Summary of Check Out Our New Living Plant Wall:
The Brevard Zoo has recently installed a new living plant wall on the side of their Cones eatery. The wall features all Florida native plants and was funded by Mark and Nancy Tomassone in honor of Mark’s aunt Carol, who passed away from Alzheimer’s. Mark, a plant lover and Master Gardener, wanted to memorialize his aunt while donating to the Zoo. The Tomassones hope the wall will inspire guests to consider planting native plants in their yards. Using native plants in gardens has numerous benefits for people and the local ecosystem, as they require less water, fertilizer, and trimming. The plant wall also provides habitat and forage for local wildlife, such as bees and butterflies. The wall was designed by Frida’s Living Design and features clip-in pots that can be easily changed. The goal is to rotate the plants and design them twice yearly to keep them fresh and engaging. The current plants include false rosemary, quail berry, ground cover mimosa, frog fruit, and Waxahatchee grass. The Zoo would like guests to interact with the wall and appreciate the diversity of textures and the artistry of plants. The Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that relies on the generous support of the community to continue operating and to fund animal wellness, education, and conservation programs.
Summary:
1. Introduction to the new living plant wall at the Zoo, featuring all Florida native plants.
2. The significance of the project and its connection to the Tomassone family’s love for plants and animals.
3. The benefits of using native plants in gardens, including water conservation and support for local wildlife.
4. Appreciation for Frida’s Living Design for their support and innovative design of the plant wall.
5. Encouragement for guests to interact with and be inspired by the plant wall while supporting the Zoo’s important work through donations.
Have you ever looked at the sides of buildings for beautiful plants? Well, now you have a reason to do so at our Zoo! A stunning living plant wall has been installed on the side of our Cones eatery, just outside of our Paws On loop. But here’s the exciting part – all the plants featured on this living wall are native to Florida!
The creation of this living plant wall was made possible by the generosity of Mark and Nancy Tomassone, who decided to honor Mark’s aunt Carol, who sadly passed away earlier this year from Alzheimer’s disease. Mark knew his aunt was passionate about plants and flowers, and she and her late husband strongly supported their local Zoo and other animal causes. This living plant wall, therefore, presented an ideal opportunity to pay tribute to Carol’s memory while also contributing to the Zoo.
Mark, a huge plant lover and Master Gardener himself saw great potential in this project. He wanted to raise awareness about Florida’s incredible native plant species and inspire others to consider planting them in their yards. By interacting with the living plant wall, the Tomassone family hopes that guests will be encouraged to learn more about native plants and make a positive impact on their surroundings.
Using native plants in your garden offers numerous benefits, not just for you but also for the local ecosystem. Once established, these plants generally require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance, making them more sustainable choices. Additionally, native plants can provide habitat and food sources for local wildlife, especially important pollinators like bees and butterflies. So, by incorporating native plants into your garden, you can create a beautiful landscape while supporting the well-being of your local environment.
The Zoo would like to thank Frida’s Living Design for their invaluable support in making this project a reality. The design of the living wall is the brainchild of Frida’s Living Design, featuring hexagonal clip-in pots that allow for easy plant replacement or rearrangement. The landscaping team can swap out an individual plant or update the entire wall in a minute. Each pot has a felt pouch tethered through a drip line connected to a rain barrel attached to the gutters.
Though the need to replace plants may be minimal, the goal is to rotate the plants and design twice a year to keep the living wall fresh and engaging. The current composition of the wall includes fascinating Florida native plants such as false rosemary, quail berry ground cover mimosa, frog fruit and faWaxahatcheerass. Rose McKinnon, our landscape department supervisor, hopes that guests will interact with the wall, touching, smelling, taking photos, and appreciating the diversity in textures. She believes that this living plant wall showcases how plants can be art, inspiring and uplifting for all.
At Brevard Zoo, we are an independent, not-for-profit organization. We do not receive recurring government funding for our operating costs. It is the generous support of individuals like you that enables us to continue serving our community and offering essential animal wellness, education, and conservation programs. By supporting the Zoo, whether through visiting, donations, or volunteering, you help us make a difference in the world of wildlife and nature.
In conclusion, our new living plant wall is more than just a beautiful addition to the Zoo. It serves as a memorial to a loved one, a reminder of the importance of nature, and an inspiration for all those who encounter it. So, next time you visit, take a moment to appreciate the living plant wall at our Cones eatery. As you do so, think about how you can incorporate native plants into your surroundings, creating a harmonious relationship between humans and wildlife. Together, we can make a positive impact on our environment and ensure a brighter future for all living creatures.
