OCT. 4, 2024 
Thanks to the generous support of
​G3 Development,
Mount Dora Friends of the Environment has been busy
planting dozens of live oaks and other trees in many locations
of the “Old Town Area” of Mount Dora, FL, restoring and developing
the tree canopy for which the city is so well known.
This energetic planting initiative
by local citizen volunteers of the MDFE was 
​made possible thanks to significant recurring donations from
​G3 Development and the Gerry Guenther family.

Mount Dora’s tree canopy includes a large number of laurel oaks, also known as water oaks, with many planted around the city between 1970 and 1980. These trees have a life span of approximately 50-60 years, especially in an urban setting; many have been lost in recent years due to disease, storm damage and old age. While a laurel oak may appear to be strong and healthy, aged laurel oaks pose a public safety hazard due to both falling limbs and even the collapse of the entire tree as many are diseased and even hollow inside and unable to hold the weight of the dying tree trunk and limbs.
With a significant portion of the canopy now at its natural end of life, efforts have significantly increased to ensure the future of Mount Dora’s green infrastructure and the survival of our area’s local urban forest.

Since its inception 30 years ago, more than 800 trees have been planted by the MDFE, funded by private donations including memorial and honorarium tree donations. Following up on the tree-planting effort, volunteers water newly planted trees from a water utility vehicle donated by the organization in 2017.

​With the support the City of Mount Dora, the MDFE has helped maintain a century-long tradition of tree donations and plantings, going back to prominent persons like Mr. J P Donnelly and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge when she and President Coolidge visited the City and planted a tree at the Community Building.

​These efforts received a significantly boost recently thanks to a $40,000 grant
​from MDFE to the City for purchase of new trees, a big increase from previous grants from $3-$5,000 dollars.
This most recent grant was further bolstered by an increase in the city’s budget allowing for creation of a new Urban Forest Program headed up by the City’s first full-time Arborist, Mr. Mark Miller.
The city’s plan is to eventually extend new tree planting throughout its communities.

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All donations above $100 are recognized on a 3-dimensional colorful tree mural located in the lobby of City Hall on which dozens of inscribed leaves, acorns, stones and miniature trees appear with donor’s names.
“The sheltering tree canopy is one aspect that makes Mount Dora ‘someplace special,’” said Gerry Guenther when asked why G3 Development was supporting the MDFE’s tree-planting initiative. “I look forward to my grandchildren enjoying a healthy urban forest which enriches the environment and economic resources of the area.”

For more information on how to donate, or volunteer to drive the water utility cart to water newly planted trees, visit MountDoraEnvironment.org or email your contact information and question(s) to MountDoraEnvironment
@gmail.com or call: 352.988.4022