ARBOR AMORE: Town notches 10th Tree City recognition
A decade of commitment to a tree program has repeatedly sprouted an allegiance and dedication of sorts from Town of Fort Myers Beach officials down the line to island residents and business representatives.
With 2015 National Arbor Day celebrated last Friday, Beach arborists are happy to announce the Town’s 10th consecutive year as a Tree City USA recipient. The Arbor Day Foundation recently sent Town officials a 10-year anniversary flag and signage for both sides of the island.
The Beach was again selected as a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban forestry.
“The Town thanks all residents for their efforts in planting these trees that help increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas and help beautify our community,” said Lois Poff, Town liaison for Tree City USA and Estero Island Garden Club member. The Estero Island Garden Club in conjunction with Public Works Director Scott Baker and Environmental Sciences Coordinator Keith Laakkonen serves as the tree board for the Beach.
The Beach continuously achieves Arbor Day Foundation recognition by meeting the program’s four standards established by the nonprofit foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. They are 1) a tree board or department; 2) a tree care ordinance; 3) a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita; and 4) an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Fort Myers Beach has been certified as a Tree City USA community since 2005, when the Town started celebrating Florida Arbor Day (recognized on the third Friday of each January) and National Arbor Day with a half-price tree sale each year. In the fall of 2013, Town officials initiated a monthly program by adding “larger” trees (25 gallons). The next tree sale kicks off June 12. Free delivery is offered for Estero Island residents.
The program has been met with huge success in the community. Since 2005, 3,427 trees have been planted on the seven-mile-long island, according to Poff.
Recent noted purchases include Myerside Resort, Outrigger Beach Resort and Beach resident Christian Hilpert. Myerside Resort planted Canary Island date palms, foxtail palms, Christmas palms, coconut palms, a pink trumpet, silver buttonwood and many cocoplums since business owners renovated their property prior to opening the resort. The Outrigger Beach Resort also purchased many trees from the Town, including coconut palms, Canary Island date palms, pink trumpet and cocoplums. Hilpert, who moved to the Beach from Germany in July 2012, filled his Indian Bayou home property with Christmas palms, foxtail palms, coconut palms, silver buttonwoods, thatch palms and cocoplums.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, Tree City USA participation presents an opportunity to educate the public about a community’s urban forestry program and showcase the benefits of community trees. Trees are vital for the following reasons: 1) shade our homes; 2) add beauty to our neighborhoods; 3) promote healthier communities by filtering the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles; 4) moderate climate; 5) conserve water and provide vital habitat for wildlife; 6) reduce the heat island effect in urban areas caused by pavement and buildings; and 7) reduce energy use and increase property values.
While the official Florida state tree is known to be the sabal palm, the Beach tree is the gumbo limbo.
For more information on the Town’s half-price tree sale, go to www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/index.aspx?NID=238 or call Poff at Town Hall at 765-0202 (ext. 139). Most listed trees are all available in three-, seven-, 15- and 25-gallon containers.
According to historic records, National Arbor Day was proclaimed by President Richard Nixon in 1970. A number of state Arbor Days are observed at other times to coincide with the best tree planting weather, from January and February in the south to May in the far north.