Community Volunteers Needed for Pollinator Garden

Media Release
Lynda Bell
Keep Nassau Beautiful
(904) 261-0165
[email protected]
August 12, 2021

300 flowering plants were installed by more than 20 local volunteers to create a pollinator garden along the Amelia River to Sea Trail.

Amelia Island, Florida, August 11, 2021. – Earlier this year Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) coordinated the planting of 300 plants along the Amelia River to Sea Trail near Simmons Road and Oak Ridge Drive. This project was the result of many groups working together. The 1-gallon and 3-gallon plants were provided under a new KNB program, Planting Nassau’s Future. The Law Office of Tomassetti & Prince donated to KNB for restoration and expansion of a pollinator garden at this specific location. Members of the Florida Native Plant Society, Ixia Chapter (FNPS), suggested the right plants for the location. The Dune Science Group sourced the plants, and plants were stored and watered at the Fernandina Beach Recreation Center until the planting day.

KNB members moved the plants from the Recreation Center to the Simmons Road location, where more than 20 community volunteers received training from the FNPS experts on the species and proper planting method. Within 1 ½ hours all plants were in the ground with evidence of bees, caterpillars and butterflies enjoying the new garden. Nassau County Road Dept. finished up the day’s work by watering in the new plants.

The site has been adopted under KNB’s Adopt A Spot program by the Florida Native Plant Society, Ixia Chapter. Several events have been completed with volunteers assisting in the maintenance of the beds. With recent rainfall levels the beds have been particularly impacted by the growth of non-flowering plants in the pollinator beds. We need volunteers to help with weeding and dead heading of the pollinator beds. Our next planned maintenance event is Saturday, August 28, 9am – 11am. Please register: https://keepnassaubeautiful.org/news-and-events/

The Amelia River to Sea Trail is a winding path that is used by residents and visitors for bike riding, walking and running. Many sections of the trail have way points for resting and enjoying nature. These newly restored pollinator beds include a designated Monarch Waystation and a Gopher Tortoise burrow. Come visit, identify some of the native plants and wildlife, and help us maintain this natural environment. For information and to get involved in Planting Nassau’s Future: www.KeepNassauBeautiful.org or 261-0165.

About Keep Nassau Beautiful
Keep Nassau Beautiful, Inc. is working to inspire, educate, and equip individuals, groups, businesses, and governments to take action to make Nassau County a place where residents, visitors and wildlife can thrive and experience the beauty of Nassau County. www.keepnassaubeautiful.org