Last November, I wrote about the devastating loss of trees in my home garden due to Hurricane Ian. The loss of my productive Carrie mango tree was particularly saddening. However, given the many overwhelming losses in our community, trees and other landscape damage was initially the least of our problems. Yet, it is the recovery of our landscapes which reminds us, with time we will heal. With this thought, I pushed myself to move forward with the redesign of my front yard, a project I’ve been contemplating for years. Thanks to Ian, I had a clean slate on which to work.

In my previous column, I described several choices of native trees. I wanted to select new trees with Florida friendly features, including low growth habit, wind resistance and attractiveness to pollinators. I thought about trees with food value for me, as well as food value for our local and migrating birds. Of course, eye appeal was an important consideration as well.

After much deliberation and consultation with our local native nursery, I settled on four replacement trees, numerous low growing shrubs and a variety of colorful native perennial flowers.

For the centerpiece of my south-facing front yard, I selected a Wild Cinnamon Bark tree. It is an endangered, showy, evergreen tree with shiny, dark green leaves and red-purple flowers. Although it is not an edible cinnamon for humans, its fragrant cinnamon flower clusters and red berries attract birds and butterflies, a show I’m eager to enjoy as it matures!

In the center of a flower bed bordering the driveway, I selected a native Lignum Vitae tree considered a show-stopper with its blue-purple flowers and yellow-orange berries. Its undulating trunk adds an interesting show of movement to its already showy display. This slow-growing tree can reach heights of about 30 feet if lightly pruned.

For balance, I wanted to add a tree in a flower bed on the edge of the property opposite the Lignum Vitae. I selected a Bahama Strongbark tree, a low, slow-growing tree which has a beautiful weeping structure with white flowers and red fruit. Both trees are very attractive to birds and bees.

To satisfy my culinary interest, I added a non-native Bay Laurel tree in a container near my front entry for easy access when cooking. The leaves of the Bay Laurel are very aromatic and are often used as fragrant greenery in floral arrangements. More commonly, the dried leaves are used to add a minty, peppery flavor to soups, stews, rice dishes, curries and stuffing.

As for my cherished mango tree, I may need to rely on our local growers and kind neighbors to satisfy my mango cravings. I am still searching and hope to find a dwarf mango which doesn’t mind living in a container where it would be more manageable and accessible for these old bones.

Happy gardening and bon appetit!

Deborah Haggett is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer and a member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral. Visit us at gardenclubofcapecoral.com.