Middle schoolers from North Broward Preparatory School work at educating residents at last year’s Coconut Creek’s free tree giveaway. (L to R, Mayor Josh Rydell, Kana Raynolds, Katie Field, Sophia Birchenall, Marisa Moncuso, Lily Christensen, Caelum Standefer, (Courtesy of NBPS)
American poet Joyce Kilmer eloquently wrote, “I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree…”
Again this year, the city of Coconut Creek shows it takes the poet’s iconic words to heart by providing a free Tree Giveaway to residents in honor of Arbor Day on Saturday, April 27, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at City Hall, 4800 W. Copans Rd.
Sharon Vollmer, Coconut Creek’s urban forester, says this marks the 27th year the city has been holding its free Arbor Day tree giveaway. Nine different varieties of trees will be offered, including a sprinkling of both native and exotic, Vollmer says, adding that fruit trees tend to be the first to go. And then the flowering trees. They are always popular.”
Vollmer said tree sizes vary from small to medium to large. “Every year, we have a mixture of these things.”
Of course, native trees benefit the local environment and ecosystem, but exotic trees can also have advantages. “There are many non-native trees valuable to our area,” says Vollmer.
She said those who might be having trouble with a tree they selected can contact the city for advice and guidance. “We try our best to take calls to troubleshoot,” said Vollmer.
The city will hand out literature at the event. Along with vendor stations, there will be education stations covering an array of topics. Plus, volunteers from the Master Gardeners of Broward County will be on hand, offering advice and answering questions on planting trees, landscaping, watering, plant nutrition, and a host of other topics.
Coconut Creek is a certified Tree City USA on Wednesday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m. Coconut Creek will be holding a tree planting at North Broward Preparatory School, 7600 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek.
Middle school earth science teacher Rita Vester, who is coordinating the event, says this year marks the first time the prestigious private school has held a tree planting.
She said that at last year’s tree giveaway, her middle school students had a table providing residents with information on recycling and how to garden utilizing whatever space they had available. “For example, you can grow kale in a bucket or lettuce and tomatoes,” she said. “It was a really cool way to educate our residents.”
Vester said they were asked to participate in the tree planting because of their involvement at last year’s free tree giveaway event. She said they would be planting either one or maybe two fruit trees. She expects it to be a mango tree. The tree will be added to the school’s “food forest,” where they’re growing edible fruits and vegetables.
Only a few students from the middle school will be attending the tree planting. “We’ve handpicked some students who were really involved and who’ve shown effort and community service in gardening,” Vester said.
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