals had to consider to complete the move.
December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009
The massive weight of the tree bent the originally horizontal support pipe on the back of the trailer downward but the frame held.
The tree was buckeled in and readied for the journey to Carrollton where there was still much work to be done. Farewell to Arlington! Please see the "Moving Day" image gallery for additional photos of the Arlington Texas Division Street Palm Tree removal and efforts by The Tree Place and TXDOT..
December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009
The Division Street Palm arrived at the Rosmeade Aquatics Complex in Carrollton, TX ready for planting. Lorri Dennis, Carrollton City Arborist, and Jacquielynn Floyd, Dallas Morning News Columnist, watch in the background. The tree had yet to endure a tulmultuous ordeal during uprighting and placement in the planting hole.
The Tree Place staff, who planned for every detail, had already dug a planting hole in the black Carrollton clay soil; the address of the new home of The Division Street Palm. The plan was to lift and maneuver The Division Street Palm into the planting hole with the Bobcat.
December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009
Robert Hafkesbring applies a Bobcat to move the tree off the trailer to a position adjacent to the planting hole.
Robert initially tried lifting the tree into the planting hole with a strap attached to the tree trunk and the Bobcat fork.
December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009
He next tried pushing the tree into the hole with the Bobcat using bags of mulch to prevant damage to the trunk from the Bobcat fork. Note how the front wheels of the Bobcat liftedf off the ground trying to upright the massive tree. A number of us in "tug-of-war" fashion pulled on a strap attached to the trunk while the Bobcat pushed on the opposite side.
Robert then went back to using the strap attached to the tree trunk and Bobcat fork in a different configuration. During the uprighting operation the tree crashed to the ground several times. This proved to be the most difficult obstacle in the overall moving plan as so far none of the approaches using the Bobcat alone worked to upright the tree in the planting hole.
December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009
Chad Hyde, a supervisor with the Carrollton Parks Dept. responsible for the Rainforest Aquatics complex, watched the struggle to upright the tree and ordered a loader to assist the Bobcat in this operation. A strap was attached to the loader bucket arms and the Division Street Palm trunk. The Bobcat pushed on one side while the Carrollton loader pulled the strap on the opposite side and finally the tree rested in the planting hole.
Seeing the tree upright in a new Carrollton home gave all of us present a great feeling of hope and exhileration after the tulmultuous uprighting ordeal.
December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009
The Bobcat and loader continued to support the tree while the professionals from the Tree Place filled the gap between the root ball and planting hole boundary with soil and mulch.
It had been a very long day but workers from The Tree Place completed the transplanting operation with additional procedures. Concrete piers were poured in the ground to support wood braces for stability during north Texas winds and storms and allow for root system redevelopment. Steel bands were wrapped around the tree, separated from the trunk by steel bands, for attachment of the braces.
December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009
Finally the day was done and the move completed. The Division Street Palm enters the first night in a new Carrollton home in a tranquil park setting. Soon after the move The Tree Place returned and wrapped the trunk in burlap then wound old style Christmas lights around the burlap outer surface for warmth during freezing winter temperatures.
Seeing the tree upright in a new Carrollton home gave all of us present a great feeling of hope and exhileration after the tulmultuous uprighting ordeal.
December 25, 2009
February 27, 2010
Finally the day was done and the move completed. The Division Street Palm enters the first night in a new Carrollton home in a tranquil park setting. Soon after the move The Tree Place returned and wrapped the trunk in burlap then wound old style Christmas lights around the burlap outer surface for warmth during freezing winter temperatures.
Robert initially tried lifting the tree into the planting hole with a strap attached to the tree trunk and the Bobcat fork.
March 28, 2010
April 25, 2010
Finally the day was done and the move completed. The Division Street Palm enters the first night in a new Carrollton home in a tranquil park setting. Soon after the move The Tree Place returned and wrapped the trunk in burlap then wound old style Christmas lights around the burlap outer surface for warmth during freezing winter temperatures.
Robert initially tried lifting the tree into the planting hole with a strap attached to the tree trunk and the Bobcat fork.
October 30, 2010
March 11, 2011
Finally the day was done and the move completed. The Division Street Palm enters the first night in a new Carrollton home in a tranquil park setting. Soon after the move The Tree Place returned and wrapped the trunk in burlap then wound old style Christmas lights around the burlap outer surface for warmth during freezing winter temperatures.
Robert initially tried lifting the tree into the planting hole with a strap attached to the tree trunk and the Bobcat fork.
September 2, 2011
July 26, 2012
Finally the day was done and the move completed. The Division Street Palm enters the first night in a new Carrollton home in a tranquil park setting. Soon after the move The Tree Place returned and wrapped the trunk in burlap then wound old style Christmas lights around the burlap outer surface for warmth during freezing winter temperatures.
Robert initially tried lifting the tree into the planting hole with a strap attached to the tree trunk and the Bobcat fork.
December 7, 2012