HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 134-2016 Million Orchid Project Ceremonial PlantingBAL HARBOUR
- V I L LAG E -
OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER LETTER TO COUNCIL
NO. 134-2016
To: Mayor Martin Packer and Members of the Village Council
From: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager )1Jk^1P_rDate: July 8, 2016
Subject: Million Orchid Project Ceremonial Planting
The purpose of this Letter to Council (LTC) is to provide you with information regarding the
upcoming Ceremonial planting of three hundred (300) rare orchids on Thursday, July 21,
2016 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.
As you recall, at the March 2015 Village Council Meeting, a representative of Fairchild
Tropical Botanical Garden, Mr. Leslie Bowe presented details about the Fairchild Tropical
Botanic Garden's efforts to reintroduce one million native orchid plants into Miami -Dade
County and its municipalities. Modeled after a successful orchid restoration program in the
city of Singapore, Fairchild has developed a strategy for planting rare orchids into local urban
landscapes. They are propagating some of Florida's rarest orchids, including some that are
nearly extinct, within their new orchid propagation laboratory. The project goal is to partner
with municipalities, organizations and individuals to make orchids a highly visible component
of life in South Florida. The project is anticipated to have the first generation of reestablished
orchids blooming within five years. Throughout the project, Fairchild scientists are teaching
visitors, students, and the local community about the complexity and fragility of natural South
Florida environments and the importance of habitat restoration.
As the Village Council directed, Bal Harbour Village is participating in this important project
and during the FY 16 budget process, fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) was approved to
fund the initial seven thousand (7,500) orchids at two dollars ($2) per orchid. The Orchids
planned for installation within the Village are now in production. As part of this project, all
interested parties are invited to participate in a Ceremonial planting of three hundred (300)
rare orchids, which is scheduled to be held on July 21, 2016 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. The
planting will occur along the vegetation area beginning immediately behind of the Ritz -Carlton
Hotel (vegetation area of the beach) and moving towards the south along the beach.
This information will also be transmitted within the July Bal Harbour Village Newsletter.
For further information regarding this project, please contact John Oldenburg directly.
JMG/JAO