New trees planted in June 2018

New trees planted at Lakes Regional Park – June 2018

No matter how long it takes to replace the 300+ trees lost at Lakes Park during Hurricane Irma, we’re going to do it, one tree at a time.  We’ve been fortunate enough to receive two tree gifts during the month of June.

Wes Higgins, Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation’s current Vice President, was in the process of repairing hurricane damage at his own home and realized that he needed a to find a new home for a gumbo limbo tree.  What better place to replant it than the Children’s Garden at Lakes Park?

“The gumbo limbo was donated to me by birds,” Higgins said.  “It came up in a pot with a Jatropha.”

Gumbo limbo trees (Bursera simaruba) are a great choice for Southwest Florida. They are wind-tolerant Florida natives and serve as the host plant for the dingy purplewing butterfly (Eunica monima). Learn more about the gumbo limbo tree by visiting this page from the University of Florida – Gumbo Limbo Tree

Another free tree came our way at the end of June.  Lee County Parks & Recreation Sr. Supervisor Joe DeBacker writes,

“Just wanted to let you know we found a 35-gallon bald cypress and since they love water we planted it along the tracks just past the Amphitheatre bridge. A bit hard to see the green tree in front of a green background but it’s there… check it out next time you go by this location.“

The bald cypress loves to have its feet wet, so they are found near streams, lakes, and other freshwater bodies. They are a prominent feature at our sister facility up the road, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.  Cypress trees are deciduous – they shed their leaves in the fall. This allows Floridians to claim that our seasons DO, in fact, change 😉

Want to learn more about the bald cypress?  Visit this page at the University of Florida: Cypress Trees