[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6478910,"mediaKeyId","5707703-528aa9da4d43b62e2319937a1f7c45bd","parentId",5707703,"title","Tree board approves pilot wildflower seedings for selected retention ponds","audioSeconds",319,"startMs",2680339,"endMs",3000000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707703-528aa9da4d43b62e2319937a1f7c45bd&start=2680&end=3000","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707703-528aa9da4d43b62e2319937a1f7c45bd/thumbnail_2680339.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6478910/Wellington/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Tree-board-approves-pilot-wildflower-seedings-for-selected-retention-ponds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478910-219c674b24165949de34a6cd7462ed1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770497872&Signature=LKEB7DDxN0YF6xDAVDeCE7q2eqSmcLZQZeK-W65iIcWXdGsWj8o92jPEB2BD6JwrN3xj0k~giVGn84LVKuMC4YuUpgAZJli7wZ2mSPYOLEwHPAn0hvp0mckBeYZCjs5qnxzxwvb1qPSALCSLvxpCBUU~C83pPjjGfbFrPkt7kVSBufm~KKRiLV0uyOW3s-sLn1vMJMrOkXNnR053FB7SJv0M-9vOY61HMYMC3IbbOX0GHw0UlESokXwSs6QS7SuHh-zJz7ey6mHs9j6MFksmh-o1~~ad8HYGKMY1CoM6hD6BlM4tAVlBFls9ykaNTiz5EeMl7fiahW4SDRjbk4mvAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wellington","date","2025-09-03T00:00:00Z","article","The Tree Board discussed and approved moving forward with a pilot to seed wildflowers at selected retention-pond sites and roadway crossings.

Staff and board members identified specific locations for seeding, including retention ponds near Paddock; the C-9 canal crossings and other small pond locations where they would be visible to passing drivers and pedestrians. A board member recommended limiting initial plantings to areas that receive public exposure and are less likely to be mowed frequently.

Seed mixes and native content: members noted commercial seed mixes may not be 100% native; board members recommended procuring the most native-rich mix available. One member suggested ordering seeds by November so they establish prior to the rainy season. “If we get the seeds down by, you know, November, it'd be good,” a board member said.

Maintenance and visibility: members discussed the risk that wildflower beds can appear weedy if not maintained and agreed to pick visible test sites and coordinate with maintenance crews to allow seasonal seeding, letting plants set seed before mowing on a managed schedule.

Next steps: staff said they will order seed mixes that are the most native-appropriate they can source, seed selected ponds in late fall, and monitor results in spring to decide on broader rollout.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wellington - Tree Board on 2025-09-03 2:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Board members agreed to test wildflower seed mixes in several retention-pond crossings and roadside pockets where visibility and maintenance are manageable, aiming to seed by November and monitor maintenance/mowing impacts.","taxTitle","Wellington, Palm Beach County, Florida","taxId",8863,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478913,"Board debates replacement options for aging Washingtonia palms, flags safety and maintenance costs",322,577640,900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707703-528aa9da4d43b62e2319937a1f7c45bd&start=577&end=900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707703-528aa9da4d43b62e2319937a1f7c45bd/thumbnail_577640.jpg","/articles/6478913/Wellington/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Board-debates-replacement-options-for-aging-Washingtonia-palms-flags-safety-and-maintenance-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478913-cf0ad300ae26b21743d04a834cd8f37b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770497872&Signature=ZGy2~hzwrslCAMoD4YuPc8HECijy4dMPPqfkaM8TtIXXdz3eW3qL5XtlgosfMGQTtcw3zkq3ggzw-arLsS768Y11FWJFwwnwFN2WYKrm4tUlb7RGuCL2xfBs1LvWBPQcKsBdk~Nnqoxow19JAXHBDQvRPoQPv9yiV9sTHaVC4ql~cMLdzZlbMoRe88gIt~ZY5VyCzBoG97HHDhvSk4FDgtuHJIMa21sXHG6gTiBOHJ16k1fKk394L4e8xUfKn1ED-iPrKmh4w86YqKSe6DjSf5BHtARt62BNXCMOyi25~9lx2vJ8OLw0yQdZEmOxRIg~6eOExRA8HBr8NrO72l80jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tree Board discussed plans for several Washingtonia palm removals and options for replacement, balancing community preference for a palm-lined look with worker safety and maintenance burdens.

A board member asked about a line in the removals spreadsheet showing five removed palms and noted they had not been replaced. The public-works staff member said several Washingtonias had been struck by lightning over the past year or two and that the palms are “coming toward the end of their lifespan.” The staff member said the palms “get to the height where they're hard to maintain” and that staff has not been replanting them to date.

