Say 'cheese' for trees: Palm Coast celebrates Arbor Day

The event in Town Center also featured a butterfly release.

By Jonathan Simmons
| 1:10 p.m. September 20, 2021

Tim and Tammy Carter moved to Palm Coast four months ago and received a tree at the city's Sept. 18 celebration. Photo by Brian McMillan

Lillian Hall, Felicia Danielle and Jason Hall. Photo by Brian McMillan

Mark enjoyed the petting zoo in front of City Hall on Sept. 18. Photo by Brian McMillan

Avril Holley. Photo by Brian McMillan

Mileyshka enjoyed the butterfly tent, set up by city of Palm Coast staff. Photo by Brian McMillan

Tim, Mason and Brody the dachsund. Photo by Brian McMillan

Kathleen Fuss, Nancy Iandoli and Carol Walker, of The Garden Club at Palm Coast. Photo by Brian McMillan

Sheriff Rick Staly poses as a cardboard cutout. Photo by Brian McMillan

Twins? Hmmm. Mike Lutz holds up the cardboard face of Rick Staly, next to Rick Staly. Photo by Brian McMillan

Faith Anna Batista prepares to open her butterfly envelope at the butterfly release. Photo by Brian McMillan

Faith Anna Batista. Photo by Brian McMillan

Andrew Batista. Photo by Brian McMillan

Ana poses with a balloon bracelet made to look like Nintendo's Princess Peach, created by Twist of Fun owner Justin Reams. Photo by Brian McMillan

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

The city of Palm Coast, which has earned Tree City USA’s Growth Award 14 years in a row, celebrated Arbor Day on Sept. 18, at Town Center.

Arbor Day had its origins in late-1800s Nebraska, as officials urged locals to plant trees on the prairies. It was proclaimed in 1872 and first became an annual event in 1874, and Nebraska is still known as the Tree Planter’s State.

But the shade cover offered by trees is especially important in hot, rapidly developing places like Florida, said Mimi Vreeland, Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Program Coordinator at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS) Extension in Flagler County.

“Shade trees will become more and more important in regions like Flagler County that are quickly growing and developing, because they: 1) shade and cool the ground surface which can lower ground surface temperatures by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit on a hot summer day; 2) provide residential energy and water savings; and 3) provide essential habitat and food sources for native and migrating animal species and natural predators of various garden pests,” she said.

Trees can also help increase property values, improve soil quality, provide food and shelter for native wildlife and recharge the aquifer system, and shade trees near a home can help lower energy costs, according to Vreeland