Many homeowners have mature, established landscapes that require updates and changes. Mature landscapes present unique opportunities and challenges for homeowners as maintenance needs shift. Plants can outgrow their space, homeowners make alterations to property and landscapes, and plant health can decline over time. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if your landscape needs an update: 1. Do you have a hedge that you are constantly pruning? It may be time to remove it and select a shrub that will not grow as large. 2. Do you have plants that are severely affected by drought conditions? If you have plants that really struggle during periods of drought, consider finding a more drought-tolerant alternative. 3. Do you have plants that just don’t look good? It may be that they are in the wrong place or that they are past their prime. It’s okay to replace struggling plants if you aren’t happy with their appearance! Landscaping updates and maintenance can be easy if you have a plan. Follow these tips to before making modifications to your landscape. 1. RETAIN VS. REMOVE: CREATE A PLAN How do you determine what plants to keep and which ones to remove? Plants that are high maintenance, planted in the wrong place, susceptible to pests, or not to your liking might be a reason to remove. Before removing plants, create a plan. Analyze your landscape and figure out what goes and what stays. Working with a plan will help you when you are ready to make changes to your landscape. Remember to retain and protect native plant material and remove plants listed as invasive on the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas: assessment.ifas.ufl.edu . 2. TIME TO REPLANT: RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE When you finally decide to make that first trip to the nursery (with your plan in hand), you should have some idea of what you are going to purchase. Having a plan will help you pick out that shrub, perennial, or tree that will work with the site conditions in your yard. Ensuring that you find the right plant for the right place in your yard is critical to a low-maintenance and sustainable landscape. Is the plant going to be in a sunny or shady location? Is the soil sandy or does it retain water? Are there structural limitations you must take into consideration (such as power lines or roof overhangs)? Your plan should address all of these obstacles before your trip to the nursery, making shopping and selection a lot easier. It is also important to know the plant’s maintenance requirements prior to purchase. Drought tolerance, low maintenance, and minimal fertilizer and pesticide needs are some things you may want to take into consideration. Just how much time and money do you want to spend on that plant? Utilize UF/ IFAS Extension landscaping and gardening resources to help in selection: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide: ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/apps/plant-guide Gardening Solutions: gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu 3. ESTABLISHED TREES AND SHRUBS Working with a mature, established landscape is great because the framework is already there. If you are a new homeowner and aren’t sure where to start, live with your landscape for a few months and then you will realize the changes you want to make. Managing Tree Canopies Properly: Mature trees provide essential benefits, including cooling shade and erosion control. However, they require periodic evaluation for structural integrity and proper pruning is critical. Certified arborists can assess tree health and recommend necessary interventions. Lawn and Groundcover Adaptations: As landscapes mature, changes in sun exposure due to tree growth can affect lawn health. Shaded areas may experience thinning grass, necessitating a transition to shade-tolerant groundcovers and plants. Water Conservation Strategies: Mature landscapes require less irrigation than newly established plantings, but efficient water management remains critical. Adjust irrigation schedules based on seasonal rainfall and plant needs, transition planting beds to microirrigation, and cap or cut use to zones that no longer need regular irrigation. Landscaping a mature, established landscape requires a balance between preservation and adaptation. By following UF/IFAS Extension recommendations, homeowners can maintain healthy, sustainable, and visually appealing outdoor spaces. Regular assessments, proper pruning, and water conservation ensure that mature landscapes continue to thrive for years to come. For more information, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk . The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. Visit us in person, give us a call, or email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu . Stay up to date with our monthly gardening and landscaping newsletter substack.com/@ yourcentralfloridayard and the podcast, “Your Central Florida Yard” (on Apple and Spotify). The Florida Master Gardener Program is a volunteerdriven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible. An Equal Opportunity Institution.

