T.R.E.E. Inc.'s Most Successful Planting!
Saturday October 31, 2009 marked what was possibly the most successful planting in TREE Inc.'s 26 year history at the "Esurance Temple Terrace 78th Street Pond Tree Planting Project".
Members of the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins are the first to break ground at the Esurance Temple Terrace 78th Street Pond Tree Planting Project on October 31, 2009, seen preparing to plant a West Central Florida Eco-Type American Elm . Photo by Gustavo Perez.
On that Halloween morning 90 volunteers showed up, tying the first TREE Inc. record of volunteer attendance set on January 25, 1986 at the the first "TREE DAY On I-75" planting event.
Temple Terrace residents Grant Rimbey and his son proudly pose next to the tree they just planted. Photo by Gustavo Perez.
Volunteers from Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful, Inc., the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins, the Friends of Temple Terrace Parks and Recreation, the Temple Terrace Garden Club, Esurance, TREE Inc., and city residents planted a total of 114 native trees at the stormwater pond facility located at the northeast corner of Bullard Parkway and 78th Street in Temple Terrace, Florida.
TREE Inc. Secretary Rick Strickland (L) and friend get their feet wet planting this Pondcypress. Photo by Gustavo Perez.
Future tree planters show off their handiwork! Peace! Photo by Gustavo Perez.
The event started at 10:00 A.M. and ended around 11:30 A.M. Trees ranged in size from 3' tall 3-gallon specimens to 12' tall 35-gallon specimens and included West Central Florida Eco-Type American Elm (Ulmus americana var. "floridana"), Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum), Pondcypress (Taxodium ascendens), Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) and Red Maple (Acer rubrum).
The 35-gallon Baldypress and Pondcypress, as well as 7-gallon Red Maple were donated by Quality First, Inc. nursery of Seffner, Florida, who also donated a mechanical auger and labor for the event. The remaining plants were made possible through the generous funding of Esurance, the on-line insurance company), this being TREE Inc.'s eighth and most successful Esurance project since 2005.
Key Club members gather en masse around the tree they planted. Photo by Gustavo Perez.
They were not only some of the hardest working people at the event, but they also knew how to pose great for the camera! Many thanks to Ms. Pat DePlasco for making possible having so many volunteers attend this most successful tree planting event in TREE Inc. history! Photo by Gustavo Perez.
Many thanks go not only to the large amount of volunteers in attendance, but also to the following for making this project such a rousing success!
- Mr. Dana Carver, City of Temple Terrace Parks Planner
- Ms. Pat DePlasco, Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful, Inc.
- Mr. Al Latina, Temple Terrace Garden Club
- Mr. Cliff Brown, Friends of Temple Terrace Parks and Recreation
- Mr. Grant Rimbey, Citizens for the Revitalization of Temple Terrace
- ...and of course,
- Ms. Joann Lee, Community Relations Manager Esurance
Winter Park Tree Planting
Demonstrating its on-going commitment to assisting the City of Winter Park, Florida with its urban forestry efforts, TREE Inc. donated and planted 18 native trees at various locations throughout Winter Park on October 2, 2009.
The trees ranged from 3-gallon to 15-gallon container sizes and included East Central Florida Eco-Type Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), Longleaf Pine, Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus), Redbud (Cercis canadensis) and Flatwoods Plum (Prunus umbellata).
The trees were planted at Ward Community Park, Mead Botanical Gardens, Lake Island Park, Kraft Azalea Gardens and Howell Branch Preserve. Many thanks go to City Forester Mr. Lee Mackin for making this latest planting a success!
Donation to Nehrling Gardens
On September 22, 2009, TREE Inc. donated one 15-gallon East Central Florida Eco-Type Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) to Nehrling Gardens in Gotha, Florida. The Gardens was named after Henry Nehrling, one of Florida's premiere pioneer horticulturists.
TREE Inc. wishes to thank Ms. Angela Withers, President of The Henry Nehrling Society for giving us the opportunity to be a part of the colorful history of this major Florida plant man.
T.R.E.E. Inc. Board of Directors
President: William Moriaty
Vice President: Bob Scheible
Secretary: Rick Strickland
Treasurer: John Blechschmidt
Lifetime Members
William Moriaty (Founder)
Bob Scheible (Founder)
Greg Van Stavern (Founder)
Greg Howe (Founder)
Sheryl Bowman
Cliff Brown
Debbie Butts
Dade City Garden Club
Alice Earle (deceased)
Dr. Sylvia Earle
Ross J. Ferlita
Hugh Gramling
Horticultural Alliance, Inc.
Harvey A. Hunt, P.E.
William Jonson
Brightman Logan
Revello Medical Centers
Rick Strickland
Barbara Waddell (deceased)
Dr. Richard Wunderlin
Richard A. Bailey (Honorary)
John L. Blechschmidt Jr. (Honorary)
Nancy Buckley (Honorary)
Bob Der (Honorary)
Kathy Caffentzis (Honorary)
Steve Graham (Honorary)
Gary L. Henry, R.L.A. (Honorary)
Susana Thompson (Honorary)