• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Longboat Key Garden Club spruces up north fire station

The club spent their Saturday planting 120 ixoras and Mexican petunias.


  • By Nat Kaemmerer
  • | 8:53 a.m. July 31, 2021
  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • Share

A group of Longboat Key Garden Club volunteers made quick work of 120 plants at the north end fire station on July 31. 

Over just 45 minutes, volunteers fought rocks and tree roots to get 120 ixoras and Mexican petunias into the ground to landscape the front of the north end's fire station. Some took charge of the sharper shovels to break apart the dirt, while others loosened the plants' roots to help them better settle into the ground. Club President Susan Phillips said the group wanted to get the planting done so the rest of the space could be mulched next week. 

The club recently did planting at Fire Station 92 on the south end of the Key, though the ground was softer and there were fewer plants. These fire station landscaping projects are part of a series of beautification projects the Garden Club has undertaken with the town, and they hope to make enhancements to the Town Center Green in the near future. 

In all, 18 volunteers showed up to get the plants in the ground.
In all, 18 volunteers showed up to get the plants in the ground.
Ron Doerr rests on his shovel after fighting with a root.
Ron Doerr rests on his shovel after fighting with a root.
Ron Doerr
Ron Doerr
Susan Phillips gathers empty plant buckets.
Susan Phillips gathers empty plant buckets.
Club volunteers spread out to tackle the mass of plants.
Club volunteers spread out to tackle the mass of plants.
Cyndi Seamon breaks up the ground.
Cyndi Seamon breaks up the ground.
Cyndi Seamon lifts another shovel of dirt out to make way for a plant.
Cyndi Seamon lifts another shovel of dirt out to make way for a plant.
Lyn and Mike Haycock
Lyn and Mike Haycock
Marcia Schaub and Jim Brown
Marcia Schaub and Jim Brown
Ana Salgado and Petra Danielson
Ana Salgado and Petra Danielson
Beth Roth, Dee Harmer and Tom Harmer plan to plant.
Beth Roth, Dee Harmer and Tom Harmer plan to plant.
Beth Roth prepares to drop a Mexican petunia into its new home.
Beth Roth prepares to drop a Mexican petunia into its new home.
Steve Branham digs another hole.
Steve Branham digs another hole.
Jim Brown dumps a shovel of dirt away.
Jim Brown dumps a shovel of dirt away.
Sherry Dominick settles a Mexican petunia into its new home.
Sherry Dominick settles a Mexican petunia into its new home.
Sherry Dominick
Sherry Dominick
Linda Gidel stomps on a shovel.
Linda Gidel stomps on a shovel.

 

Latest News

Each townhome features a two-car garage and a rooftop terrace.
  • May 20, 2026
Lakewood Ranch development under construction after 20 years of setbacks
The Bayfront Park Recreation Center still welcomes thousands for yoga, Pilates and other classes annually, but is about 56 years old, and talk of replacement has begun again.
  • May 20, 2026
Push begins again for new rec center on Longboat Key
Work is winding down in the first phase of the Phillippi Creek dredging project.
  • May 19, 2026
Work wraps up on first segment of Phillippi Creek dredging
The oval median at Bay Isles Road will be refreshed in a landscaping project that will uproot the unkempt plants in the median.
  • May 19, 2026
Bay Isles landscaping project begins

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Neighbors

Karen and Gregg Sweeney, Chris and Cathy Goglia, and Debbie McPeak socialize at the Longboat Key Club's farewell lawn party on May 15.
  • May 20, 2026
Longboaters jam with Big Z Band to close out season
In a room packed with family members — adjacent to another room with several times as many additional friends — longtime Longboat Key resident Harold Goldstein celebrated his 100th birthday on May 11 at Rosemary and Thyme.
  • May 19, 2026
100 years young takes on new meaning for mold-breaker Harold Goldstein
Photographer Rick Waid looks on as curator Anita Pihl affixes a blue ribbon to his piece, "Wild Mare with Foal," at the May 12 reception for a gallery by local photographers up now at Plymouth Harbor.
  • May 18, 2026
Local photographers get exposure at new Plymouth Harbor showcase
Author Susan Hanafee speaks to the evolution of the character Leslie Elliott, who goes on a truth-seeking adventure set in Sarasota in the murder mystery "Scavenger Tides." Bird Key Women's Association members read the book before hearing from the author at their May 13 meeting.
  • May 18, 2026
Local murder-mystery author shares insights with Bird Key group
Debby Debile joins fellow Longboaters in enjoying a relaxing afternoon at The Paradise Center, where a summer kick-off event featured tea and coloring.
  • May 17, 2026
It's time for tea on Longboat Key
Instructor Suzy Brenner leads her "Stretch and Strengthen" class for the first official activity following The Paradise Center reopening on Sept. 29 at Longboat Island Chapel.
  • May 14, 2026
The Paradise Center expands digital classes

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free