Creative gardening and environmental efforts bring recognition from the city's beautification commission.
By ANDREW MEACHAM
Published October 17, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - The City Beautiful Commission on Tuesday rewarded a dozen groups for creative gardening and landscaping.
Chairman Phil Stager kicked off the beautification awards at Sunken Gardens, with Mayor Rick Baker and several City Council members lauding a more tropical St. Petersburg in recent years.
The St. Petersburg Woman's Club took home an award for long-term achievement for their stewardship of the 75-year-old clubhouse grounds at 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE. In accepting the award, landscaping chair Jan Jaicks credited the financial backing of the Snell Isle Property Owners Association and the Women's Chamber of Commerce of St. Petersburg.
For clearing Brazilian peppers and other exotic non-native species out of Forest Bluff, a park at Fourth Street and 65th Avenue S, the Greater Pinellas Point Civic Association won the commission's environmental award. Residents then planted more than 4,000 plants and shrubs, including cypress, crape myrtles, beauty berries and palmettos.
Although most of the awards went to businesses, schools or residential complexes, a few individuals stood out. Sharon Samis and Jim Samis won the Community Water Wise Award for their xeriscaped property at 734 37th Ave. N. The mother and son took over the house in the early 1990s and switched from a grass lawn to jasmine.
The yard does not need to be cut, but Jim Samis edges it regularly. A structured pond enhances a natural look to the back yard, where a compost heap nourishes lush vegetation.
The award recognizes those who use drought-tolerant plants, put "the right plants in the right place," and water only as needed rather than following a schedule, said Chris Claus, a water conservation coordinator for the city.
For her love of teaching, Barbara Jones won the Elva Rouse Award, named after a volunteer who improved the city's parks and preserved historic sites. Through the Garden Club of St. Petersburg, Jones teaches gardening to kindergarten through 12th grade.
"For me it was a labor of love," said Jones, 80. "You start, and you never stop."
Here are the other winners. Apartments: Lincoln Shores, 11601 Fourth St. N. Condominiums: The Florencia, 100 Beach Drive NE. Learning institutions: Shorecrest Preparatory School - Teacher's Garden, 501 First St. NE. Medical offices: Center for Surgical Excellence, 6604-05 10th Ave. N. Places of worship: Liberty Baptist Church, 9401 Fourth St. N. Restaurants: Ballet Cafe, 2900 First Ave. N. Retail buildings: Walgreens Drug Stores, 901 22nd Ave. S. Outstanding 20-Plus Year Award: University of South Florida St. Petersburg, 140 Seventh Ave. S. Peggy Allen Award: Pioneer Park Foundation.
