SENIORS BOND, PLANT TREES, ENSURE LEGACY
26 March 2024
26 March 2024
Approximately thirteen seniors from the Cedar Key Class of 2024 spent several hours this morning planting one-year-old cedar trees they had grown from seeds. with Instructor Jessica Crosby and Cedar Key resident and Tropic Trraditions Nursery owner Jim Fleming.
CEDARS COULDN’T BE MORE NATIVE
More than a year ago, Mr. Fleming and current senior Lucas Zeigler harvested the seeds from the cedar tree on the southeast corner of Second Street, right here in Cedar Key. The harvested seeds were brought back to school and potted into three-inch pots, , under the guidance and direction of Mr. Fleming. Students cared for the sprouts through the summer and while school was in session.
More than a year ago, Mr. Fleming and current senior Lucas Zeigler harvested the seeds from the cedar tree on the southeast corner of Second Street, right here in Cedar Key. The harvested seeds were brought back to school and potted into three-inch pots, , under the guidance and direction of Mr. Fleming. Students cared for the sprouts through the summer and while school was in session.
WHERE AND HOW
Today the healthy six-to-eight-inch very, very native cedars stretched their roots into the Cedar Key ground all about town. The little trees, approximately two hundred of them, were planted:
• along the north perimeter of the field along the marsh at Cedar Key School,
• along G Street from Eighth to Third Streets,
• across from The Market,
• throughout the cemetery perimeter,
• along the fence at the Anchor Hole parking lot area.
Today the healthy six-to-eight-inch very, very native cedars stretched their roots into the Cedar Key ground all about town. The little trees, approximately two hundred of them, were planted:
• along the north perimeter of the field along the marsh at Cedar Key School,
• along G Street from Eighth to Third Streets,
• across from The Market,
• throughout the cemetery perimeter,
• along the fence at the Anchor Hole parking lot area.
An efficient production line, Mr. Fleming’s colorful van/truck led the group and toted the trees, fertilizer, and the water capturing polymer. Lucas Zeigler’s and Morgan Beckham’s golf cart followed and toted fresh soil and shovels. Seniors followed, ready to dig the holes, place fertilizer and polymer in the holes, and put the trees in place with extra soil.
PLANNING FOR WATER
Water, you ask? In keeping with Mayor Sue Colson’s effective pre-planning expertise, she and Mr. Fleming conspired to place the cedars where they knew they would be watered regularly. Having spoken to the to-be waterers, Aquaculture Association at Anchor Hole, school personnel at Cedar Key School, property owners and along G Street, both she and Mr. Fleming expressed confidence that the sprouts woud fare well.
Water, you ask? In keeping with Mayor Sue Colson’s effective pre-planning expertise, she and Mr. Fleming conspired to place the cedars where they knew they would be watered regularly. Having spoken to the to-be waterers, Aquaculture Association at Anchor Hole, school personnel at Cedar Key School, property owners and along G Street, both she and Mr. Fleming expressed confidence that the sprouts woud fare well.
REFLECTIONS
Students’ remarks about the day ranged from, “The weather is nice,” to Lucas Zeigler and Morgan Beckham’s remark, “This planting today unites us as classmates and accomplishes a meaningful thing for our Cedar Key.” When Cedar Key staff mentioned the sagacity of the comment and that they might well grow up o be politicians, they responded, “It would be my worst nightmare.” “Fully understood,” responded CKN staff.
Students’ remarks about the day ranged from, “The weather is nice,” to Lucas Zeigler and Morgan Beckham’s remark, “This planting today unites us as classmates and accomplishes a meaningful thing for our Cedar Key.” When Cedar Key staff mentioned the sagacity of the comment and that they might well grow up o be politicians, they responded, “It would be my worst nightmare.” “Fully understood,” responded CKN staff.
Cear Key School Dean Jeff Webb chided, “They’re great kids. This is a legacy for these seniors. They’ll see and enjoy these threes until they are old, like us.”
MAYOR’S REFLETIONS
Mayor Sue Colson calls the tree on Second Street, where the seeds were harvested, the “mother tree” and says it makes her feel like a grandmother. She also shared her knowledge that any of the cedars now along Second Street and the few remaining cedar trees along State Road 24 were planted by the federal government’s Works Progress Administration in the 1930s and 1940s. The Program hired unemployed job seekers to accomplish major public works projects during a depressed economic period.
Mayor Sue Colson calls the tree on Second Street, where the seeds were harvested, the “mother tree” and says it makes her feel like a grandmother. She also shared her knowledge that any of the cedars now along Second Street and the few remaining cedar trees along State Road 24 were planted by the federal government’s Works Progress Administration in the 1930s and 1940s. The Program hired unemployed job seekers to accomplish major public works projects during a depressed economic period.
THANKS
Cedar Keyans owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Fleming, the Class of 2024, and Sue Colson, and the waterers for making this island green, lush, cool, and shady.
Cedar Keyans owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Fleming, the Class of 2024, and Sue Colson, and the waterers for making this island green, lush, cool, and shady.
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