As Winter Haven entered the1920s the U.S. Census listed the population at 1597 people - a small but motivated populace that had embarked on big projects like connecting the areas lakes by canals. Armed with “can do” optimism, they welcomed the “roaring twenties” with gusto. Winter Haven’s City Hall circa 1923. It was torn down in the late 1960s to make way for a Royal Castle restaurant. Currently Popeye’s location. NEW CITY HALL: In 1920, a bond issue was approved to build a new City Hall on the SW corner of Sixth St. and Central Ave, SW. It would literally replace a substandard corrugated structure that had served that purpose on the site. The building was a bold statement for the fledgling community and housed both the Police and Fire Departments on the first floor, with rooms for the city administration, Chamber of Commerce, a courtroom and jail on the upper level. It would open in 1923. HAVEN HOTEL: The year was 1921 and Winter Haven residents R. H. Ross and J. Walker Pope (father of Cypress Gardens founder Richard “Dick” Pope) decided the city needed a good hotel. They sold stock to local residents and construction was soon started. However, it only got as far as the iron framework “skeleton” before the project ran short on funds. To resume work, bonds were sold to raise the needed funds and construction soon resumed. By late October 1924 the hotel was what the Florida Chief (forerunner of the News Chief) called “one of the most magnificent in the country,” The Haven Hotel was ready to open and a sunny late October day found 350 of Winter Haven’s then 1600 residents gathered to celebrate the opening of the six-story coquina shell building overlooking Lake Howard. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: In September of 1923 the Board of Trade transitioned to become the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce with offices in the new City Hall. CITY COMMISSION: On January 1, 1924, the village implemented a City Commission/City Manager form of government having outgrown the town council format. Originally there were three commissioners, and today there are five. Television star Garry Moore (with back to camera) speaks to thousands gathered in the Lake Silver Amphitheatre during the 1957 Citrus Exposition. Double ferris wheel in background was the northern terminus of the midway on Third St. NW THE ORANGE FESTIVAL IS BORN: A significant agricultural celebration was born in 1924 as the Polk County Orange Festival. The Orange Festival was the brainchild of Dr. R. A. Nichols, pastor of the Christian Church in Winter Haven. He had been a lecturer for several years on the Chautauqua Circuit (a traveling tent show in the early 1900s that brought cultural programs such as lectures, music and plays to remote areas of the country). He had witnessed the crowds that were attracted to many county fairs and was reminded of their popularity when he happened across an article about the Portland, Oregon Rose Show. Dr. Nichols took his idea to the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce that at the time had a considerable membership for a town of 2,000 people. The Chamber immediately embraced the concept and four months later the first Orange Festival was held on January 22, 23 and 24, 1924. The Festival would grow to become the Florida Orange Festival, later the Florida Citrus Exposition and finally the Florida Citrus Showcase. From humble beginnings in 1924, the festival brought millions of people to Winter Haven to celebrate citrus with fresh fruit displays, popular television and radio shows, and spectacular midways. But as the industry moved away from fresh fruit, major theme parks opened and disease ravaged what was left of our once proud groves, the festival folded in 2008. THE BANKER’S CUP AWARD: The Banker’s Cup Award is considered our community’s highest honor. The first award in 1923 was sponsored by the Winter Haven Clearing House Association (serving the three local banks at the time) and presented at the last annual meeting of the Board of Trade. The tradition continued with the exception of war years 1943-45 (and more recently 2020 due to Covid) honoring one individual each year. In 1965 the award was expanded to honor both a man and woman annually. From 1923 through 1996, a person was required to win the honor three times to take permanent possession of the large loving cup, with most receiving a smaller token cup as a permanent memento at the end of their year. In 1997, the award committee changed the process and now permanently awards the cup to each year’s recipients. The 2024 recipients are Jane McGinnis and T. Michael Stavres. Land agents in Central Park await the charter train bringing land speculators from northern states to Winter Haven during the 1920s Florida land boom. THE BOOM BEGINS: Many factors contributed to Florida’s land boom of the 1920s but none more than World War I. During the war, wealthy U.S. families could not travel to such places as the French Riviera and had to find alternate tourism destinations. The east coast railroad had been completed to the Miami area and the tropical landscape, ocean beaches and breeze opened the door to what would become Miami’s primary economic engine at the time — tourism. The influx of tourists and money created excitement, optimism, and land sales. Construction of homes and accommodations grew to a fever pitch, and a gridlock of building supplies developed among the railways. The blockage was so acute that the railroads declared a moratorium on construction freight and only allowed essential shipments such as food and medical supplies. Ironically, an accidental sinking of a ship in the mouth of Miami’s harbor prevented the last viable delivery point from accepting construction materials. That fact, plus the Hurricane of 1926, coupled with poor construction standards, meant that by the end of that year, the boom was a bust. Real estate values in Florida evaporated, and many individuals, companies, and municipalities defaulted on loans and bonds. Winter Haven would be among them. This would foreshadow the Great Depression. Central Avenue looking west. Williamson Theater (now Ritz) is on the right. WILLIAMSON/RITZ THEATER: January 28, 1925, the Williamson (now The Ritz) Theater opened to great fanfare. Originally equipped for silent movies and Vaudeville, the theater transitioned to “talkies” and was renamed the “Ritz” in 1932. POSTSCRIPT Of note during a tumultuous decade is the founding of the Winter Haven Rotary Club, which celebrates its centennial in 2025. And in 2027 the Garden Club of Winter Haven will mark its 100th Anniversary. Both plan special commemorations. Next Month: The 1930s: Winter Haven Defies the Great Depression

You can find more pictures and more information about each of these spots at goodfoodpolk.com or visit us on our socials @goodfoodpolk. Louise’s Cafe Louise’s Cafe serves soul-warming, flavor-packed Soul food and breakfast all day. We had the wings smothered in two sauces, the cheesesteak on a toasted bun, and the fried okra. Louise’s Cafe is located at Dewdney Plaza, 1654 First Street N, Winter Haven. Brake Burger Garage The crispy waffle fries, smash burgers, and chicken tenders are from Brake Burger Garage in Lake Wales. With a brand-new Beer Garden out back, this is a great place to hang out with friends and grab a bite to eat. Located at 206 E State Rd 60, Lake Wales. TigerTown We went to a Detroit Tigers Spring Training game and had more than peanuts. Pictured are the chicken tenders and a cheeseburger with fries. Now that the Tigers are gone, we’re heading to a Flying Tigers game with the same great food. Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium is located at 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland. Cheryl’s Cakes We celebrated National Pound Cake Day with a couple of slices from Cheryl’s Cakes located next to Louise’s Cafe.

