Volunteers are invited to get their hands dirty—and make a lasting environmental impact—at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve this June, as Lemon Bay Conservancy launches a three-day pine planting project. From June 18 to 20, the community is encouraged to help plant 1,000 bare-root slash pine seedlings as part of a broader $1.2 million habitat restoration effort in partnership with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and NOAA.
Participants will use simple hand tools called dibble bars to plant each seedling and receive brief instruction in planting technique. Volunteers may register for one or more two-hour shifts (7am–9am or 9am–11am) on any of the planting days. To sign up, call 941-830-8922 or email lbconservancy@comcast.net. Contact information is required to receive specific meeting location details.
The pine planting marks the next step in the preserve’s extensive ecological makeover, which has already included recontouring wetlands and planting thousands of native species across estuarine, freshwater, and upland zones. These include smooth cordgrass, salt meadow grass, alligator flag, pickerelweed, saw palmetto, firebush, red cedar, and South Florida slash pine.
Once complete, the project will help foster biodiversity, improve water quality, and expand critical wildlife habitat across the preserve’s 80 acres. Volunteers of all experience levels are welcome to be part of this transformative effort. For more details about Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve and the restoration project, visit lemonbayconservancy.org.
