Slash pines planted in St. James Creek Preserve
Saturday concluded a community group effort that helped raise slash pine trees since the beginning of the year.
Ed Chapin, a member of the Calusa Land Trust, said they started out with 500 trees in January and February and ended up with 200 slash pine trees that were planted at the St. James Creek Preserve Saturday morning. He said they chose slash pines because they are native to Pine Island.
Pine Island Garden Club President Marty Kendall said the name slash pines came from natives slashing the pine in half to get turpentine.
Thirty-one volunteers participated in the tree-planting event, making it a success.
“It’s a good group and community effort,” Chapin said about the turnout.
Members of the Calusa Land Trust, the Greater Pine Island Lions Club, Boy Scout Troop 20, Pine Island Garden Club, along with residents came with shovels in hand to help plant the trees.
Chapin said individuals grew the slash pine trees in pots and containers until the rainy season began. He said they had to postpone the planting of trees for a week in hope that more rain would come.
Chapin said some homeowners have agreed to water the trees that were planted Saturday to keep them growing if there is no rain.
Three years ago was the last time the slash pine trees were planted at the St. James Creek Preserve. Chapin said it has just been too dry the last few years to plant them at the preserve, which is approximately 575 acres owned by the Calusa Land Trust and Lee County.
Approximately 300 slash pine trees have been planted from previous years at the preserve already. Chapin said the trees could reach between 80-100 feet tall when fully grown.
Kendall said the club adopted 200 slash pine trees that they tried to keep alive the best they could.
“We baby sat about 200 of them,” she said.
Mel Brinson, Pine Island Boy Scout Troop 20 leader, said the scouts took care of 150 slash pine trees. He said unfortunately only 50 or 60 of those trees lived.
The scouts were invited by the Lions Club to take part in the raising and planting of the trees, he said, which they agreed to because that is what the Boy Scouts do.
Lions Club President Mary Von Burg said she invited the scouts because of a challenge the International Lions Club president put forth at the end of last year – to plant a million trees. As of July 2, 2011, Von Burg said the Lions Club has planted 9,471,134 trees worldwide.
Six or seven scouts participated in the event on Saturday out of the 14 or 15 that are members of the troop. Brinson said Troop 20 has been on the island for 80 years.
“It has been on Pine Island for a long time,” he said.
Kendall said they planted the slash pine trees Saturday morning for the eagles because they took down the invasive trees, like the Australian pines, and replaced them with native pines. She said the eagles like the pine trees because of the three prong branch that provides a tripod for them to build their nest.
The slash pines were planted in groups of threes and fives along the roads on the outskirts of St. James Creek Preserve on Stabile Road.
Kendall said she was happy with the participation of the event Saturday.
“It takes on a community spirit, old and young,” she said.
Once the trees were planted, the Boy Scouts were treated to a free hot dog meal, while the other volunteers donated $1 for their food, which was donated to the Boy Scout Troop.