NCAA WOMENS FINAL FOUR April 3 – 6 throughout Tampa beginning with a festival jam packed with special appearances, interactive games, giveaways, basketball contests, food, licensed merch and more! Watch an open practice with two participating teams, attend a free concert by GloRilla, and more. ncaa.com/womens-final-four . SPRING EDITION: PAINT & SIP April 7, 6:30 pm at Armature works. Get step-by-step instructions on how to paint a seasonal inspired wine glass – the perfect addition to your next event or to give as a gift. Guests 21+ are invited to enjoy a complimentary glass of wine. Supplies included, purchase tickets in advance. armatureworks.com DOME NIGHT: PINK FLOYD April 3, 5:30 pm at The Dalí Dome at The Dali. Celebrate and experience “Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon” while encompassed in 360 degrees of sight, sound and sensation. This experience offers a glimpse into creative worlds that are both remarkably insightful and fantastically unconventional. Purchase tickets in advance. thedali.org YBOR CITY INDIE FLEA April 6, noon – 4 pm at The Cuban Club. Find artisanal and handmade goods, plants, vintage collectors, jewelry, gifts, art, and more. Beyond vendors, you’ll find local food and drink, music and good vibes. This is family/pet friendly and an ecoconscious event. theindieflea.com TAMPA BAY RAYS Rays Up! You have 17 chances to watch the Rays play in April at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The Rays stadium, Tropicana Field in St. Pete, was significantly damaged by Hurricane Milton. They will go up against the Pirates, Angels, Braves, Red Sox, Yankees, and the Royals. raysbaseball.com MAINSAIL ART FESTIVAL April 5 & 6 at Vinoy Park in St. Pete. One of the premier cultural events, where more than 100,000 visitors attend the festival to enjoy and purchase quality art. They will also have live music, a kid’s activity tent, food, a student show and more. Artists will compete for $60,000 in prize money. mainsailart.org FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at Busch Gardens. Guests can purchase culinary delights, craft brews, wine, and cocktails for an additional charge through May 18. Park guests can also experience free, live concert performances with park admission. buschgardens.com EASTER COOKIE DECORATING CLASS April 18, 6 pm at Armature Works. Join Ellie Mae’s Bakery for a fun and creative Easter-themed cookie decorating class! In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to decorate a beautiful set of Easter Cookies to take home while sipping on wine. Purchase tickets in advance. armatureworks.com FIGHT FOR AIR CLIMB April 5, 7 am at the Bank of America Plaza in Tampa. Climb 42 flights of stairs (914 steps) to the top. Proceeds go to the American Lung Association. Every type of climber is welcome, whether competitive, or taking it at your own pace. The Climb team will be there for support. action.lung.org MUSIC FEST April 26 & 27 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival Music Fest will feature: Full Force Brothers, Eric Darius, Brick featuring Jimmy Brown, Boney James, Jeffrey Bradshaw and Friends, Morris Day and the Time, and more. Family-friendly, bring chairs, kids 12 and under are free. tampablackheritage.org

BEER ‘MERICA April 5, 6 – 9 pm at Gaston Edwards Park at Lake Ivanhoe. In celebration of American Craft Beer Week, Beer ‘Merica will feature 100 different American craft brews to sample plus food trucks, live entertainment and a fireworks show. VIP available for an additional charge. beermericaorlando.com DISNEY’S THE LION KING April 23 – May 18 at Dr. Phillips Center. The Serengeti comes to life as never before. As the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. More than 100 million people have experienced the visual artistry, the music, and the theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular and winner of six Tony Awards. This is a must-see. drphillipscenter.org FIESTA IN THE PARK April 5 & 6 from 10 am – 5 pm. Bring the family and stroll around Lake Eola while browsing hundreds of unique artist and craft booths, food vendors, and a beer garden. They will also have live entertainment and a kids’ zone for the whole family. fiestainthepark.com WINTER PARK PAINT OUT April 20 – 26. Twenty-two professionally acclaimed plein air artists will paint outside at the Polasek Museum and at other locations throughout Winter Park and Orlando. All are invited to watch the painting demonstrations. Artwork will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds going to the Museum. winterparkpaintout.org SEVEN SEAS FOOD FESTIVAL Throughout April at Sea World. Family-friendly and foodie approved, purchase food from over 190 mouthwatering dishes inspired by global cuisines. Watch live concerts every Saturday, and additional performances on select Fridays