Nearly 60 years ago Michael Rainwater, as a young boy, propagated a Staghorn fern and hung it in the back yard of their family home. Michael has since passed away but the Staghorn lives on, which makes this plant even more special to his mother Margaret Rainwater and her son Mark. Margaret and Mark were hoping to find a new home for the plant because the branch it’s hanging from has been showing signs of concern. If the branch failed, the huge plant would be badly damaged. The Staghorn fern measures approximately 6 feet across and weighs hundreds of pounds. Margaret and Mark decided the best place for the plant would be on the grounds of the Lawndale Museum. Rick Tubridy stepped up with a plan to relocate the plant by strategically lowering the fern using pulleys and a come-along onto the tailgate of his truck. The staghorn was successfully relocated and proudly hangs from a large tree at the back of the Lawndale Museum property. On your next visit, look up when you are in the back yard – it’s a beauty.
A huge thank you to Margaret and Mark for the donation that adds even more Williams/Rainwater history to Lawndale. Hats off to Rick Tubridy for his efforts and experience with staghorns. And last but not least thank you to Steve Ireland for his assistance on the receiving end of the relocation, we couldn’t have done it without you!
