Useppa Island Paradise Partnership
Continuing a tradition of Useppa Island Homeowners and Club management working together to enhance Useppa Island, a team consisting of manager Donald Beckstead
and dozens of residents converged this January morning to replant the hillsides next
to the bridge behind the Tarpon Bar and reception.
Throughout life and within every community large and small, there are those that just
don’t see the advantage of cooperation. On Useppa, that is rare indeed.
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Led by a committee formed by the Board of Governors, the
Useppa Island Paradise Partnership team planted dozens of bromeliads with
trowels and spades working the sandy soil.
They were then followed by a team of orchid lovers, carefully rooting
the fragile plants in tree branches and within the Cereus that climb the
ancient Live Oaks that shade the targeted area.
Conceived by homeowner and Board member Donna Anderson, the
owners relied upon the Useppa Service Department to provide huge tubs of
bromeliads, dug by hand from other island locations. Beckstead led the effort with shovel and post
hole digger. The ever-present Ginny Amsler, island resident and editor of the
quarterly Useppa Chronicle, was there to record the team effort.
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| Useppa Homeowners Team Landscaping Effort |
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| Resident Editor and Photographer Capturing the Action |
A Longstanding Commitment
This type of island cooperation and communal effort dates
back over 30 years, with early projects led by
Bill and Edna Hager, who would regularly sally forth from their yellow
cottage under the great banyan tree to plant coconut, mango, lime, mulberry and
dozens of other varieties in selected projects throughout the island. Walk
south, along the Pink Path from the museum, and the broad variety of trees that
frame the path date from their efforts in the mid 1980’s. They were joined, as
in this effort, by many homeowners and management who share a deep affection
for Useppa’s beauty.
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| Useppa Island Paradise Partnership |
Hurricane Charley, while challenging to all Useppans, was
seen by the homeowners as another chance to make things better. That effort was
led by the Useppa Island Property Owners Association In cooperation with founder
Gar Beckstead. A multi-year focus and methodical replacement of the islands
shredded landscape was accomplished.
Throughout life and within every community large and small,
there are those that just don’t see the advantage of cooperation. On Useppa,
that is rare indeed.
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