and Sundays. Admission to Seven Seas is included with admission to Sea World. seaworld.com JAZZ & BLUES CONCERT April 12, 7 pm at Leu Gardens. Hear the Dave Capp Project featuring France Neil, Betty Fox Band, and Velvet 45 performing in three locations in the 50-acre gardens. Bring chairs or a blanket and sit wherever you’d like on any lawn area or find a nice spot in a gazebo. Bring a picnic and relax. leugardens.org FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL April 11 – 20. An Oscar-qualifying festival with 170+ films, 27 world premieres, representing 41 countries. Through 10 days of films and first-class events, film lovers mingle with filmmakers and celebrities over hand-crafted cocktails and a delicious menu at Eden Bar and inside Enzian Theater. floridafilmfestival.com RUN FOR THE TREES April 26, 7:30 am at Ward Park in Winter Park. The last mile of the 5k race is on the tree-canopied, wilderness dirt road of Genius Drive. This privately owned glimpse of old Florida is opened to the public only once a year, for this event. All inperson finishers receive a young tree! Walkers welcome. trackshack.com/event/108 BREWS AROUND THE ZOO April 12, 5 – 9 pm at the Central Florida Zoo. Features beer tasting stations with more than 35 different craft beers to choose from. They also offer wine & seltzer for those who aren’t a fan of beer. Buy the Tasting Trail Pass in addition to your ticket and eat. Must be 21+. VIP available for an additional charge. centralfloridazoo.org SCIENCE AND WINE April 26, 7 pm at the Orlando Science Center. Enjoy an evening of live music, food, and wine tastings from diverse regions and meet sommeliers while experiencing all that the Center has to offer. Guests can participate in a silent auction, all proceeds benefit the Center. osc.org

CARILLON CLASSIC 5K April 5, 7 am at Bok Tower Gardens. With beautiful scenery and a challenging course, the race has become an annual tradition for running enthusiasts. This race is unique, the Singing Tower’s bells are musical encouragement as you run. A kid’s fun run with a shorter course will begin after the 5k. boktowergardens.org SEUSSICAL JR. April 18 at 6:30 pm and April 19 at 2:30 pm at Theatre Winter Haven. The Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Horton must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers. theatrewinterhaven.com ROCKIN’ ON THE CHAIN A three-day event benefiting Autism and Special Needs on April 4 – 6 at Tanners Lakeside. Over 25 bands will perform, plus food trucks, raffles, 50/50 raffle, and live auctions. Win big while supporting a great cause! FB @Rockinonthechainbenefitingautismspecialneeds BATTLE OF THE BANDS April 13, 5 pm at Union Hall in Lakeland. High School garage bands from Polk, Orange, Osceola, Hillsborough, and Pinellas join together to face off in this amazing concert experience. Musicians will be competing in three different categories: Best Cover Band, Best Original Band, and Best in Show. Free to watch! FB Cordero Music SUN ‘N FUN AEROSPACE EXPO April 1 – 6 at SUN ‘n FUN. The Expo will include a daily airshow, two night airshows, the US Navy Blue Angels, fireworks, acres of aircraft to explore, hands-on activities for kids, a new aviation playground, 500 exhibitors, an opening night concert with Tyler Hubbard, and more. Find the full schedule and tickets at flysnf.org . WINE DOWNTOWN April 10, 4 – 8 pm. Explore Lake Wales businesses with Lake Wales Main Street. Your ticket includes a swag bag, map of participating locations, and assorted wines/craft beers paired with food items at each location. Purchase tickets at centralfloridatix.com SONGKRAN THAI FESTIVAL April 6, noon – 6 pm at Grove Roots Brewing. Celebrate the Thai New Year with a full cultural immersion. There will be tons of Thai food vendors creating a food market across the entire beer garden, Thai dancing exhibitions, karaoke, water guns, and more! FB @groverootsbrewing EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE April 20 at Bok Tower Gardens. Experience Easter as the sun rises across Iron Mountain. The service will include carillon music, sacred hymns, and inspirational messages from a local reverend. Gates open at 6 am, free admission to all until 8 am. Breakfast buffet for purchase at 7:30 am. boktowergardens.org BINGO April 9 & 23 at Bowen Yard. FREE BINGO! Grab your friends, find a table outside, enjoy delicious food from SIX amazing restaurants, and get ready to win great prizes! Second and fourth Wednesday of every month. More info on FB @ bowenyardwh. LAKELAND BOOK CRAWL April 24-26. Seven participating bookstores will offer Book Crawl specials every day of the event from 10 am – 5 pm. Start at Bookends in North Lakeland to get your official Book Crawl passport. Visit lakelandbookcrawl.com for participating bookstores and more info about the ending party.

