CouncilThe Quarterly Quarterly Newsletter of the Florida Urban Forestry Council 2019 Issue Four The Council Quarterly newsletter is published quarterly by the Florida Urban Forestry Council and is intended as an educational benefit to our members. Information may be reprinted if credit is given to the author(s) and this newsletter. All pictures, articles, advertisements, and other data are in no way to be construed as an endorsement of the author, products, services, or techniques. Likewise, the statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not represent the view of the Florida Urban Forestry Council or its Executive Committee. This newsletter is made possible by the generous support of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service, Nikki Fried Commissioner. DELAND, FLORIDA – THE “ATHENS OF FLORIDA” Submitted by Steve Lloyd – CFA Coordinator, Florida Forest Service Like many of us, I travel to conferences in Walterboro, SC, his brother-in-law, independent institution of higher learning, all over the country where I enjoy learning O.P. Terry, had “Orange Fever” and had one of the few co-ed colleges in the south. the latest developments in urban forest purchased land in Florida on which to start management and tree care. When the day is an orchard grove. Henry DeLand traveled Tragedy struck the small town in 1886 when done, and the lectures are concluded, I like the St. Johns River to view the property. a fire started in the Wilcox Saloon sometime to learn about the community I am visiting. They disembarked at the riverboat landing after midnight. The fire raced through the How long has it been here? Who founded in Enterprise and traveled to the area then closely spaced wooden structures of the it and why? What were the events that known as Persimmon Hollow--named town destroying 22 buildings on Woodland molded the community into what we see after the wild Persimmons that grew in the Boulevard between New York and Rich today? As a resident of the City of DeLand, area. They stayed with Captain John Rich, Avenues. The town folk used wet blankets I am proud to welcome you to this place of a former Stamford, New York resident. and buckets to save what they could. culture, heritage, and natural beauty. Captain Rich was a Union Captain during Fortunately, no lives were lost during the the Civil War, but moved to South Carolina blaze. Exhausted and traumatized, the Henry Addison DeLand was a wealthy when the war ended. In 1874, he moved to town passed a referendum the very next day baking soda manufacturer in New York who the small settlement of Persimmon Hollow requiring all new construction to be made of came to Florida in 1876 with his family for where he built the first cabin within the City brick or masonry. The buildings built after vacation. While visiting his sister’s family limits of present day DeLand. the fire are still standing today--a testament of the community’s resilience. Henry DeLand immediately fell in love with the area. He purchased 159 acres During the winter of 1886, there was a and set about developing a town based on freeze that severely damaged the citrus culture, education, and beauty like Athens, crop. A man of his word, Henry Deland Greece--hence the nickname, “Athens of made good on his promise to purchase Florida.” To attract new settlers to the area, back the land from ruined farmers. Doing DeLand promised them that if they were so created great financial hardship for unhappy in the first two years, he would continues on pg. 3 buy back all the land he sold them. The plan was bold, the promise was risky, but INSIDE: the result was successful. On December 6, DeLand, Florida - The “Athens of Florida” ...................... 1 & 3 1876, the settlers of DeLand met and voted to name their little town “DeLand” in honor President’s Message ...........................................................2 of Henry Addison DeLand and everything City of DeLand West Indiana Avenue Revitalization Project .......4 he had done for the community. Stump the Forester ............................................................6 Tree of the Quarter ........................................................8 - 9 In keeping with his desire to promote education and culture, Henry DeLand Future Florida Foresters ....................................................10 founded DeLand Academy in 1883. In What Are We Talking About? FUFC News ............................12 1887, the Florida Legislature enacted Members .................................................................14 - 15 the Charter of DeLand University as an Request for Articles ..........................................................15 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE There are so many The professionals who speak for the roads, in Green Buildings, or LEED projects, places needing trees. sidewalks, buildings, utilities, traffic control, resiliency and sustainability programs, is I can’t plant them public safety, waste management, and the Green that grows--the growing plants all, nor should I. energy, are