Tree Giveaways, Cleanups Planned in Manatee

By Lisa Neff

’Tis not the season to deck the trees. ’Tis the season to plant them.

Community organizers are getting into the holiday spirit and encouraging people to celebrate Earth Day, observed annually on April 22, and National Arbor Day, observed the last Friday in April, which is April 25. This year, community groups are celebrating the occasions with tree giveaways, community cleanups and ceremonies.

In Bradenton, Keep Manatee Beautiful, a grassroots nonprofit that fights litter and promotes beautification, is joining with the city of Bradenton to host a tree giveaway at 9 a.m. April 26 at the Bradenton Public Market on Old Main Street.

Trees will be distributed first come, first served.

Trees also will be distributed at the market May 31 from 9 a.m. until supplies run out.

Another tree giveaway, one involving KMB and the Palma Sola Botanical Park Foundation, will be April 25 at the Palma Sola Botanical Park, 9800 17th Ave. NW, Bradenton.

Meanwhile, on Anna Maria Island, KMB is partnering to stage a three-day giveaway involving the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Forest Service. The giveaway will be noon-4 p.m. April 22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 23 and 9 a.m.-noon April 24 at the chamber office, 5313 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

Trees, available on a first-come, first-served basis, will include Bahama strongbark, Florida thatch palm, green buttonwood, gumbo limbo, Jamaican dogwood, sea grape and silver buttonwood.

Keep Manatee Beautiful is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, a nationwide organization focused on recycling, restoration, resiliency, beautification and eliminating litter.

KAB conducts multiple programs, including RETREET, described as “the only program in the world redefining disaster relief by engaging communities to replant lost trees” because “replanting and restoring our communities help keep them healthier and more resilient, literally growing deep roots to anchor and stabilize flood-prone areas, lessen erosion and improve natural resiliency.”

Another priority is conducting spring cleanups.

From March 20 through June 20, Keep America Beautiful encourages people nationwide to unite to remove litter and revitalize parks and public spaces in their neighborhoods. Last year, an estimated 300,000 people took part in the spring cleanup, removing more than 10 million pounds of litter and debris.

“Our parks, rivers, beaches, and neighborhoods belong to all of us,” said Jennifer Lawson, KAB president and CEO. “Whether you pick up litter on your daily walk, rally your friends for a cleanup event, or volunteer with a local Keep America Beautiful affiliate, the important thing is to take action.”

KMB helped organize several cleanups earlier this month, including one at Riverside Park in Palmetto and a Reef & Beach Cleanup from Terra Ceia.

Next KMB is organizing an Earth Day Cleanup for 9 a.m. April 19 at the 13th AV Dream Center, 922 24 St. E., Bradenton.

People are invited to volunteer to prune, plant and paint at the center.

Some at the cleanup will head home to do more yardwork, as KMB plans another tree giveaway at the center.

For Arbor Day, KMB will partner with municipalities, the forest service and landscaping companies in a series of ceremonial tree plantings.

One of the larger commemorative events will be at 11 a.m. April 25 at Coach Eddie Shannon Park, 501 17th St. E., Palmetto, where county commissioners will help plant a tree.

Another celebration involving KMB, the county and a Palma Sola Scenic Highway committee will be at 9 a.m. at the Palma Sola scenic Highway Park at Manatee Avenue West southeast of 75th Street West in Bradenton.

There, celebrants will plant an orange geiger tree — drought and wind tolerant with showy, frilly flowers to attract pollinators and dendrophiles.

The right tree for the right place.

Resources

For more about Keep Manatee Beautiful, including how to volunteer, go to manateebeautiful.com.

For more about Keep America Beautiful, including the organization’s initiatives and programs, go to kab.org.

For more about Arbor Day, go to arborday.org.