Don Pedro/Knight Island Plant Enthusiasts

 Chronology: of Islandscapers and Island Demonstration Garden:

A Productive Year!

April 20, 2005: A group met to form Islandscapers Plant Enthusiats with the idea of having educational programs on plants and wildlife and create demonstration gardens to educate and beautify the Island.

April 22, 2205: Earth Day Celebration was first Islandscapers function

May 4, 2005: Volunteer officers: Gisela Allen, President; Barbara DeYulio, Vice President; Merrill Horswill, Secretary; Sally Mingerink, Treasurer met with other plant enthusiasts at an organizational meeting to outline program topics and protocol for Firehouse Demonstration Garden.

June - December 2005
With preliminary planning in place and permission granted from the Fire Chief and Staff of Station # 10 to establish an Island Demonstration Garden at the Firehouse site, members of PIE Environmental and Islandscapers launched the New Year by setting in motion the steps necessary to ensure both: 1) a garden that will reflect the natural beauty of the island and , 2) an island landscape that will reflect "best stewardship practices" for our fragile barrier island environment.

Island Garden Work Dates and Projects Accomplished as follows:

January 5, 2006
Trimmed trees, pruned overgrown vegetation, cleared debris, weeded and removed Brazilian Peppers and other invasive species.

January 8, 2006
Many people worked on the Firehouse grounds using a wood chipper (donated by Dean Beckstead) to produce mulch on site, rather than remove the considerable amount of yard waste to a landfill. Also, continued pruning, clearing, raking, and weeding as needed.

January 18, 2006
Brought 20 piling ends (donated by Anna & Rick Stokes) to Firehouse., which were used to define entrance, exit and specific planting areas.

January 20, 2006
Completed setting of pilings. Measure and section off areas for: 1)Native Plants  - trees, shrubs, grasses, wild flowers, and vines. Native plants support native wildlife. 2) Butterfly Garden  - bushes and flowers to attract birds and butterflies. 3) Florida Friendly Plants  - salt and drought-tolerant plants to provide variety and color, but also with wildlife value. Specific responsibilities for each area were assigned to participating members. Plant lists for purchase were generated. PIE Environmental will fund and care for the Native Plant garden and Islandscapers with do the same for the Florida Friendly and Butterfly gardens at the Firehouse.

January 24, 2006
Sarah Fahlmark, Barbara DeYulio, Bob & Merrill Horswill purchased plants for the gardens at Native Plant Nursery, Sarasota.

February-April, 2006
Planted, mulched and watered the gardens.

April, 2006
Joe DeYulio designed and built our beautiful lattice trellis for the vines in the Butterfly Garden. Islander Builders and Southern Design donate the materials for the trellis. Thank you!

April 21, 2006
Earthday Celebration and Tour of Gardens. Over 50 Island residents attended and enjoyed good information, great food and drink and the opportunity to celebrate our beautiful island on this special day.