APRIL 2006

Greetings from the Tree Zoo!

We have had some outstanding weather so far this year. Only four times did it get cold enough for me to put on long pants.

Some blooming trees to note are:

- The Bauhinia divaricata, a Dwarf Orchid tree, has not flowered well in many years as it was shaded by larger trees, is now in full bloom. It sort of looks like pink honeysuckle.

- The Jacaranda, having almost lost it in the hurricane, it is blooming its head off right now.

- The Flame of the Forest. We have been waiting for years for this to bloom and it finally has. Deep orangy red blooms, not a tree you see often. Go to the Photo Page to see pictures of the Jacaranda & The Flame of the Forest. Or, go to the Arboretum and see them all.

Lots of action in the Arboretum of late too. We have had Southern Arborist doing corrective pruning to all the trees. In addition they are spreading mulch and grinding stumps. Earth Advisors is doing a Tree Survey using state of the art GPS technology. Every tree will be mapped and labeled. We have close to 1000 entries in the plant inventory. Bill Casson Irrigation is repairing storm damaged sprinkler heads as well as installing our new H.W. Zeke Landis Nursery irrigation system. All thanks to the Florida Dept. of Forestry Urban Forestry Hurricane Recovery Grant and the City of Deerfield Beach.

Speaking of the nursery, Mary Hillman and Alice Perillo are Co-Directors and are coordinating the final touches. We will be able to start growing plants there in just a few weeks. If you enjoy working outside and love to grow plants, get on Mary and Alice's team. They will be growing plants for the Arboretum, plants to sell and maybe a few plants for you too.,

Looking forward to future tree giveaways, Barbara Horan purchased 500 small Foxtail Palms in 6 inch containers. We needed to step them up into bigger containers so they will grow large enough to give away, but we did not have the manpower. Well, the Lord provided! Pastor Ken Du Casse of the Open Door Bible Church asked me if there was anything his congregation could do to help the Arboretum. I had just the project. On Saturday, March 25, Pastor Du Casse arrived in the Arboretum with 30 willing volunteers! They, along with the Deerfield Beach High Key Club potted all 500 palms in record time. They did it so fast they even had time to spread 150 lbs of grass seed before it was time to go. Thanks Pastor Du Casse! And thanks Open Door Bible Church!

This Saturday, April 1st, is our monthly Volunteer Work Day. Come on out and pitch in. We will be working on the nursery, sprucing up the Chamber of Commerce's Service Memorial and readying the Arboretum for the Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt. Bring work gloves, a cool hat and maybe a rake. And lastly, the Arboretum Spring Plant Sale is April 15th from 9:00 to 4:00.

See you in the Tree Zoo.

Jerry Behan

TreeZoo Update Archive:
February 2006
JANUARY 2006
November 2005
September 2005
AUGUST 2005
July 2005
JUNE 2005
FEBRUARY 2005
DECEMBER 2004
Nobember 2004
October 2004