Wellington schedules Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration for April 25; organizers seek photos and vendors

Michelle Garvey, the Village of Wellington’s assistant director of community events, told the tree board the community’s combined Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration will be held April 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We have Earth Day and Arbor Day planned again this year. It's gonna be on April 25 from 11 to 1,” Garvey said, adding that the event already has interest from vendors. She said seven vendors had signed up within a week of outreach and encouraged board members to forward vendor suggestions by email.

Garvey outlined activities the board will oversee and support: the Great American Cleanup will begin at 9:30 a.m., led by community services; public works will hand out seedlings to attendees and local schools; the annual tree planting with the council — accompanied by Smokey Bear — is scheduled during the event; and organizers plan a butterfly release involving the Boy Scouts and children helping with the cleanup.

She also asked the board to provide photographs of Flower Award winners at least a week before the event so organizers can display enlarged images on or near the stage. The intent is to encourage winners to accept awards in person and to give attendees a clearer view of the properties being honored.

Garvey offered practical details about logistics: she will be at Village Park (the gymnasium) and can coordinate pickup or drop-off of printed materials. Board members agreed to share wide-angle frontal photos to ensure the stage displays show full yard context.

The board approved the agenda change that allowed Garvey to present earlier in the meeting. Garvey closed by inviting further questions and reminding members she will follow up by email on vendor outreach and photo collection for the awards display.

The board did not take any formal vote related to event spending at the meeting; Garvey and staff will return with materials and logistics as part of the event preparation.