Have you ever noticed Sunshine? That’s the name Downtown denizen Annette Zilinskas gave to a lonely, neglected Queen Palm that for many years had stood proudly above 2nd and Hill Streets on the dirt patch, the last piece of unflattened Bunker Hill topography, on a parcel marked for redevelopment for the Colburn School’s expansion.

After Annette took us to meet Sunshine, we took a shine to this scrappy survivor, too, and started advocating with the Colburn and the City for this special tree to be protected, moved and replanted in the neighborhood.

Tune in to our short webinar, Saving the Sentinel Trees on Old Bunker Hill, Then and Now, where starting at the 42 minute mark Annette shares how she discovered Sunshine on a pilgrimage to the dirt patch, fell in love with the pretty, neglected tree and reached out to Bunker Hill historian Nathan Marsak to learn if it appeared in any historic photos. Then Nathan shares the history of this parcel, and environmental horticulturist and palm expert Dr. Don Hodel talks about how old the tree could be, and how its managed to survive with little or no care. Plus we’ll hear Annette’s sweet tribute poem to Sunshine the Queen Palm and old Bunker Hill.

Can Sunshine, too, survive Bunker Hill redevelopment? Yes, she can! Her final destination is still to be determined, but thanks to Bill Spurgin (whose Spurgin Development Company is constructing the new Colburn School building) as of March 16, 2024, Sunshine has a  temporary home in a big pot on the parking lot at First and Hill Street, just across from the Federal Courthouse.

Where will Sunshine wind up? Stay tuned!