- January 17, 2025
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Ormond Beach City Commissioners Lori Tolland, Kristin Deaton, Travis Sargent and Harold Briley attend the Florida Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at The Casements on Friday, Jan. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Cultural Center Coordinator Siobhan Daly speaks as Ormond Beach City Commissioners Lori Tolland, Kristin Deaton, Travis Sargent and Harold Briley listen during the Florida Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at The Casements on Friday, Jan. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach City Commissioners Travis Sargent, Lori Tolland, Kristin Deaton and Harold Briley attend the Florida Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at The Casements on Friday, Jan. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
From left to right: Ormond Beach Kiwanis Club Past President Alan Burton, St. James Episcopal Church Rev. Roy Allison, Ormond Beach Garden Club Past President Zetta Gillespie, Ormond Beach City Commissioners Travis Sargent, Lori Tolland, Kristin Deaton and Harold Briley. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Kiwanis Club Past President Alan Burton speaks during the Florida Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at The Casements on Friday, Jan. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Garden Club Past President Zetta Gillespie speaks during the Florida Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at The Casements on Friday, Jan. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
St. James Episcopal Church Rev. Roy Allison gives the invocation during the Florida Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at The Casements on Friday, Jan. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Garden Club President Susan McLane-Maxwell speaks during the Florida Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at The Casements on Friday, Jan. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.
Ormond Beach Garden Club President Susan McLane-Maxwell shared this Greek proverb during her remarks at the Florida Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony held at The Casements on Friday, Jan. 17. The ceremony celebrated the planting of three new trees — a live oak and two Italian cypress trees — at Rockefeller Gardens. It was the second of tree planting ceremonies held that day in the city, with the first taking place earlier that morning at the Environmental Discovery Center, where a live oak was planted.
"The trees planted on Arbor Day show a concern for future generations," McLane-Maxwell said. "The simple act of planting a tree represents a belief that the tree will grow and provide wood products, wildlife habitat, erosion control, shelter for win, sun, beauty and inspiration for ourselves and our children."
The Garden Club donated the new Italian cypress trees to the city to replace two trees who were lost a few years ago during a hurricane. The live oak was donated by the Ormond Beach Kiwanis Club.
It was part of the club's recent $10,000 donation to the city, said Ormond Beach Kiwanis Past President Alan Burton. The donation was slated to enhance the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail with live oaks, as well as the Florida Arbor Day dedication.
Burton said that about 25 years ago, he and a past president of the Garden Club, Lorraine Freeman, spoke about planting a live oak in the south east corner of Rockefeller Gardens. Burton told her that the park would need to be redone first.
Now, there's an oak tree there.
"I hope from a personal point of view, for the president of the Garden Club," Burton said. "I think her and Nancy Hogle would love this moment."
Hogle was a former recreation manager for the city. She died in 2021. Freeman died in 2023.
Garden Club Past President Zetta Gillespie said garden clubs and the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs are important parts of preserving green space.
"Ormond Beach has always had the leadership that's kept this a beautiful community, and we're so grateful for that," Gillespie said.
Nature is a beautiful thing, she added.
"We can take care of it, but we can't top it," Gillespie said.
Ormond Beach City Commissioner and Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland, who is a member of the Garden Club of the Halifax Country, said the city was happy to celebrate Florida Arbor Day and recognize the importance of trees.
"Arbor Day promotes environmental awareness and inspires individuals, families and communities to take action to protect and grow the natural landscapes around us," Tolland said. "By planting trees, we contribute to a healthier planet and create a lasting legacy for future generations."
