Island Cities Celebrated National Arbor Day 2026 with Tree Plantings Across Anna Maria Island on Florida’s Suncoast
National Arbor Day was celebrated across Anna Maria Island on Friday, April 24. The island’s three cities—Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach—each hosted commemorative tree plantings and community canopy-growing events.
Participants in the annual Arbor Day events included city officials from the three Anna Maria Island cities, the Anna Maria Island Garden Club, Keep Manatee Beautiful, the Scenic W.AV.E.S. Partnership Committee in which Citizens for a Scenic Florida is a member, the Florida Forest Service and the Modern Woodmen of America and other community advocates.
Events were free and open to the public. Highlights from the island’s 2026 Arbor Day events included:
- Anna Maria: Officials joined members of the Anna Maria Island Garden Club to plant a native gumbo limbo tree at Jacaranda Park (714 Jacaranda Road).
- Holmes Beach: A ceremonial silver buttonwood tree was planted at Prince Park (121 52nd St.), honoring the island’s coastal environment. The city of Holmes Beach and the Islanders 4 Clean Water initiative hosted a coinciding “Free Tree Giveaway” on the city hall property, during which silver buttonwood and green buttonwood trees were given away.
- Bradenton Beach: City officials and the state forester planted a seagrape tree, Sabal palm and coconut tree at Katie Pierola Sunset Park (2212 Gulf Drive N.) on Bradenton Beach Scenic The ceremony also included a presentation on the new wildlife signage by the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.
The tree planting ceremonies were followed by an All-American Cookout Lunch featuring free hot dogs and hamburgers hosted by the Annie Silver Community Center in Bradenton, where Arbor Day participants could meet the County Forester with the Florida Forest Service.
Ceremonies include remarks from city officials and community advocates followed by tree plantings. “Arbor Day celebrates the importance of trees to our Island environment, health and community spirit,” AMI Garden Club President Renitia Bertoluzzi said in a press release distributed in advance.
All three Island Cities have been designated “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Tree City USA is a program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in conjunction with the National Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters that recognizes cities and towns for committing to effective urban forest management. To qualify, municipalities must meet a set of standards for tree care in their communities.
About National Arbor Day was first celebrated in 1872, Arbor Day is a nationally recognized holiday that encourages tree planting and care. Trees play a critical role in combating climate change, improving air quality, conserving water, and beautifying communities.
