By Mark Caracciolo
The Village of Wellington is hosting an array of events on Saturday, April 26 in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day, including a community cleanup event, a plant sale hosted by the Wellington Garden Club and an environmentally themed celebration at the Wellington Amphitheater.
First up is the Great American Cleanup, an annual initiative of Keep America Beautiful. Wellington’s cleanup event will be hosted in partnership with Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful Inc., a certified affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, and the Solid Waste Authority.
These events are held all across the United States to recognize Earth Day and Arbor Day and keep communities clean. Each year, the Great American Cleanup inspires thousands of volunteers of all ages across the nation to participate in efforts to clean up and improve their local communities.
This year, the Village of Wellington is participating by organizing cleanup activities throughout the community starting at 10 a.m. Those interested in volunteering for one of the cleanup events should contact the Community Services Department at (561) 753-2484 to register.
Also starting at 10 a.m. and running until 2 p.m., the Wellington Garden Club will be hosting a plant sale at the Wellington Amphitheater, located at 12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.
The plant sale will feature annuals, butterfly plants, native plants, orchids and perennials available for purchase. Plants will be on sale from various nurseries and vendors local to the Wellington area. The free event will also include a children’s craft table, food trucks, master gardeners available for advice and a plant raffle.
Proceeds from the plant sale benefit the Wellington Garden Club’s youth programs, scholarships, civic beautification and environmental efforts.
“Last year we did the same thing,” Wellington Garden Club President Carol Ralph said. “Our plant sales are one of the fundraisers that allow us to give out scholarships to local high school students and maintain gardens that are in Wellington.”
The Wellington Garden Club organizes other events year-round, from flower shows to quarterly street cleanups, bi-annual garden tours and more. Learn more at www.wellingtongardenclub.org.
“Wellington Garden Club has a motto: Gardening makes a world of difference,” Ralph said, summarizing the motivations and purpose of the club, which aims to leave a positive impact on the community through gardening.
Starting a bit later in the day at the Wellington Amphitheater will be the Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration, hosted by the village government itself. In combination with the plant sale, the community is invited to enjoy a free day of fun and learning from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At the start of the event, the Wellington Village Council will be planting a Sweetbay Magnolia tree in honor of Arbor Day. The event will also feature Earth-friendly product demonstrations, free native seedlings, a raffle for a plant in a seven-gallon container, free seed packets sponsored by Burpee and a visit with Smokey Bear, among many other attractions. The event will also feature the village’s annual FLOWER (Fabulous Landscapes Of Wellington Earning Recognition) Award Ceremony, and visitors can stop by booths highlighting the Wellington Garden Club, the Wellington Art Society and the Wellington Tree Board.
“We are excited to once again partner with the Wellington Garden Club and the Wellington Tree Board to host this event,” said Michelle Garvey, Wellington’s assistant community events director, who is organizing the event. “This inclusive event will have a little something for everyone. Attendees can purchase plants, learn about proper pruning, take home free seedlings, visit our children’s activities and purchase lunch from one of our local food trucks.”
To learn more about Wellington’s Earth Day and Arbor Day activities, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/earthday.
