The living symbol of a love affair which began more than 40 years ago needs a new home.
Monika Friedrich’s husband of almost four decades, Hans, planted a palm tree in the front yard of their St Albans home many years ago.
Hans died last year.
Now the tree has grown too close to powerlines and Monika wants to donate it to a community group or a grateful green thumb.
“Hans loved it,” Monika said.
“It can go to anybody who wants it as long as they take care of it. But they’ll have to dig it out themselves.”
Hans, from Austria, and Monika, from Germany, met at a local garage in June, 1975 when Hans fixed her car.
“He insisted we take it for a test drive,” she remembered.
“He jumped in the passenger side and off we went around the block. Halfway through he asked me what I was doing that weekend and invited me to his daughter’s 10th birthday at a skating rink in St Kilda.
“I fell in love with him that day, on the drive home from the rink.”
The pair were married on February 11, 1978.
Monika has lived in the same St Albans house since 1976.
Among her interests is volunteering with the Brotherhood of St Laurence in Burnside.
Community groups keen to rehouse the tree can call Monika on 9366 6687.
