The spectacularly picturesque grounds of Rock City Gardens were once again the perfect backdrop to highlight the efforts of the Indian River Land Trust to preserve, conserve and improve our environs, particularly along the Indian River Lagoon. Close to 400 guests enjoyed a delightful evening under the stars last Thursday at the 15th annual benefit, Land Water Wildlife: Sustaining Our Lagoon, raising more than $260,000, primarily through sponsorships, to support those efforts.
This year’s event was presented by Stephanie Smith and Lollie Stone, and co-chaired by Lee Moore and Emily Sherwood. Working with Rock City owners Tom and Rhonda Lowe and general manager Wade Baxley and staff, the hard-working committee fashioned another outstanding event.
“I think it’s important to educate the community about the importance of the lagoon,” said Stone. “We want everybody to learn about what we’re protecting.”
“The beauty of the area and its flora and fauna is precisely what brought us all here in the first place,” Smith agreed. “If we don’t protect it, it won’t exist for future generations.”
Guests wandered the lush grounds during the cocktail hour, enjoying music by the James Jordan Orchestra and catching up after a long summer. Special décor touches included lovely floral arrangements designed by Faye Estes and executed by the Garden Club’s Rose Circle, and miniature wooden bridges spanning an impressive hors d’oeuvres display created by Chef Travis of Wild Thyme Catering, who also provided the delicious buffet dinner.
Later, entertainment was provided by the Vero Beach Choral Society, under the direction of Jason Hobratschk, ending with the ballad Louis Armstrong made famous, “What a Wonderful World.”
“We’ve acquired 1,000 acres on the lagoon over more than 10 miles of shoreline and we have more to do,” said Ken Grudens, IRLT executive director. “We’re going to do our best to protect the land that protects the lagoon. We want the shoreline along the Indian River Lagoon to remain just as people see it today.”
He noted that they hope to acquire several more pieces of land along the lagoon and, at the same time, are doing incredible restoration work on the lands they already own. Through partnerships with organizations such as U. S. Fish and Wildlife, ORCA, Harbor Branch, Pelican Island Audubon and Florida Tech., he said, “we’re doing a lot of research on those properties to improve the fisheries, rookeries and coastal wetlands. We need people to continue to support our efforts because the work isn’t done. The more support we have, the more we can do.”
For more information, visit irlt.org.
Photos by: Leigh Green
Click HERE to see more or buy photos
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Laurie and Jim Carney with Dace and King Stubbs.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: John Moore, Toni Robinson and Lee Moore.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: John Moore, Toni Robinson and Lee Moore.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Roger and Sally Smith.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Rody and Tommye Johnson with Anne Lanier and George and Marlen Higgs.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Stephanie Smith with Stephen and Cindy Mitchell.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Byron Sugahara with Virginia and Warren Schwerin.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Jim and Betsy Crawford with Laura and Bill Buck.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Pictured Stephanie Smith and Lollie Stone.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Ken Grudens, Natalie Holtom and Chuck Cramb.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Tom and Rhonda Lowe with Wade Baxley.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Lila Stillman and Emily Sherwood.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Tom and Anne Weinstock with Linda and John Johnson.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Monty and George Jones.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Bob Kintner, Ken Wessel and Lou Hoynes.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: George and Sheila Marshall.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Fran and Dr. Charles Pieck.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Fritz and Gay Blaicher.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Susan and Adam Bolinger.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: Barbara Butts and Pat Marquis.
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- Indian River Land Trust benefit evening at Rock City Gardens. Pictured L-R: John and Polly Adourian.
