by SC Reporter Ariadna Ampudia
The Sanibel Vegetation Committee announced former City Manager Judie Zimomra will be honored at next year’s Arbor Day celebration, during the committee’s December meeting, held at City Hall.
Arbor Day is an annual celebration in which the city plants a tree honoring an individual or organization. The celebration will be held in person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, at Sanibel’s Community Park Preserve, 2231 Periwinkle Way, on Friday, Jan. 21.
The committee plans to get in contact with Zimomra for her favorite tree to be planted. The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation will be working closely with the committee on picking out a tree for the celebration and planting it, as done in the previous years. Local businesses on the Island along with members of the Vegetation Committee themselves, will be donating funds to help purchase the tree.
Plant Walk attendance at a high
Sanibel Vegetation Committee member Ruth Brooks revealed to committee members an increased number of 40 participants attended the November plant walk around the grounds of City Hall. The plant walks are held monthly and allow residents to view and discuss Sanibel’s native plants planted around City Hall.
“I was totally blown away,” said Brooks. She said majority of the people who attended were new homeowners who had an interest in learning the scientific names of the plants and planting in wetter areas around the community.
Brooks also described the high attendance as “shocking,” since during the months of November and December, most residents are traveling or not present due to the holidays. It was the highest number in attendance, compared with those of other monthly walks, she said.
Phillip Marks, a member of the Vegetation Committee, said among the many top priorities of the Island, plants deserve to be recognized at a higher level. He said having an increased attendance at plant walks as well as including information about certain plants in pamphlets during the walks, would allow more people to understand their importance.
“I think plants also should be a priority because they do an awful lot for us,” said Marks. “They protect us from tidal surges, produce oxygen and make our island so much more beautiful.”
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