Bob Cook botanical garden, Florida palms, FNGLA, Royal Palm Chapter

Lakes Park Landscape

Long shadows and long sleeves reveal a cool morning, perfect for landscaping. (Phil Buck, Bob Cook, Zack Sweat)

Members of the Royal Palm Chapter, FNGLA showed up last Saturday to put icing on the cake.

FELI gets credit for the idea of a hurricane Ian remembrance garden; to educate the public about the it-happened-here natural disaster, and how engineering can help minimize the damage. Many donors contributed toward the hardscape. Greater than this environmental beauty and education, the facts presented in their 5 signs might save a life.

The Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI) is a leadership program that puts training into practice. It was created to transition engineering professionals into community professionals and leaders within our societies, communities, and workplaces. Through its initial 10-month class, FELI enhances the leadership skills of its participants and sets out a clear pathway to put these skills into practice serving our profession and our communities.

Daily walkers

The compact garden is nestled between the Children’s Garden and the Botanical Garden area where paved walkways encourage the public to stroll through. On the morning of the installation, four women stopped to compliment us for our efforts and appreciated the beautiful addition to their daily walk.

Justin Walsh and the experienced staff from R.S. Walsh Landscape brought in plants, tools, manpower, and a load of washed shell to cap off the plantings.

Many thanks to Royal Palm President Jordan Zoellner for helping to organize people and plants in time for the opening ceremony later that morning. He was joined by fellow Everglades Equipment staffer Jackson Sherer as they took turns operating a backhoe that was a life-saver in this former gravel pit.

James Lynn with Site One did more than deliver and donate Muhly grass and spider lilies, as he dug holes and raked rocks.

Laurie and Ron Groeneveld with JWD Trees oversaw the planting of the most-appropriate Hurricane palms (Dictyosperma album).

Past Presidents of the Royal Palm Chapter, Nick Wichmanowski and Phil Buck (our State President) put aside their usual roles and did grunt work with rake, shovel and pick.

We are grateful for these companies who made donations to make this planting possible:

  • RS Walsh
  • JWD Trees
  • SiteOne
  • SureLoc Wolverine
  • Everglades Equipment Group
279 acre park for the whole family
Weatherproof signs
Massive mural by local artist, MooxieArt depicting hurricane recovery efforts
Beds prepped, edging installed, ready for plants. The brick-paved area is in the shape of the hurricane symbol.
All Florida native plants
Phil and Jackson listen as Justin Walsh lays out the plants.
Jordan with Zack and Phil
Jackson removing obstacles
R.S. Walsh men planting the centerpiece
What a healthy root system on these Sabal minors, grown by Perkins Nursery
Deep watering each plant
Ready for the 7 yards of shell
Shoveling shells
“You don’t place rocks, you plant them” instructs Justin
Watered, washed, and settled.
Hurricane palm
FELI member makes final touches on the informational signs
L to R, James, Laurie, Phil, Jordan, Justin, Nick, Zack
Where I belong, on my knees in the dirt.