Missing palms return to Sonoma housing development

After an 18-month sojourn on a nearby lot owned by the Vailetti Family Trust, several large Canary palm trees have been dug up once again, and carefully replanted – hopefully for the last time – within the new Fetters Apartments complex in the Springs area.

Though no human residents have yet taken occupancy, the palm trees appear to be doing fine.

“They are beautiful and happy to be back home,” says Scott Johnson, director of housing for MidPen Housing, which built and will manage the new facility. MidPen employed arborists and specially trained tree-movers to relocate the trees when construction began in June of 2015. The triumphant replanting took place in early January, with special pains to make sure the trees survived the trip.

“It definitely was an investment,” says Johnson, “but it was worth it. There are also gorgeous oak trees on the site. It’s going to be a beautiful community.”