EQUALITY GARDEN CLUB DONATES TO
OAKLAND PARK’S STUNSON NATURE TRAIL PARADE OF ORCHIDS
Photos Courtesy of City of Oakland Park
From L to R: Carl Shearer, Marjory Meechan, Pat Ellison, Van Gosselin, Jon Albee, Linda Gordon, Mario Rios, Mayor Matt Sparks, Rich Ackerman, Commissioner Tim Longergan
T
he Equality Garden Club (EGC) donated $1,000 to Oakland Park’s Stunson Nature Trail’s Parade of Orchids, as part of the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden’s “The Million Orchid Project.” This project is to reintroduce millions of native orchids to South Florida’s urban landscapes. South Florida’s native orchids currently exist in such small numbers that they have little hope of recovering without programs such as Oakland Park’s Million Orchid Project (MOP). Fairchild is propagating millions of native orchids for reintroduction into South Florida’s urban landscapes. The new Micropropagation Laboratory at Fairchild will generate a limitless supply of young native orchid plants. The City of Oakland Park has created this trail in appreciation for the many public servants, friends, medical professional, religious and civic leaders, and everyone who has been of service during these challenging times with this “Parade of Orchids” at Stunson Nature Trail. The City of Oakland Park would like to thank the Equality Garden Club for the generous donation to the “Parade of Orchids” at Stunson Nature Trail. Members of the Equality Garden Club, Urban Farming Institute, Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, Oakland Park’s Community Volunteer Corps, and City Commissioners were on hand for the ceremonial check presentation
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and the unveiling of a new informational kiosk that helps explain the significance of the Parade of Orchids and includes photos of some of the thousands of beautiful native orchids that volunteers have planted along the Stunson Nature Trail at Royal Palm Park. “The Equality Garden Club is thrilled to be a part of the “Parade of Orchids” initiative, not only from a financial aspect, but as committed partners in seeing this successfully completed,” says Equality Garden Club Treasurer and Chairman of the club’s orchid project, Mario Rios. “Furthering our efforts to encourage environmental sustainability and beautify our communities, the EGC Board engaged in extensive review of Fairchild Botanical Garden’s [MOP] which plans to bring indigenous orchids back into Southeast Florida. We are pleased to be able to donate to this wonderful project in Oakland Park.” “This project will create a beautiful and harmonious space of reflection,” added Oakland Park Mayor Matthew Sparks. “We envision the orchids as a stunning tribute to the first responders, medical professionals, and Oakland Park employees whose commitment to serving our community has never wavered.” South Florida was once an orchid paradise, with a rich variety of tropical orchids growing naturally on the branches of every tree. In the late 1800s, as the Florida
