Florida can look forward to more cooling shade, habitat for wildlife, and cleaner air and water as garden clubs across the state plant nearly 400 trees on January 19th, 2024, to celebrate Florida Arbor Day and the 100th anniversary of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. Most of Florida’s 153 garden clubs will plant at least one tree, with some clubs planting up to 100! Select clubs will also give away hundreds of tree seedlings at tree giveaway events.
Most trees planted and given away will be native species. Priority in selecting trees was given to large, hurricane-resistant shade trees that are keystone species. These species are vital to holding together food webs and ecosystems and support far more of the caterpillars and other essential insects that make up the diet of baby birds. In Florida, the number one keystone trees are our beautiful oaks which host a whopping 395 caterpillar species!
Arbor Day was established to celebrate the beauty of trees and their importance to our environment. In Florida, Arbor Day began in 1886, making it one of the first Arbor Day holidays in the nation. Officially, Florida Arbor Day is the third Friday in January, as our cooler months are the best times to plant trees.
Arbor Day shows hope for the future. Trees provide shade, wildlife habitat, clean air and water, healthier communities, and natural beauty – all for a better tomorrow.
You can help make a difference in Florida by participating in one of the Arbor Day events listed below. All tree plantings listed will be on Friday, January 19th, at 10:00 a.m. Central or 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time except where a different time is noted. The locations sponsoring tree giveaways following the tree plantings are also noted.
Alachua County
Gainesville Senior Center – 5701 NW 34th Blvd, Gainesville 32653 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Shumard Oak)
Bay County
Humble House – 7321 John Pitts Rd, Panama City 32404
Bradford County
Bradford County Extension – 2266 N Temple Ave, Stark 32091 (Tree Giveaway – 250 Pond Cypress)
Bradford County Senior Center – 1805 N Temple Ave, Stark 32091
Brevard County
Ralph Williams Elementary School – 1700 Clubhouse Dr, Rockledge 32955
Front Street Park – 2205 Front St, Melbourne 32901 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Wax Myrtle)
Turkey Creek Sanctuary – 1518 Port Malabar Blvd NE, Palm Bay 32905
Sand Point Park – 101Washington Ave, Titusville 32796
Lily Park – Corner of 8th Ave & S Riverside Dr, Indialantic 32903
Gleason Park – 1233 Yacht Club Blvd, Indian Harbour Beach 32937
Broward County
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park – 3109 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale 33304
Snyder Park – 3299 SW 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale 33315
Norcrest Elementary School – 3951 NE 16th Ave, Pompano Beach 33064
Charlotte County
Ollie’s Pond Park – 18235 Avon Ave, Port Charlotte 33948 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Live Oak) – 10 AM
History Park of Punta Gorda – 501 Shreve St, Punta Gorda 33950
Citrus County
Whispering Pines Park – 1700 Forest Dr, Inverness 34453 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Wax Myrtle)
Stage Stand Cemetery – 4571 Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa 34446
Trailside Garden State Trail – Behind Bike Shop at 8294 E Orange Ave, Floral City 34436
Clay County
Fleming Island Elementary – 425 Lakeshore Dr, Fleming Island 32003
Green Cove Springs City Hall – 321 Walnut St, Green Cove Springs 32043 – 10 AM
