by Ezabelle Janssen, Contributing Writer
LONG BEACH (GG) — The grass was greener on Thursday, February 20th, as the city of Long Beach celebrated Arbor Day at Greenvale, the W.J. Quarles’s home, with the Garden Club. Arbor Day is a day to celebrate our environment, a day to appreciate the benefits of trees and learn about the plants that surround us, and a time to turn over a new leaf.
As Mayor George Bass and Garden Club President Tammy Yocom-Devin spoke about the history of Greenvale, Arbor Day, and the recreational club, attendees enjoyed the warmth of spiced apple cider and sweet treats. The event celebrated history and the future with the proclamation initiatives that will further add to the beauty and interconnected community of Long Beach.
In attendance at the event were multiple community members, the gracious Garden Club, Mayor Bass, Community Affairs Director Courtney Cuevas, Alderman-at-Large Donald Frazer, Ward 1 Alderman Patrick Bennett, Ward 2 Alderman Bernie Parker, Ward 3 Alderman Angie Johnson, and Long Beach Board of Trustees President Tim Pierce.
The Garden Club donated five camellia bushes to the city, adding to the five they donated last year, which attendees could witness being planted.
Not only are they aromatic and beautiful, but camellias are also historically significant to the original Quarles home. They are a common flower that lines the Mississippi Gulf Coast and they are known for their many symbolic meanings, representing the love the community produces, the devotion of its officials, and the beauty of the friendly city.
As they grow, they will benefit the local environment, providing a vital food source for pollinators like hummingbirds and bees.
Following the planting ceremony, the mayor surprised guests with an in-depth tour of Greenvale. Branch out, take a stroll through Long Beach and appreciate all the green you see while you go back in time with a visit to Greenvale.
(All Photos by Ezabelle Janssen/The Gazebo Gazette)