Some members urged care before any removal. “Please let us know about that plan before any action is taken because that is a very sensitive subject,” one board member said. The staff member recalled past community objections when palms were removed for a pathway-widening project and suggested the board might prepare artist renderings and a public plan before replacing palms.

Replacement options and maintenance: board members and staff discussed alternatives, including shorter or slow-growing palms such as ribbon palms, groups of sable palms, or hardwood shade trees to create more canopy. One board member said ribbon palms “would look nice,” while staff cautioned certain palms still grow tall and can drop hazardous fronds or boot “boots” that require removal.

Safety concerns: staff raised worker-safety and public-safety issues with very tall Washingtonias, noting a point when palms “get to be a point when Washingtonians get dangerous, not just for the public, but for the people who are working on them.” The transcript includes a cautionary remark that tree trimmers are sometimes killed when extreme failures occur; staff and members framed that as part of why replacement timing merits careful planning.

Next steps: staff said they would develop a replacement plan with renderings and discuss timing and community engagement before widespread removals or replantings.","Board members discussed several Washingtonia palms damaged by lightning and age, community sensitivity about removing iconic palms, replacement options (ribbon palms, hardwood canopy), and long-term maintenance costs and safety risks for workers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478917,"Tree board targets outreach, prizes and HOA mailings to boost Flower Award participation",1422,952500,2375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707703-528aa9da4d43b62e2319937a1f7c45bd&start=952&end=2375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707703-528aa9da4d43b62e2319937a1f7c45bd/thumbnail_952500.jpg","/articles/6478917/Wellington/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Tree-board-targets-outreach-prizes-and-HOA-mailings-to-boost-Flower-Award-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478917-d2f0c80e323bbb4a78187aff9e7ffe8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770497872&Signature=GwAUS7cloja9HEuVLpgG9Wv1jubgc5RzTSsqg1pXd7kkrgFXWsV52JcDAa6wFbhUgf7HWYa4mRuGf32wQL~CEjiUtVoB9GAScRy0cLfBl8wi7nLK~uPy3ji69PSqpeTjMuktvTh9ZL66xuzjE~-wixhzlBRHxyh41Kd6RDVERKeyHPfIl-afFvb5yBdpD00YJoRKE1wrzJ2I4~fTRMgRK1oDOeca7rBGijtfrXE01RXSAdnRTwbsXVPWY4rqXTe6WJ9IUQQhJYFU9TLBpYamYimqbomV73xDjzPpPKZCYA~TGwt7qm6H-wq53HQpKCFoLhoSzNsN~PzHeYjW8rnSvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wellington Tree Board spent an extended portion of its meeting on strategies to increase participation in the annual Flower Awards, including outreach to gated communities, Chamber of Commerce coordination, and offering prize incentives to encourage nominations.

Board members discussed using paid advertising in The Town Crier or a free editorial-style write-up. A board member offered to prepare a write-up and said she could include the application form and suggested running it in November or December to meet the program timeline.

Deadlines and process: staff and board members confirmed the submission deadline is Feb. 21, with the board scheduled to vote at the March meeting. “The deadline’s the February 21, and then you need to vote on that at the March meeting,” a staff member said. Because the review window between the deadline and the March meeting is short, board members discussed adding a special meeting if application numbers are high.

Gated communities and HOA outreach: the board discussed ways to include gated-community properties that historically have been excluded because they are not easily visible from public streets. A board member observed that if applicants make arrangements to allow board members to view properties or provide guided access, those properties could be considered. The board discussed mailing application information to HOA contacts and property managers and confirmed the city holds a list of HOA contacts used for other communications.

Incentives and legal limits: the board explored offering a prize — a demonstration-sized tree or a gift certificate from a native-plant nursery — to winners. A staff member cautioned about legal limits on spending public money for private-property improvements: the village could deliver a tree or provide a gift certificate but should avoid directly installing a tree on private property without confirming legal permissions.

Community engagement: board members suggested earlier and broader outreach via the village electronic newsletter, Chamber of Commerce contacts, HOA newsletters and the Garden Club’s networks. The board set a goal of increasing community and business nominations and noted that if many applications arrive the board can convene an extra meeting to complete scoring and voting.