being heard. All are given a within the landscape. By teaching others place in property improvement projects. All about the benefits have their “page in the plan,” and a “seat As an economist, my interest centers on and values of trees, at the planning table.” Let me take this the fact that Green Infrastructure has and to cultivate the moment to speak for trees and landscapes. a return on investment (ROI). As Green desire to plant and Infrastructure grows and matures, so do care for trees in others, we’ll be working Community development, master, or the values and the benefits they provided. together to get the job done. As more people improvement plans should have information It is important to recognize that green learn about the importance and need for and guidelines for trees and landscape plants grow in value as they grow in size. trees, the more plantings and maintenance plantings. The landscape (trees and We need big trees. Research and landscape programs will be found in and around our understory plants) should have a page. In appraisals support the fact that maintained, towns and cities--and around the world. communities where trees matter more, there healthy trees are more valuable than Someday, every place that needs trees will can be other pages in the plan. A plan may unmaintained trees. This is the basis for also have the need for someone to plant include a Tree Survey showing where trees successfully arguing for arboriculture, and and care for them. All the tree planting currently exist BEFORE the planning and maintenance budgets for cities, counties, initiatives; all the increasing tree canopy construction process. A tree disposition, or and properties throughout Florida. It is goals; all the research results showing a tree replacement (sometimes titled Tree my main point when writing urban forest community, human, and wildlife benefits of Mitigation) page is useful and should be management plans. Tree maintenance trees; provides the basis for me to say today incorporated in the Landscape plan. These (Arboriculture) matters. is that someday when trees and stewards guidelines remind everyone at the planning Our FUFC members know the value of are needed everywhere. table, on the development team, or those reviewing the plans, that trees matter and the Green in our communities--the trees In the new decade of the 2020s, we are able are respected within our communities. and landscape plants that improve and to state as a fact, not just a promise, that sustain our lives. Being a part of the Green “Trees are Good™.” Across the world, Knowing what trees are where allows us to Industry that manages and maintains the across our country, across Florida, and identify invasive species, exotic pest species, Green Infrastructure matters – you matter. within your community, trees matter. Our diseased trees, or trees that present hazards Please take a moment to reflect on your part FUFC members know that trees matter to persons or property. A tree inventory also in the maintenance and expansion of the along the streets and within the yards of allows us to identify highly-valued specimen Green Infrastructure of your community. our neighborhoods. The FUFC members trees, Heritage Trees, Grand Trees, native Take a walk in an urban forest near you. are the center of urban forestry in Florida. trees, and historic trees. Tree data will The benefits are there to enjoy and exist for They are the trunk that supports the existing justify the discussions and support decisions everyone. urban tree canopy. Expanding the reach of to preserve, relocate, or remove trees during Thanks for supporting my time as FUFC our message and the depth of our support the planning process. Proper growing space President. The year 2020 starts the next expands the urban forests we live in and and continued maintenance for new tree generation of leadership and progress experience with others. and landscape plantings should be included in planning discussions. for FUFC. I look forward to continuing When is your community, your town, your working with you for a better shared city, your county, the place that you live, Trees are elements of an urban/community environment. doing their next planning project to improve infrastructure. They are actually titled the future? When is the next Complete Green Infrastructure, not just the Streets project, neighborhood enhancement window dressing or decorations to make In Support, project, Main Street USA project, properties look good. We should seek every Community Redevelopment District (CRA) opportunity to remind other professionals John Harris FUFC President program, Community Master Plan revision and politicians involved with community (2020 is the start of a new decade), or next projects, or property improvement plans, property development project being planned that trees and landscape plants are and implemented? WHO IS SPEAKING necessary infrastructure for any project. FOR THE TREES IN THAT PROJECT? Take back the title of Green for the COULD YOU SPEAK FOR THE TREES? landscape and the trees.