Did you know about this free tour of Lakeland’s trees? | Photo by LALtoday
56,000. That’s how many trees the City of Lakeland Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Departmentmanages throughout Lakeland. The Urban Forestadds to our quality of life by reducing energy use, increasing property values, and improving air quality. Because of this, the trees provide the city with a net annual benefit of over $2 million.
Want to get to know the 300+ species of trees around Lakeland’s accredited arboretum? Follow along on a GPS-enabled tour of one of Swan City’s tree collections. There are currently tours of Lake Morton + Hollis Garden, with a tour of Lake Wire’s palm trees in the works. Come along with us as we make fronds with our local flora.
Hollis Garden Fruit Tree Collection The first stop on our tour was Hollis Garden, where 93 trees are listed in the collection. Following the map, you can see a photo of each tree andits location around the garden — we like to think of it as a tree-sure hunt.
Once you’ve found the tree, you can read fun facts about its species, like its country of origin and how high it grows. Our favorite was the papaya tree, which can grow football-sized fruits. We even saw a few hanging high up in its branches.
Lake Morton Flowering Tree Collection Just a short walk away are 69 flowering trees lining the shore of Lake Morton. The swans were our guide as we followed the map again to find trees like the Pride of Bolivia, which blooms with apricot-colored flowers in early summer.
Looking for a free local activity?Take your own tour to learn something new about Lakeland. Make it a contest to see who can spot them first, or just enjoy a relaxing stroll through the shrubs.
Stumped on what to do next in Lakeland? Invite your friends on a tree tour with a button below.
Fun Run, Music Bingo w/ Smokin’ Chanchos | Tues., Sept. 20 | 6:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free | Get moving with a fun run at 5:30 before grabbing a bite + playing music bingo. 🏃
Active Living Every Day | Tues., Sept. 20 | 2-3 p.m. | United Methodist Temple, 2700 S. Florida Ave. | Free | Build a step-by-step plan to improve your health at this 12-week workshop.
Yoga for a Better Life | Tues., Sept. 20 | 10:15-11:15 a.m. | Winter Haven Public Library, 325 Ave. A NW | Free | Bring your own mat for a relaxing yoga practice — space is limited. 🧘
Wednesday
Director’s Tour | Wed., Sept. 21 | 6-7 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art | Free | Join the museum’s director + curator for an in-depth gallery tour.
Open Mic at The Pink Piano | Wed., Sept. 21 | 8-11:30 p.m. | The Pink Piano | Free | Support local singers or perform onstage yourself at this open mic night. 🎹
Thursday
Classic Albums Live: U2 - “The Joshua Tree” | Thurs., Sept. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | RP Funding Center | $84+ | Musicians from across the country will perform U2’s album “The Joshua Tree” exactly as you remember hearing it — note for note, cut for cut. 🎸
Jon Lehrer Dance Company | Thurs., Sept. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Florida Southern College | $10+ | Enjoy a fun fusion of modern + jazz dance from this professional dance company.
Friday
Glow Night | Fri., Sept. 23 | 8 p.m.-12 a.m. | Union Hall | $10 | Get your glow on as you dance under the neon lights to electronic music with live drums.
Saturday
An Evening With the Stars | Sat., Sept. 24 | 6 p.m. | Lone Palm Country Club, 800 Lone Palm Dr. | $75+ | Join K9s for Cops at this memorial banquet featuring speaker Retired Staff Sgt. Keni Thomas. ⭐️
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
90º | Scattered thunderstorms | 50% chance of rain
Development
The southeast’s only high-speed autonomous vehicle testing site is on track for completion in 2023. SunTraxis being built on 475 acres near Florida Polytechnic University. The $141.2 million project includes several testing environments, a conference center, and classroom space. Here’s hoping we can catch a ride. 🚙 (The St. Pete Catalyst)
Number
~$553.5 million. That’s how much Polk County Public Schools is spending on projects currently in progress around the school district, including construction at Southwest Middle School. Other projects include a $1.7 million plan to connect Combee Academy to the City’s water system + a $9.422 million cafeteria at Medulla Elementary School. 🏗 (LkldNow)
Stat
3.5%. That was Polk County’s August unemployment rate. Thanks to increases in fields like education + health services, the rate decreased from 5.4% in August of 2021. Machinery repair, personal care services, and more “other services” industry jobs also showed a high increase. (The Ledger)
One in fivesmall businesses will fall victim to a cyber attack. Entrepreneurs and side hustlers, check out these six ways to protect your biz. 🖥️ *
Health
Lakeland Volunteers in Medicineis expanding to Bartow. The volunteer healthcare center will temporarily work out of the Bartow Church Service Center(495 E. Summerlin St.) before moving to the Bartow Regional Medical Center in January 2023.
Outdoors
The 42nd Annual Lakeland Swan Roundup will take place on Lake Morton on Tues., Oct. 18 at 7 a.m. The swans will be corralled into pens before their annual health examinations the next day. Want a sneak peek? See our adventures at last year’s Swan Rounduphere. 🦢
Biz
Lakeland Linder International Airport has a new director ready for takeoff: Kris Hallstrand, who has served as the airport’s interim director since March. Kris brings 20+ years of airport management experience to the role, five of which she gained here in Lakeland. ✈️
Edu
Polk State College President Dr. Angela Garcia Falconettihas been appointed to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention State Advisory Group. In this new role, she will help to manage federal funds for delinquency prevention + oversee compliance.
Award
Lakeland-based branding + marketing agencyMADEhas been recognized as one of the USF Fast 56, which includes the world’s fastest growing USF alumni-owned or led businesses, for the second year in a row. We guess you could say that MADE has it made.
Eat
Head downtown tonight for Tasty Tuesday, featuring 10 small bites from local restaurants for $25. Try tacos from Gallito, pastries from Cake Makers Studio, and more from4:30-9 p.m. Order tickets online or at the LDDA office(117 N. Kentucky Ave.). 🌮
Don’t just eat better — eat the best.Sunbasket’smeal kit service delivers delicious, healthy meals created by award-winning chefsstraight to your front door. Bonus: LALtoday readers can get $100 off their first four deliveriesand more when they sign up. *
History
The American Pickers are heading to Florida this December and are on the hunt for large private collections. Think you have some cool stuff? Reach out to the show’s producers to be considered for a chance at showing off your collection on the hit History Channel show.
Travel
The next time you head to Orlando International Airport (MCO), save some time (and money) by parking in Parking Garage C, the garage that reopened in spring (located two miles south of the airport). It’s only a four-minute train ride to the terminal + costs $2 less per day than garages A and B. 🚗 *
Going on vacation this fall and need to learn a new language fast? With Babbel, you could be speaking a new language in as little as three weeks. Bonus: Get 55% off your subscriptionfor a limited time. 🌎*
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Try Twisted Sugar’s pumpkin chocolate chip cookie with cream cheese frosting. | Photo by LALtoday
Love it or hate it, there’s no hiding from pumpkin spice season. From fall-flavored drinks to spice-scented candles, pumpkin seems to be everywhere.
So we want to know, what’s your favorite pumpkin spice offering from around Lakeland? Is there a scented product you can’t live without or a drink that always signals the arrival of fall?
Let us knowwhat you love and where to get it — we may just feature your gourd-geoussuggestions in an upcoming newsletter.
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Connor.
Editor’s pick: Pumpkin spice might have competition for flavor of the season. What is it? It’s corn. Twisted Sugar has baked up a corn cookie with honey butter frosting + Parkesdale Market is offeringcorn milkshakes.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Fly into Orlando International Airport’s new terminal, here.
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