Todd Russell of Bradenton gets into the Earth Day spirit last year during Earth Day Fair festivities at Lowry Park (the park, not the zoo) in Tampa. The turtle shell was provided by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which had a table at the event.
[Times photo: Maurice Rivenbark 2000]
A small crowd observes a summer tanager at a Welcome Back Songbirds Festival at Chinsegut Nature Center.
Today is Earth Day, and National Arbor Day is April 30. Several festivals this weekend celebrate the planet and its trees and flowers, birds and more:
Green Thumb Festival: St. Petersburg's annual plant fair pays tribute to Earth Day and Arbor Day with horticultural and environmental exhibits, programs and seminars. Browse among more than 200 exhibitors selling plants, trees, shrubs and flowers. About 2,000 trees are priced at $3 each.
There are also activities for kids, a plant auction, entertainment, free mulch and more. The festival is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Walter Fuller Park, 7891 26th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 893-7335. Free.
Earth Day Tampa Bay: Lowry Park (the park, not the zoo) will be filled with booths by organizations that promote conservation and ecology, plus vendors, music, storytelling, nature walks, tai chi and yoga demonstrations, kids' activities and more. The activities are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The park is at 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. (727) 824-8813, ext. 305. Free.
Earth Day at the Zoo: Lowry Park Zoo features special Earth Day-related activities. Crafts, face painting, a scavenger hunt and more are included with zoo admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
There's also a continental Breakfast With the Birds at 8:15 a.m. Saturday $10 for adults, $5 for ages 3 to 11. Zoo admission: $11.50 adults, $10.50 ages 50 and older, $7.95 ages 3-11. 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. (813) 935-8552 or www.lowryparkzoo.com Welcome Back Songbirds and Earth Day 2004 Festival: Chinsegut Nature Center, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Hernando Audubon and others salute native songbirds and Earth Day with bird, butterfly and wildflower walks, a bird-calling contest, bird banding, bird-box building, native plant and hummingbird presentations, kids' games and more. 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Chinsegut, 23212 Lake Lindsay Road (County Road 476), north of Brooksville. (352) 754-6722. Free.
