Pine Island Library

This project was a partnership made up of  All Native Garden Center, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, the Coccoloba Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, South Florida Water Management District and Forestry Resources. 

In the above pictures you can see the planting beds near the library were full of old and unwanted plant material or they were barren.  Below are the remains of the java plums that took over the lot next to the library.  Although these trees were providing shade, they are listed as a Category 1 Invasive Exotic, by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, www.fleppc.org.  Like Melaleuca, this tree invades our natural wild areas and out competes our native trees that provide habitat and food for our native wildlife. 

Wow, look at the results!

After all the dead material was removed, the area was mulched, and planted with native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and groundcovers,  With all of these native plants in place, this public library will not only be a place to check out books, it will be a place to check out wildlife.  Paths and benches were placed for access to these newly planted areas so the community can enjoy and relax.