Sanibel Sea School benefits from landscape redesign
This summer, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Native Landscapes & Garden Center gave a landscaping facelift to the entry area of the Sanibel Sea School’s main building.
A diversity of drought-tolerant species were planted and provide a wide range of benefits. They require less maintenance and are slower growing and more appropriately sized for the space where planted.
The array provides wildlife benefits, too. Bahama cassia is a larval host plant for sulphur butterflies, while bay cedar is a larval host plant for the mallow scrub-hairstreak butterfly. Bay cedar was also chosen because it is most often found on beach dunes. The fruits of the green thatch palm are attractive to birds, while coontie is a tough, small shrub used to cover the ground and deter weeds.
The new landscape design also increases student safety by providing better visibility from the steps to the parking lots. In addition, a large swath of the invasive Mahoe was removed at the back of the campus and replaced with a variety of native plantings that, over time, will create shade and a living classroom for students to study native Florida plants and the wildlife habitats they create.