SBEP Bay Guardians Plant 750 Native Florida Plants at Grassy Point Preserve

A group of 33 Bay Guardian volunteers with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) planted 750 native Florida plants at Grassy Point Preserve in Holmes Beach on Saturday. Native plants help restore local habitat which stabilizes shorelines and supports diverse wildlife species. The volunteers also removed trash and other litter from the 34-acre preserve.

SBEP project partners included City of Holmes Beach, Around the Bend Nature Tours, and Manatee County Department of Parks and Natural Resources. The City of Holmes Beach provided lunch to the volunteers and purchased the plants.

The City of Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson and City Commissioner Carol Soustek attended. Mayor Johnson presented a proclamation honoring former Commissioner Billie Martini, whose dedication to community awareness and fundraising was largely responsible for establishing Grassy Point Preserve.

“The history of Grassy Point Preserve reminds me of the importance of re-nourishing and restoring ecosystems, and Billie was very involved with development of ecosystems and education of children,” said Mayor Johnson, before presenting a photo of a dwarf seahorse, an important indicator species found off the shore of Holmes Beach.

Most of the plants entering the ground Saturday included blanket flower, seaside goldenrod, leavenworth’s tickseed, yellow tops, muhly grass, Jamaica caper, coral bean, firebush, scorpion tail, and white indigo berry. The total order included 26 different species to enhance the diversity.

The award-winning Bay Guardians Program is managed by SBEP in partnership with Around the Bend Nature Tours. The group has donated many thousands of hours supporting restoration projects along the bay and in area parks and preserves. The Bay Guardians complete at least six projects in Sarasota and Manatee County each year. New volunteers receive a blue tee shirt featuring the Bay Guardians logo. Each outing includes environmental education and a picnic lunch following the morning project.

Please contact Darcy Young at info@sarasotabay.org if you are interested in becoming a Bay Guardian.

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is dedicated to restoring the area’s greatest natural asset—Sarasota Bay. Its unique program strives to improve water quality, increase habitat and enhance the natural resources of the area for use and enjoyment by the public. Sarasota Bay is one of 28 protected estuaries in the U.S. The SBEP was founded in 1989 and its partners include Sarasota County, Manatee County, City of Sarasota, City of Bradenton, Town of Longboat Key, Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.