THIS IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE By Susan Rogers & Ogi Ogas Have you ever been moved by a piece of music? So much so that you danced like no one was watching, sang at the top of your lungs, or were possibly even brought to tears? Award-winning professor of cognitive neuroscience, Susan Rogers (also one of the most successful female record producers of all time) explains the science of music that reveals the secrets of why your favorite songs move you. Rogers also pulls from her insider knowledge to illuminate the music of Prince, Kanye West and many others. A mustread for any musicophile. THE ROAD TO WOODSTOCK By Michael Lang In August 1969, four inexperienced promoters gave music lovers something they didn’t even know they wanted, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair. The event got off to a shaky start but ended as one of the most significant moments in music history with an unexpected 460,000 people attending what ended up being a free concert. Michael Lang, one of the more experienced promoters, provides his backstage pass account of the hectic road to that historic weekend. THE JAZZ MEN By Larry Tye The kings of jazz – Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie – share their path of becoming the most popular entertainers on the planet by way of a history lesson of Black America in the early-to-mid 1900s. Breaking boundaries of race and discrimination, they singlehandedly wrote the soundtrack for the civil rights movement using the techniques that have come to define the genre, including improvisation and complex chords. IT’S A LONG STORY: MY LIFE By Willie Nelson Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, Willie Nelson has lived anything but a boring life. Here, the nonconformist shares his journey from Texas to Nashville to Hawaii and back. His eight-decade career and life journey include songwriting, marriages, selling vacuum cleaners, and fires all while laying the groundwork for what would explode into country music’s Outlaw movement – blending country, rock, and folk. ABSOLUTELY ON MUSIC By Haruki Murakami Crack open this conversation between bestselling author Haruki Murakami and his friend Seiji Ozawa, former conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The two share a passion for music and over the course of two years discuss everything from Brahms to Leonard Bernstein, to Murakami’s ten-day visit to the banks of Lake Geneva to observe Ozawa’s retreat for young musicians. Full of insight, this read will delight fans of classical music. TUPAC SHAKUR By Staci Robinson Controversial? Yes. Misunderstood? Yes. Influential? Yes. Nearly thirty years after his death in 1996 at the age of just twenty-five, Tupac Shakur continues to be one of the most influential figures in modern music history. Author Staci Robinson, who personally knew Tupac, unravels the myths and complexities that shadowed his life and career, and reveals the man that was unafraid to tell the raw truths about race in America through song. GIRLS LIKE US By Sheila Weller Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon blazed a trail, collectively impacting a generation of girls who came of age in the late 1960s. Confessing their lives through songwriting and becoming rock superstars, this triple biography that reads like fiction, shares their three distinct stories. With beginnings that range from Canadian farmers to the Manhattan intellectual upper crust, their life stories provide the rare glimpse into the female version of the mythic sixties’ generation. ME By Elton John By the age of twenty-three, the shy boy from the London suburbs was performing his first show in America and the music world would never be the same. Through vivid storytelling, Elton John shares his struggles with addiction, his journey of acceptance and finding his true self, and countless anecdotes with stars from across the decades. One of the top-selling solo artists of all time (and also one of the most philanthropic), Sir Elton John does not disappoint.

THE GARDEN By Clare Beams In 1948, pregnant Irene Willard, who’s had five previous miscarriages, stays with a husbandand-wife team of doctors who are pioneering a cure for her condition, where she discovers a long-forgotten garden, a place imbued with its own powers and pulls, making a desperate bid to harness the garden’s power despite the consequences. SECRETLY YOURS By Tessa Bailey Returning home to his family’s winery, Professor Julian Vos, on sabbatical from his ivy league job, finds himself distracted from his plans to write a novel by eccentric, chronically late, unbelievably beautiful gardener Hallie Welch, who is a burst of color in his grayscale life. THE GARDENER’S PLOT By Deborah J. Benoit Maggie Walker has always loved gardening, so it’s only natural to sign on to help Violet Bloom set up a community garden. But when Maggie finds a boot buried in one of the plots… and there’s a body attached to it, suddenly the police are looking for a killer. Maggie doesn’t believe her friend could do this, and she’s going to prove it. THE SPELLSHOP By Sarah Beth Durst When the Great Library of Alyssium goes up in flames, introverted librarian Kiela and her sentient spider plant flee to the faraway island of her childhood where she opens a spellshop to restore the island’s power, coming out of her shell to make a new life for herself. THE GARDEN AGAINST TIME By Olivia Laing Inspired by the restoration of her own 18th-century walled garden in Suffolk, the widely acclaimed writer and critic, moving between real and imagined gardens, interrogates the sometimes-shocking cost of making paradise on earth, resulting in an intricately woven tapestry of the many possibilities gardens can hold. THIS POISON HEART By Kalynn Bayron While learning to control her gift, the ability to grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms, Briseis must use her powers to save her family from a centuries-old curse as dark forces surround her. MIA MAYHEM AND THE WILD GARDEN By Kara West Tasked to grow her own plant with super seeds collected from all corners of the Earth and beyond, Mia finds herself in a unbe-LEAFable situation when it won’t stop growing until it takes over the world! PLANT THE TINY SEED By Christie Matheson Rhyming text and illustrations invite young readers to follow the stages of flower growth as a tiny seed matures and blooms into a beautiful flower.

