Green, cigar-shaped propagules found bobbing in nearshore waters last fall are now anchored in the ground at Anneâs Beach in Islamorada. About 25 red mangrove seedlings were recently planted by local students to complete the oceanfront beach parkâs restoration from the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017.
The Treasure Village Montessori science classâs mangrove restoration project is a yearlong project. Middle school students have been cultivating and planting red mangroves in the Upper Keys for the last five years, according to Bobbi Burson, the middle schoolâs science and math teacher.
She taught 16 mangrove growers and planters this year.