And it’s not just a roof: it also provides postal staff with a much-needed place of refuge. Employees can escape to the roof to sit on one of 14 benches to enjoy being surrounded by plants and vegetation that are all native to the area. “I go up there for every break and at lunch, even when it’s snowing,” said April F. Dey, a mailhandler at the Morgan facility.
For weeks this cold winter, April sat on the roof without seeing another person. It was in one of those frost bitten 15-minute moments of solitude and reflection that she came up with the idea for the Post Office Outdoor Topiary (POOT) contest.
“I wanted members of the public to know all about our fantastic green roof,” April said. “And frankly, I was getting a little lonely up there.”
She submitted her e-idea, and Postal managers immediately granted their approval. “It was a win-win situation for everyone involved,” said facility manager Jwana Laff. “We can’t pay the artists, but they will all benefit from the exposure, and during the month that the sculpted shrubs will be on display, the Postal Service will increase revenue by conducting guided tours of the roof.”
In March 2011, artists from across the country were asked to submit their concepts for Postal-related topiary. After round one of judging was complete, the most promising entrants were then separated into Green Teams, handed safety-approved hedge clippers, and asked to bring their sketches to life (in a sustainable manner, of course).
The results of their creative inspiration and hard work will be on display throughout the month of April.
After completion, the artists are remaining with their work for the month in order to trim any unwanted growth that may occur. The Postal Service has also requested that they also weed and water the rest of the roof while they are present, in order to further save on facility maintenance costs.
To read more, click here.
And to view last year's related post, click here.