My idea of a perfect morning would start with a cup of coffee as I watch the fog burn off the top of the lake. Eventually, the mist would clear, and water so perfectly flat that you can’t tell where the shore ends, and the water starts would greet me. That right there is true Ski Diva water. If I could trademark that phrase, I’d make millions just from my family members, who make fun of my aunt because she refuses to ski on anything less than perfect water. To be fair, she’s good enough to deserve the acme of conditions, and it’s considered a privilege to go out on the boat with her at 6:30 am to ski before the rest of the lake wakes up. So many weeks out of my childhood and adolescent summers were spent exactly like that, and I’d never trade those memories for anything. Corinne skiing Growing up in Polk County and being a part of a family of avid water skiers, the intricacies of two skiing, dropping a ski, slaloming, and jumping wakes is very nearly in my DNA. I can so clearly remember what it felt like to watch the Cypress Gardens ski show directly after I had achieved a slalom start behind the boat at the ripe old age of 9. You could feel the history and reverence that the stunt skiers in the show had for the sport and how proud they felt to be taking part in a story lasting over half a century at that time. After that visit to the Garden, I held on to the dream of being a barefoot skier in the Cypress Gardens show; sometimes that dream still wakes me up in the middle of the night, the siren song of wind and water singing in my ears. Dreams aside, watersports in Central Florida have a long and storied history, stretching back over a century. Though the sport was originally invented in Minnesota in 1922 by Ralph Samuelson. Florida is where we learned to jump the wake, and you can’t talk about watersports in Central Florida without talking about the Popes. Dick and Julie Pope, the original owners of Cypress Gardens, would later bring the “Water Ski Capital of the World” into the public eye through showmanship and a flair for invention. Cypress Gardens - 1936 Cypress Gardens - 1950 Waterskiing had already been steadily growing in popularity in Central Florida through the early 1930s, as who can blame people for wanting to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and beautiful, calm lakes that Polk County offers year-round? Cultivating the property around Lake Eloise and turning what had once been a swampy mire into a beautiful botanical garden was a start that brought loads of tourists flocking to Florida’s oldest theme park. Then, everything changed when World War II began. Only the Popes, masters of all the elements of entertainment and business, could build a water sporting legend. In 1943, though people had been skiing on Lake Eloise for at least the last 10 years, a formalized ski show still had not made an appearance. At the time, World War II had brought large numbers of soldiers to the area, either on leave or stationed nearby, and just by happenstance- a local paper printed an article featuring water skiers being pulled behind a boat through Cypress Gardens. These soldiers flocked to the Gardens in order to see the “ski show,” and far from turning them away empty-handed, Julie Pope strung together a merry band of skiers from family and friends; thus, a cultural phenomenon was born. Cypress Gardens - 1982 It didn’t take long for people to notice this remarkable attraction, notable icons from Elvis Presley to Johnny Carson and Carol Burnett traveled to Lake Eloise to get their picture taken with the iconic wooden Cypress Gardens skis. Not only that, but Hollywood capitalized on the gorgeous scenery and stunt opportunities that Dick Pope Sr. had so painstakingly created over the course of building the park. Esther Williams is perhaps the most well-known classic actress to star in multiple films set in the park, with my favorite being “Easy To Love” (1953). If you’ve never seen it, I urge you to run, not walk, to your nearest local library and check out a copy. It has music, it has ski stunts I would tremble to perform, it has an aquatic ballet, and of course, the corny romance between Esther and Van Johnson that makes us all fall in love with classic movies. More recently, John Cusack starred in “Grace Is Gone” (2007), a drama involving a dead mom, a road trip to Enchanted Gardens (AKA Cypress Gardens), and two precocious kids. Though there isn’t any skiing in that film, it goes to show how remarkable this Florida feature still is and will hopefully continue to be. Watersports in Winter Haven have certainly left their mark, with over 50 world records being set on Lake Eloise alone, and a plethora of inventions on the water to show for it. As any Polk County history buff knows, the first photo of someone barefoot skiing was taken in 1947 of Dick Pope Jr. I don’t know about you all, but when I think barefooting, I think of that picture. The first woman to barefoot ski also did so behind a Cypress Gardens boat, Charlene Zint Wellborn claimed that honor in 1951, just four short years after Dick Pope Jr. Barefooting became such a staple of the Cypress Gardens ski experience that the world’s first barefoot competition was held on Lake Eloise, with Dick Pope Jr. taking second place internationally, directly beneath Emilio Zamudio from Mexico who managed a full three laps barefoot around the track before dropping. Willa McGuire Cook boasts yet another invention to come out of Cypress Gardens, the swivel ski! The swivel ski allowed skiers to combine balletic movement with the power of skiing, giving the Gardens’ aquatic prima ballerinas the ability to do pirouettes and hick fan kicks unimpeded. Somehow, whenever I tried to do those kinds of moves as a kid, I usually ended up with a nose full of lake water and the worst headache of my life. My gracelessness aside, the swivel ski was still in use as recently as 2024, as LEGOLAND highlighted the style in their rendition of the ski show, with feats of both flexibility and strength to astound the adoring public. Esther Williams - 1950 1976 1976 The first skiing pyramid was also attempted on Lake Eloise in 1948, with the iconic four-to-five tier staple being included in the daily ski show from then on. n Lake Eloise in 1948, with the iconic