- October 6, 2024
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Members of the Florida Native Plant Society's PawPaw Chapter and garden tour attendees celebrate Native Plant Month alongside County Councilman Troy Kent (third from right) and City Commissioner Lori Tolland (second from right). Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Karen Walter, president of Florida Native Plant Society’s Pawpaw Chapter, speaks prior to the proclamation at the EDC on Saturday, Oct. 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
aren Walter, president of Florida Native Plant Society’s Pawpaw Chapter, speaks as member Inia Burginger listens at the EDC on Saturday, Oct. 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Councilman Troy Kent is gifted with a firebush plant by the Florida Native Plant Society PawPaw Chapter at the EDC on Saturday, Oct. 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Councilman Troy Kent speaks at the EDC on Saturday, Oct. 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Councilman Troy Kent speaks as City Commissioner Lori Tolland stands beside him at the EDC on Saturday, Oct. 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Karen Walter, president of Florida Native Plant Society’s Pawpaw Chapter, is presented with a proclamation by Councilman Troy Kent at the EDC on Saturday, Oct. 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Karen Walter, president of the Florida Native Plant Society's PawPaw Chapter, Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent and Ormond Beach City Commissioner Lori Tolland. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Members of the Florida Native Plant Society's PawPaw Chapter celebrate Native Plant Month alongside County Councilman Troy Kent (third from right) and City Commissioner Lori Tolland (second from right). Photo by Jarleene Almenas
City Commissioner Lori Tolland speaks at the EDC on Saturday, Oct. 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Karen Walter, president of the PawPaw Chapter, and member Melissa Lammers laugh beside Councilman Troy Kent at the EDC on Saturday, Oct. 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
October is Native Plant Month, and to celebrate that, the Florida Native Plant Society’s Pawpaw Chapter hosted guided garden tours at several local parks on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The chapter aims to raise awareness about Florida's native plants and their habitats. The tours were conducted at the Environmental Discovery Center and Vadner Park in Ormond Beach, as well as Sugar Mill Gardens in Port Orange, the Marine Discovery Center and Mary Harrell Black Heritage Museum in New Smyrna Beach, and Ponce Preserve Municipal Park in Ponce Inlet.
“Native plants serve as the foundation of Florida’s unique natural habitats, are essential to all its wildlife including birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, and provide a natural beauty unique to Florida,” said Karen Walter, president of Florida Native Plant Society’s Pawpaw Chapter, in a press release.
Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent also delivered a proclamation at the EDC on Saturday in favor of Native Plant Month in Volusia County.
"Councilman Kent has been very instrumental in getting the Regrow the Loop kickoff," Walter said at the proclamation. "... I think it's really made a lot, a lot of people recognize the importance of native plants."
Volusia launched the Regrow the Loop initiative in June 2023 as a one-year pilot program aimed at restoring and enhancing the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail. Regrow the Loop's mission was to remove invasive plant species, increase native vegetation and promote environmentally sustainable practices.
After reporting success, the Volusia County Council voted in August to explore continuing the initiative — which was originally proposed by Ormond-by-the-Sea resident Alan Burton — at a countywide level.
"It's a true partnership that is not only from elected officials and government bodies, but then, it's from many different groups that have a common goal and want to participate in it," Kent said.
Kent was gifted with a firebush plant by the PawPaw chapter, which he said he would plant in his home.
Also in attendance at the event was Ormond Beach City Commissioner Lori Tolland, a member of the Garden Club of the Halifax Country who chaired the Vadner Park project. Vadner Park is the city's first all-native plant park, and was created as a result of a partnership between the Garden Club and the city.
Tolland said Kent is a "treasure" on the council for support of native plants. As a result of Regrow the Loop and the relationships formed throughout it, Tolland said, the city is working to change its landscaping ordinance to favor native plants.
"Every one of you have been a mentor to me," she said to Kent and the PawPaw chapter members. "... You all are helping me move that initiative through Ormond Beach."
