Education

Tree giveaway event to be held at The Bay Park in downtown Sarasota for city residents April 25-26

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18 species of juvenile trees offered while supplies last

This is a gumbo limbo tree. Photo by Yinan Chen via Wikimedia Commons

“City of Sarasota residents interested in taking home a free canopy tree this Earth Month are invited to participate in a tree giveaway from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26,” at The Bay Park in downtown Sarasota, city staff has announced.

The park stands at 1055 Boulevard of the Arts.

“This giveaway, part of Good to Be Green at The Bay, will provide participants with the opportunity to select one of 100 trees provided by the City of Sarasota, while supplies last,” a news release explains. “Interested residents may choose from 18 different species of juvenile trees, the release adds:

  • Jamaican caper.
  • Simpson’s stopper.
  • Walter’s viburnum.
  • Bracken’s Magnolia.
  • Spanish stopper.
  • Orange Geiger.
  • Gumbo limbo.
  • Loblolly bay.
  • Chickasaw plum.
  • Bald cypress.
  • Longleaf pine.
  • Marlberry.
  • Clusia.
  • Mango.
  • Royal palm.
  • Live oak.
  • Silver buttonwood.
  • Green buttonwood.

The trees “will be available on a first-come, first-served basis” to city residents with proof of residency, while supplies last, the release points out. “City arborists will be on-site to provide guidance on how to choose the right tree” for the right place and how to care for a tree, the release notes.

“Trees for this event were paid for by the city’s Tree Mitigation Fund, which collects a portion of tree removal permit dollars to be used for urban canopy programs,” the release explains.

“In addition to beautifying the community, canopy trees provide significant benefits, including cleaning the air,” allowing residents to save energy, “cleaning stormwater runoff, lowering the urban heat island effect, and providing wildlife habitat,” the release points out.

The Bay also will be hosting its Learn from an Arborist event from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25, the release continues. That session will be conducted at The Nest in the park, the release says. A city arborist “will be in attendance to discuss trees, landscaping, and more as part of Arbor Day at The Bay,” the release adds.