four-to-five tier staple being included in the daily ski show from then on. Through their elaborate tricks and stunts on the water, Cypress Gardens tied with the Grand Canyon as the United States’ top tourist attraction beginning in 1964. However, all of these firsts have not been left in the past, records have continued to be set every year, especially through organizations like the Chain of Records which brings together avid water skiers from all over the world with the goal of breaking Guiness and national records. During the 2021 Chain of Records event, some notable records were: • The most barefoot water skiing tumble turns in one minute: 34, achieved by Wayne King. • The most water skiers towed behind single boat (shoe skiing): 16. • The largest conventional doubles line: 18 couples. • The most inverts on a hydrofoil by a woman for both one minute and three minutes: 23 and 55 respectively by MJ Buckley. • The most inverts on a hydrofoil by a man for three minutes: 72 by Geno Yauchler. • The largest hydrofoil line behind one boat: 31. • And last but certainly not least, the largest hydrofoil invert line: 9. Polk County brings in world-class talent from all over year after year, but many of our strongest skiing performers are homegrown; with more skiing schools and training facilities than anywhere else in the country. If you’re in the market for a thrilling new hobby, the World Barefoot Center hosts clinics and training all year round for those who are intrigued by the idea of sanding all of the skin off the bottoms of their feet going 40 miles per hour behind a boat. Kidding aside, the team is, “dedicated to the sport of barefoot water skiing, providing a welcoming environment for beginners through to experienced barefooters.” Central Florida Watersports and Boat Rentals teaches not just regular two skiing, but wakesurfing and tubing too. Whether you simply need a boat to drive or full instruction for Florida’s favorite sports, they have it all. Briscoe’s Ride Center offers even more options from kneeboards to shoe skis and wake skates. Perhaps the class that is nearest and dearest to my heart are the adaptive clinics taught through the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team. These clinics allow adults and children 6 and older with disabilities to take to the water and expand their horizons with a new set of skills. Via a sponsorship from Wawa, their clinic is offered free of charge to the public as long as there are still open slots for registration. I spent most of my teenage years working with a theater troupe composed of other such unique individuals with all kinds of abilities, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I can only imagine the joy brought on by flying over the water in a modified ski, or jumping a wake for the first time could bring. Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned pro, any of these teachers would bring your skills up to the next level! Of course, some folks may not want to get their hair wet and would prefer to just watch the show from the banks. Never fear, the Cypress Gardens Water Skiers are here! Started in 2011 by past Cypress Gardens water ski performers, the team strives to share the beauty and art of water sports with the public, hoping to inspire all of us to take to the wake. With free shows on Lake Silver in Winter Haven every 3rd Saturday of the month during their season, this group of talented performers wows crowds with stunts, acrobatics, and pyramids. Other notable groups to mention are the Lakeland Water Ski Club which has been performing ski shows on Lake Hollingsworth since 1949 on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Sharing the lake with the Lakeland Water Ski Club are, of course, the Florida Southern College Moccasins ski team, who placed 4th in the National Championships in October of 2024. I know it’s always a good day when I can see them practicing while I walk around the lake! With summer right around the corner, and Floridians looking for ways to beat the heat, maybe try your hand at a watersport that has made a splash in Polk County for over 100 years! If skiing isn’t quite your speed, there are so many other ways to get up behind a boat whether that’s wakeboarding, hydrofoil skiing, wake surfing (my personal favorite), or kneeboarding. Watersports are for everyone. Beat the heat behind a boat this year, I’ll see you out there!

Meet Me in Mulberry When you think of Mulberry, it’s unlikely that the first thing to cross your mind would be “popular food destination.” You might think of phosphate mining, railroads and that it seems far away. The truth is, Mulberry is much easier to get to than you might realize. In fact, the town’s location at the crossroads of State Road 60 and FL-37 make it an ideal meet-up point, around an easy half hour’s drive from Winter Haven, downtown Lakeland, Lake Wales, and Brandon. It’s also a stone’s throw away from developments like Christina, and with more communities popping up, it’s no wonder the City of Mulberry is revamping its downtown area. In addition to other projects (including the newly renovated Gem Theater) the City, with the help of co-founder Jonathan Bucklew, is gearing up to open Depot 303, an exciting and highly anticipated food hall in the heart of this quaint, historic town. Photo by Amy Sexson Bucklew is no stranger to the food hall, having already opened Lakeland and this area’s first, The Joinery. Because of everything that goes into starting something like this, he was the City’s logical choice to help open Depot 303. “Mulberry decided they were going to build a food hall in their community through their CRA, so this project was spawned before I was even a part of it,” explained Bucklew. “They hired the architect who we worked with at The Joinery and they decided to come and tour The Joinery to kind of look at how one of these actually functions and what goes on behind the scenes.” The City of Mulberry asked Bucklew if he’d be willing to work with them on a consulting basis, and then, eventually operate Depot 303. As a foodie and design enthusiast, Bucklew was up for the challenge. Before opening The Joinery in 2020, Bucklew, a musician and furniture maker, first became aware of food halls while traveling the country with his band. “I’ve