Much of Central Florida was affected by Hurricane Irma. The same can be said for the grounds at Nehrling Gardens. The board of directors is currently enlisting volunteers and raising funds to clean up and rebuild the historic property. The Fallen Giant Trees Fund has been set up to pay for debris removal.
Some of the money donated will go towards hiring an arborist. It is a necessity to bring in a professional due to the size of a portion of the trees and limbs that fell. A volunteer day was also hosted at Nehrling Gardens. They will have a similar event this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Volunteers will be cutting down limbs, hauling debris and uncovering plants. Those who wish to participate are asked to wear long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy shoes.
During the storm, Nehrling Gardens lost four oak trees, one magnolia tree, and several historic palms. Many bamboo trees were damaged and new plantings were crushed by the falling debris.
The gardens were originally named for horticulturist Henry Nehrling. His historic home that was built in the 1880s suffered no wind damage and minimal structural damage.
Once cleanup efforts have been completed, staff will assess where rebuilding and replanting should take place. They hope to have things back to normal when they host the annual Holiday Amaryllis Festival December 9th.
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