Keystone Heights Elementary – 335 SW Pecan Street, Keystone Heights 32656 – 3 PM
Garden Club of Orange Park Grounds – 1820 Smith Street, Orange Park 32073
Middleburg Park & Boat Ramp – 3788 Main Street, Middleburg 32068 – 10 AM
Collier County
Leigh Plummer Park – 401- 407 N. Barfield Dr, Marco Island 43145 – 10 AM
Columbia County
Suwannee Valley Care Center – 6037 W Hwy 90, Lake City 32055
DeSoto County
Desoto County Library Garden – 125 N Hillsborough Ave, Arcadia 34266
Duval County
Ribault Garden Club Grounds – 705 2nd Ave N, Jacksonville Beach 3225
Escambia County
Barrineau Park Community Center – 6055 Barrineau Park School Rd, Molino 32577
Carpenter’s Park – 5254 Munson Hwy, Milton 32570
Flagler County
Palm Coast City Hall – Town Center, Palm Coast 32136 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Wax Myrtle)
Gulf County
Salinas Park – 380 Cape San Blas Rd, Port St Joe 32456
Hernando County
Tom Varn Park – 301 Darby Ln, Brooksville 34601
Highlands County
Leisure Lakes Baptist Church – 808 Gardenia St, Lake Placid 33852
Hillsborough County
Apollo Beach Recreation Center – 664 Golf & Sea Blvd, Apollo Beach 33572
Davis Islands Garden Club Grounds – 81 Columbia Drive, Tampa 33606
Hunter’s Green Community Association – 9456 Highland Oak Dr, Tampa 33647
Chiaramonte Elementary School – 6001 S Himes Ave, Tampa 33611
Temple Terrace Garden Club – 415 Woodmont Ave, Temple Terrace 33617
Everyday Blessings – 8421 Pritcher Road, Lithia 33547 – 3:30 PM (Tree Giveaway 1/18/24 – 100 Loblolly Pines)
Sunset Park Garden Club Grounds – 4624 W Browning Ave, Tampa 33629
Indian River County
Coalition for Homeless Housing
Lake County
Cardinal Cove Park – 287 Cardinal St, Eustis 32726 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Winged Elm)
Minneola Place – 301 S. Main Ave, Minneola 34715
Mt. Dora City Hall – 510 N Baker St, Mt. Dora 32757
Lee County
Sirenia Vista Park – Ceitus Pkwy & Old Burnt Store Rd, Cape Coral 33991
Cultural Park – 528 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral 33990
Bonita Springs Riverside Park – 10450 Reynolds St, Bonita Springs 34135
Berne Davis Botanical Garden – 2166 Virginia Ave, Fort Meyers 33901
Lakes Park – 7330 Gladiolus Dr, Fort Meyers 33908
Leon County
Lake Henrietta Park – 3305 Springhill Road, Tallahassee 32305
1/20 – 8 AM
Maclay Gardens State Park – 3540 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee 32309 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Sweet Gum)
Manatee County
Lakewood Ranch YMCA – 5100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton 34211
Manatee River Garden Club Grounds – 3120 First Ave W Bradenton 34205 – 10:30 AM
Marion County
McIntosh Area School – 20400 10th St, McIntosh 32664
Tuscawilla Park – 829 NE Sanchez Ave, Ocala 34770
Martin County
Piper’s Landing Garden – 6160 SW Thistle Terrace, Palm City 34990
Miami-Dade County
West Matheson Hammock Park – 9800 Old Cutler Rd, Coral Gables 33156 8 AM – 12 PM
Nassau County
Fort Clinch State Park Entrance – Atlantic Ave, Fernandina Beach 32034 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Live Oak)
Okaloosa County
Women Veterans Memorial Park – Okaloosa Island (Tree Giveaway – 100 Live Oak)
Ft Walton Beach Recreation Center – 132 Jet Dr. NW, Ft Walton Beach 32548
Heritage Museum of NW Florida – 115 Westview Ave, Valparaiso 32580 – 2 PM
Orange County
Historic Downtown Winter Garden – Winter Garden
Alonzo Willams Park – 225 M A Board St, Apopka 32703
Windermere Town Square – 520 Main St, Windermere 34786
Palm Beach County
Boynton Beach Garden Club Community Garden – N Seacrest & NW 5th Ave, Boynton Beach (Tree Giveaway – Wax Myrtle)
