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Local Audubon chapter unveils native plant garden at visitor center, pledges education and maintenance
Summary
St. Johns Regional Audubon described a new native plant garden north of the visitor center, funded largely by members and donors (about $35,000), with a five‑year maintenance agreement with the city and plans for education programming and volunteer events.
St. Johns Regional Audubon presented the newly installed native plant garden at the St. Augustine visitor center and described plans for upkeep and public education.
Laurie Gilmore, the chapter’s Plants for Birds director, told the commission the garden was installed over the past months and cost nearly $35,000 (excluding liability insurance). Audubon will maintain the garden under a five‑year vendor agreement and budget roughly $2,000 a year for upkeep, including replacement plants and materials. Gilmore said volunteers have logged hundreds of hours and the chapter plans six educational events and up to four club meetings in the garden each year.
Why it matters: the Audubon presentation framed the garden as part of a habitat‑friendly strategy to help pollinators, birds and visitors learn how to use native plants in urban landscaping. Commissioners and attendees praised the volunteers’ work and asked about expanding education and possibly extending the agreement in future.
What’s next: Audubon will proceed with its planned public education events and maintain the planting as agreed; staff and commissioners signaled support for continuing the partnership and exploring future program extensions.
