Town/Garden club Arbor Day tree sale ends Friday
There is little time left to give the gift that keeps on growing.
Officials from the Town of Fort Myers Beach and the Estero Island Garden Club are needing help with purchases for their annual tree sale in a couple of weeks.
Since Dec. 1, half-priced trees have been offered to Beach residents for the annual Florida Arbor Day Tree Sale. But, the sale ends Friday, Jan. 13.
Trees are still available to island residents for half the usual cost of the purchase price. The selections this time involve the Gumbo Limbo, Coconut Palm, Silver Buttonwood and the Mahogany. The trees will be handed out in seven-gallon containers and are all priced at $20 apiece.
The Town picks up the other half of the cost.
“The more trees we sell the better it shows on our Tree City certification,” said Lois Poff, executive assistant to the Town manager and member of the local garden club.
The sale of trees is one of the four stipulations for the Tree City USA program certification. Poff stated that, unofficially, the Town of Fort Myers Beach has received notice that it is being recognized for its seventh straight Tree City certification.
“We did get notification from the Arbor Day Foundation, but they will let us know officially within the next two or three weeks,” said Poff.
The Town and local garden club have two tree sales per year. The current one is for Florida Arbor Day, observed on the third Friday in January, and National Arbor Day, observed on the last Friday in April.
However, half-priced sales have been sluggish so far. Poff is hoping Beach residents will consider buying a right-priced tree as a late holiday gift.
“Usually, this time of year has been slow because of the holidays,” she said. “Trees make really nice presents for birthdays or in memory of someone.”
So far, 2,226 total trees have been planted on Fort Myers Beach since 2005. The Town supports a Streetscape program where neighbors can get together, plant trees for beautification reasons and receive a discount. Learn more about that particular program by picking up a free copy of the Town’s Streetscape booklet at Town Hall at the reception desk.
For those who have not taken advantage of the tree deal, there is still time to call your orders into Town Hall at 765-0202 (ext. 139) before 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 13. If you’d like more information about the trees, visit Town Hall and check out the selection’s criteria while you place your order(s).
Once you have made your purchase, you can acquire your tree(s) at Bay Oaks Recreational Center on Oak Street on Friday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon.
All Native Garden Center in Fort Myers provides the trees for the sale.