Issue 63 | July 2024

Sunrise Good and Green News & Updates

Celebrating Marvelous Mangroves!

July 26th is the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem which aims to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems and promote conservation. Worldwide mangroves are disappearing three to five times faster than overall global forest losses.

Watch Video

Sustainability Intern Nataly Miguez kayaking through the mangroves at Oleta River State Park.

Pass Up Plastics Month

City of Sunrise Commission proclaims July as Pass Up Plastics Month in Sunrise joining the Plastic Free July® movement to promote reducing single-use plastics. Check out the Pass Up Plastics display at the Dan Pearl Library throughout the month. The Sunrise Good and Green Team will be at the Library on July 19th so stop by to take the pledge and get a prize while supplies last or stay for the talk at 1:00pm.

Pass Up Plastics

Summer Splashback Savings

Upgrade to an approved high-efficiency toilet this summer and get a $125 rebate. Save water and money while having a blast, all summer long! Plus, if you purchase a high-efficiency toilet between June 20 - September 22, 2024 you can be entered to win a $250 gift card (proof of purchase within timeframe required). Call 1-800-270-9794 for more information.

Conservation Pays

My Safe Florida Home Program is Back

Florida homeowners can get a free home inspection to identify ways to improve their houses for hurricane season. Eligible homeowners can also apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to upgrade windows, exterior doors and garage doors and strengthen roofs. The State’s application portal opens July 1.

My Safe Florida Home

Janet and Terrell McCombs holding their Emerald Award at Broward Water Matters Day 2024.

City Employees Win Broward Emerald Award

Congratulations Janet (Public Works) and Terrell (Community Development), both longtime Sunrise employees and longtime Dania Beach residents, on winning an Emerald Award for their home's native and Florida-friendly landscape. Their home is also a certified wildlife habitat through National Wildlife Federation! It was featured on the CBS 4 Joan Murray story "Make your home eco-friendly and keep your cool in heat of summer."

Watch CBS Story

Some Plants Don't Like Inundation, Oh but Some Plants Do

Image source: UNESCO Mangroves Ecosystems of USA Poster [Download PDF]

Water-Loving Native Plants for Rain Gardens and/or Stormwater Pond Shorelines

We talk a lot about the drought tolerance of native plants. But there are native plants that can thrive in both wet and dry conditions, sometimes for extended periods.

Think about planting some of these native species in your yard if you have an area that takes a while to dry out after a rain storm:

African Iris Dietes iridioides
Blue Mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum
Blue Porterweed Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Fakahatchee Grass Tripsacum dactyloides
Florida Gammagrass Tripsacum floridanum
Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris
Passion Vine Passiflora incarnata
Scorpion Tail Heliotropium angiospermum

Landscaping on the Edge Pamphlet [Download PDF]

Florida's Marvelous Mangroves

Mangroves make the coast - literally.

Mangroves are a keystone species providing essential services that act as the base for the entire estuarine community. Mangroves are home to a massive array of wildlife, and their dense roots act as a net holding and stabilizing the shoreline. They are so essential to the coastal ecosystem that laws have ben passed to protect mangrove trees.

Did You Know? Florida's Ten Thousand Islands is one of the largest mangrove swamps in the word.

There are more than 50 species of mangroves around the world, but only 3 species call Florida home. Learn about each of the species you can find in South Florida and how to identify them:

Read more about Florida's Marvelous Mangroves [Blog]

Fungus Follows Rainy Days in the Garden - Florida Gardener

Florida's rainy season challenges gardeners to be on the lookout for fungus outbreaks. Fungus is easy to spot and treated when caught early.

Sunrise Utilities offers eligible customers NatureScape Irrigation Services Rebates to improve your outdoor water-use!