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2 New Trees Beautify Greenway

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By ANGELA DELGADO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Two new trees adorn the entrance of the Town 'N Country Greenway west of Webb Road.

This is thanks to members of the Town 'N Country Youth Council, the Town 'N Country Garden Circle and a donation from the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department.

Though Florida Arbor Day takes place the third Friday of January, the trees were planted Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This was convenient for the eight Youth Council teens helping in the effort because they had the day off from school.

The Youth Council volunteers gain community service hours needed to graduate from high school and to win scholarships.

"If I can get my hours doing something I like, that's good," said Briana Smith, 15, a sophomore at Robinson High School.

The teens helped plant a 15-gallon pink trumpet tree and a 30-gallon yellow trumpet tree. They will accentuate the crape myrtles and redbuds the Circle has installed, said garden circle member Rob Gamester.
Gamester said they chose the trees because "we wanted to just brighten it up. We just get a variety of trees; an urban forest in a country setting."

The teens help the garden circle members plant the trees, and in return, the garden circle educates the teens on how to get a green thumb.

"I've learned how not to kill plants, learned how to plant trees, what you can and cannot grow," Smith said. "I can't name all I've learned."

"We try to teach these kids so much," Gamester said. "The garden circle's mission is to educate members of the community. This stuff doesn't just happen; people make it happen."

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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