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary – 17855 Rocky Pines Rd, Jupiter 33478
Ocean Ridge Catchment Area – Woolbright, Midlane and A1A
Rotary Peace Park – 1825 Wellington Green Dr, Wellington 33414
Pasco County
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church – 37623 Magnolia Ave, Dade City 33523
Pinellas County
Clearwater Garden Club Grounds – 405 Seminole St, Clearwater 33755
St Petersburg Garden Club Grounds – 500 Sunset Dr S, St Petersburg 33707 (Tree Giveaway – 200 Sand Pine + Sweet Gum)
Dorsett Park – E Harrison St, Tarpon Springs 34689
Polk County
Bartow Elementary School – 590 S Wilson Ave, Bartow 33830
Lake Crago Recreation Complex – 525 Lake Crago Dr, Lakeland 33805 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Loblolly Pine)
Winter Haven Garden Club Grounds – 715 Third St, Winter Haven 33881 – 10 AM
Winter Haven Trailhead Park – 301 Avenue G NW, Winter Haven 33881 – 10 AM
Putnam County
City of Palatka Waterfront – First Avenue, Palatka
St. Johns County
Garden Club of St. Augustine – 3440 Old Moultrie Rd, St. Augustine 32086 (Tree Giveaway – Live Oak, Wax Myrtle, Red Cedar)
Alpha-Omega Miracle Home – 2860 Collins Ave, St. Augustine 32084
St. Lucie County
Young Achievers Academy – 1207 S 28th St, Fort Pierce 34947
Garden Club Grounds in Glidden Park – 911 Parkway Dr (Georgia & 10th St), Fort Pierce 34950
Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens – 2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd, Port St. Lucie 34952
Santa Rosa County
Swenson Park – 1076 Circle Ln, Gulf Breeze 32563
Santa Rosa Extension Gardens – 6263 Dogwood Dr, Milton 32570 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Bald Cypress)
Holly-Navarre Fire Station 45 – 8618 Esplanade St East, Navarre 32566 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Birch + Bald Cypress)
Sarasota County
Lemon Bay Garden Club Grounds – 480 Yale St, Englewood 34223
Oak Park School – 7285 Hand Rd, Sarasota 34241
Legacy Park – 395 E Venice Ave, Venice 34285 – 1:00 PM
Seminole County
Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School – 1300 W 20th St, Sanford 32771
Spring Valley Farms Community Park – 801- 829 Spring Valley Rd, Altamonte Springs 32714 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Live Oak)
Riverbend Park – 830 Cove Park Pl, Longwood FL 32779 (Tree Giveaway – 100 Sweet Gum)
Suwannee County
Hearthstone Botanical Gardens – 3300 134th Pl, 2601 Wellborn 32094
Taylor County
Perry Garden Club Grounds at Forest Capital Park – 502 N Jefferson St, Perry 32347 (Tree Giveaway – 500, 4 species)
DTRAC Park & Boat Ramp – 4562 SW Hwy 358, Steinhatchee 32359
Volusia County
Anderson-Price Memorial Building – 42 N Beach St, Ormond Beach 32174
Tomoka State Park – 2099 N Beach St, Ormond Beach 32174
DeLeon Springs State Park – 601 Ponce DeLeon Blvd, DeLeon 32130
Garden Club of DeLand Grounds – 865 S Alabama Ave, Deland 32724
Holly Hill School – 1500 Center Ave, Holly Hill 32117 – 1 PM (Tree Giveaway – 100 Red Cedar)
New Smyrna Beach Garden Club Grounds – 2000 Turnbull Bay Rd, New Smryna Beach 32168
The Casements Historic Home – 25 Riverside Dr, Ormond Beach 32176
Veterans Museum & Ed Center – 302 Vermont Ave, Daytona Beach 32118
Wakulla County
Medart Recreation Park – 79 Recreation Drive, Crawfordville 32327 (Tree Giveaway on 1/20/24, 15+ species)
Walton County
Legion Park – 226 Ponce De Leon St, Miramar Beach 32550
Washington County
Washington Co. Historical Society – 685 7th St, Chipley 32428
Wausau Blue Star Marker – 1607 2nd Ave, Wausau 32463