What’s next: staff agreed to explore adding the write-up to the village newsletter and to provide the board with HOA contact information so members can directly share application materials with associations.","The Wellington Tree Board discussed boosting nominations for the Flower Awards by earlier publicity, paid or editorial placement in The Town Crier, HOA mailings, involvement of the Chamber of Commerce and offering prize incentives such as a tree or nursery gift certificate. Deadline and voting timelines were clarified.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478921,"Wellington tree board pushes large plantings, seeks grants and readies canopy study",2409,80534,2490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707703-528aa9da4d43b62e2319937a1f7c45bd&start=80&end=2490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707703-528aa9da4d43b62e2319937a1f7c45bd/thumbnail_80534.jpg","/articles/6478921/Wellington/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Wellington-tree-board-pushes-large-plantings-seeks-grants-and-readies-canopy-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478921-4ed267f762441929222c42a0108222cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770497872&Signature=ocGoRRuXjTPblxjqFl8DLujIF8Yh~vt6hq3ty8zbRyl9bH6fkF2tU2Hms63UAltuNU81Ny1DeNKc4D-WgC8lwpJcMWR1GTyEUT4ruR0XicWH8stkVkFIX1sxmV4xKzvVFTlE-X6wd8X2RVvr4yUSmRYL4jt94Z75xhfBC-SJ8VP~AhcpeAdzjPMzkC13Ebti5Tm4x6tbmPHeP6U0W0MKq9Wtzz9X~v97ZBQBYbq~Q~~Y5SFq-k8G12Td7lq9GJkjZHwigVQnMZhg3CoPd2ZmdybKFXN5afVdTcPp8N3KoF2D-cGVrMdxLOSomJq5fb7TIT6NszPsAU2NuQT5CWn9Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Village staff told the Wellington Tree Board that they have applied for several grants and set village funding aside to support large-scale plantings in newly acquired preserve land and other public sites.

A staff member said, “I’ve just applied for a $350,000 grant from the Arbor Day Foundation to put another, almost 800 trees out there, similar to the ones we planted with the last couple of grants we got.” The staff member also said the village has budgeted “$250,000 of village money for next year for planting out there too.”

The board was told the village is pursuing smaller grants as well. “The 2 grants I’m working on now, 1 is a $50,000 grant to plant more trees. And that 1 is 1 of the hurricane relief grants,” the staff member said. Another staff remark noted the village completed three Arbor Day Foundation grants and is pursuing additional funding sources through the U.S. Department of Agriculture programs.

Why it matters: the planting program and forthcoming canopy study will shape where the village targets shade and storm-resilience plantings and how public dollars are spent. The staff member said past large grants — “when they pulled the funding, for that $750,000 worth of tree installations, it kind of set us back a little bit” — affected planting schedules and prompted new grant applications.

Details and schedule: staff said the planting spreadsheet in the meeting packet has been updated to include the Big Blue project, plantings at the Moncada property (the new Moncada section adjacent to the Stoneman Douglas Preserve), and plantings in the village. The board was told the village is aiming for “1,100 pines” in the September planting with the Garden Club at the Stoneman Douglas Preserve extension, and that a separate September planting will add about 145 trees once the council approves a $50,000 grant. The staff member said the $350,000 grant would fund “another, almost 800 trees” of full-size 10- to 12-foot material if awarded.

Canopy study and next steps: staff said a canopy assessment was just approved and is expected to be complete by January. “The deadline is January for that. So we should have that done here in the next couple of months,” the staff member said; the study will provide baseline data staff said they will bring to the board for future planning.

Volunteer event and outreach: the board announced a large volunteer planting on National Public Lands Day in September. A Garden Club representative invited members and their families to a community tree-planting event at the new Moncada section of the Wellington Environmental Preserve, scheduled to begin with a photo shoot at 8:30 a.m.; volunteers will plant roughly 1,000 South Florida native pine seedlings and staff said planting holes will be pre-dug.

Caveats and funding uncertainty: staff warned federal and USDA-related grant pools have tightened. “It was pretty tight for a little while, but they’re starting to free up a little bit of money,” the staff member said, adding the village expects smaller award sizes than in past years and plans to submit multiple applications.

What’s next: staff said once the council approves the $50,000 grant, staff will schedule the September planting and update the tree-board planting spreadsheet at the December meeting to reflect September numbers.","Village staff described multiple grant applications and village funding to support large plantings at the new Moncada section and elsewhere, and said a canopy study due in January will inform longer-term planning. The board also announced a Sept. tree-planting volunteer event on National Public Lands Day.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tree board approves pilot wildflower seedings for selected retention ponds

Board debates replacement options for aging Washingtonia palms, flags safety and maintenance costs

Tree board targets outreach, prizes and HOA mailings to boost Flower Award participation

Wellington tree board pushes large plantings, seeks grants and readies canopy study