BRADENTON BEACH – The city and its partners went all out for this year’s National Arbor Day celebration.
Prior to Friday morning’s Arbor Day ceremony, seven sabal palm trees, three green buttonwood trees and 10 horizontal cocoplum shrubs were planted in the unnamed, city-owned beachfront park across the street from city hall.
Ceremony attendees included members of the Florida Forest Service, the Manatee County Property Management Department, the Bradenton Beach City Commission and Community Redevelopment Agency, the Bradenton Beach Scenic WAVES Partnership Committee, the Anna Maria Island Garden Club, Keep Manatee Beautiful, Modern Woodmen of America and the University of Michigan Alumni Club of Sarasota and Manatee.
While standing in front of the new green buttonwoods, City Commissioner Marilyn Maro read aloud the city’s National Arbor Day proclamation.
“Trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife. Trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires and countless other wood products. Trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas and beautify our community. Trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. We urge all citizens to plant trees to promote the well-being of present and future generations and to enhance our community.”
Scenic WAVES Chairwoman Ingrid McClellan said, “Today is the 105th anniversary of Arbor Day and the 11th anniversary of Bradenton Beach being a Tree City USA. We chose this park because it is on the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway (Gulf Drive), is right across from city hall, and is frequently used by people coming to and from the beach.”
McClellan said Scenic WAVES and AMI Garden Club member Shawn Mayers designed the plantings that will create a nicer aesthetic view for the park, provide more shade and prevent erosion.
McClellan thanked the Florida Forest Service, Manatee County, the Anna Maria Garden Club and Modern Woodmen of America for donating the trees and Keep Manatee Beautiful for donating the cocoplum shrubs.
McClellan said planting costs totaled $3,200 and the Bradenton Beach CRA donated an additional $1,500 to install the drip line irrigation system that’s connected to the BeachHouse restaurant’s irrigation system at no ongoing additional cost to the city.
Attendee comments
“I’m happy we could contribute and we’re happy to do what we can,” Liza Click said on behalf of Manatee County.
“The garden club makes it part of their plan to help beautify the communities on the Island. We are pleased this year to participate in the Arbor Day celebration for Bradenton Beach,” AMI Garden Club member Gerry Mills said.
“I love how enthusiastic Bradenton Beach is to continually make their area beautiful, not only for their visitors, but also the people who call this home,” Keep Manatee Beautiful Executive Director Jennifer Hoffman said.
Modern Woodmen of America member Bob McDuffie Jr. said he’s been involved with tree plantings from Charlotte County to Manatee County for so long that some of those previously planted trees have now matured into full-fledged shade trees.
“It’s a great privilege to plant trees and see the difference we’re making. When I’m dead and gone, the trees will still be here,” McDuffie said.
Representing the Florida Forest Service, Richard Larsen said, “Happy Arbor Day. We have the green buttonwoods. They’ll provide great shade when they’re mature and they do a great job with carbon sequestration. They are salt-tolerant and love full sun, like many of our residents. We also have the horizontal cocoplums. They’re a very ancient species. They’ll add a nice ground cover and they have an edible berry that benefits a lot of wildlife. And then we have the sabal palmetto, the state tree of Florida. It’s very tolerant to high winds and feels at home on the beach. Everyone came together with the preparation and implementation and this park looks beautiful. Thank you all.”
In honor of the 11-year anniversary, the group then walked across the street to pose for a photo by the Tree City USA sign at city hall.