been to a few [food halls] in my travels with music, and I just thought ‘wow, what a cool concept,’” said Bucklew. “It’s like a mall without all the retail, just the food court, and it has a bar. How fun!” Bucklew also understands the importance of places like these for their communities. “I’m very passionate about Polk County and about our communities here. I think one of the best things you can do in your community is bring about cultivating the things you’re passionate about,” said Bucklew. “I love the opportunity to be a part of bringing something really fun and cool, and a big staple location to Mulberry,” he added. Depot 303 promises just that: a fun, cool, staple location that is sure to bring out multiple communities. The building is light and airy, with copious amounts of indoor seating and plenty of parking. With lots of steel, raw concrete and clean lines, Bucklew described the vibe as “elevated, elegant, industrial modern.” It’s one of those spaces that just feels new and exciting and beckons you to stay a while. Depot 303 will host a full bar, complete with craft cocktails and local beer, as well as seven individual restaurants. While Bucklew could not confirm all seven at press time, the four he was able to share with us are very exciting! Fat Maggie’s has long been a presence in Lakeland and a go-to for mouth-watering comfort food. Think delicious burgers, scrumptious salads, BBQ nachos, and grilled cheese. Their first brick and mortar was located in Dixieland, but they closed in 2015 for family time. Over the last few years, they have re-emerged onto Polk County’s food scene with Fat Maggie’s food truck and recently chose Depot 303 as the site for their second brick and mortar. We can’t wait to see the full menu, but their truffle fries, alone, are worth the trip! The new local heroes of downtown Lakeland, Pizza Odyssey, will add their amazing pizza to the line-up at Depot 303. Located in the Lake Morton area, they have been wowing Lakelanders for just over a year now with their homemade dough and sauces, fresh ingredients, and innovative flavor combinations. They have weekly specials like the Drop It Like It’s Hot, made with red gold tomato sauce, sweet drop peppers, garlic ricotta, basil pesto, sausage, mushrooms, and hot honey, and The Godfather, made with a BBQ sauce base, garlic and black pepper marinated pork tenderloins, and jalapeño cream cheese. You can also try one of their specialty pizzas or build your own for the perfect pie. Next, bringing their delectable dumplings all the way from Armature Works in Tampa, Ling’s Dumplings will fill a foodie void in Mulberry and the surrounding areas. Ling’s will be serving up handmade, perfectly steamed dumplings like pork and beef soup dumplings with black vinegar soy sauce. Their Tampa location offers customers the option to build their own dumpling basket with a choice of dumplings, sauces, and toppings. Guests can choose from dumplings like beef bulgogi and edamame truffle, sauces like gochujang aioli and scallion oil, and toppings like kimchi and fried scallions. Each combination is mouth-watering to be sure, and everything is made in-house, from the dumplings to the dough to the dipping sauces. Rounding out the list of confirmed vendors, Tilaw, will bring Filipino fusion to Mulberrry. The creators of Pinoy Cravings, a Filipino catering and pop-up venture based out of Lakeland, will be opening their first brick and mortar at Depot 303. Pinoy Cravings has delighted Polk County’s food lovers with both sweet and savory Filipino fare since 2020 and will now take the passion for their culinary heritage to the next level with Tilaw. “People will be blown away by how good the Filipino fusion is,” said Bucklew. Bucklew hopes to start soft openings sometime in March with fun events like the Gravity Rally, an exotic sports car meet that raises money for charity. In the meantime, Depot 303 will be participating in Mulberry’s Chili Cookoff on March 1. “If we’re not open to the public, we’re at least going to be open for the community to come and see the space, and if we’re not able to sell food, we’ll be giving out samples,” said Bucklew. As Depot 303 nears its grand opening, one thing is for sure: this location is going to both delight food lovers AND bring communities together. I, for one, can’t wait to tell my friends to meet me in Mulberry! Depot 303 303 NW 1st Ave, Mulberry depot303.com FB Depot303 IG @depot.303

This real life choose-your-own-adventure story opens with a sweet bag of nuts. No scary twists or sad plots, just a story where something small can make the difference. In the first chapter, you randomly attend a festival near your son’s home in your son’s new state. You find a treat for you and your spouse to try. You find nuts. Roasted nuts. Roasted, flavored nuts of a variety. Roasted, flavored nuts that would fit nicely as an addition to your concessions menu at your family-owned event space. You connect with the gentleman that sold you the nuts and he tells you how to make them. You then decide to share your delightful snacks with more than the people who would visit you. You decide to take your bags of nuts around the country. It works. It’s a good time. You’ve mixed recreation with glee and business, gone to a handful of cities, and met lots of new people. You have the idea of expanding the venture. Moving into the next chapter, you ask yourself if you want to remain with a traditional, though still delicious product, or open your spice cabinet and sprinkle a dash of seasoning to see what would happen. You do both. You are happy with tradition and you’re intrigued with possibilities. Now you’re tasked with keeping the new and true recipes in-home or sharing them. Turn the page and the chapter of Heartland Snacks, Co. begins. This is husband and wife, Anthony and Erica Scheipsmeier’s story. “The very first day we got the machine and tested it out, we actually made [nuts] with the regular Everglades seasoning. The next day I called (because their facility is not far from our house), asked if I could bring something I’ve made, and have them taste it,” Erica Scheipsmeier matter-of-factly tells about the experiment that would solidify their first partnership. She concludes with a smile, “And they loved it.” Anthony Scheipsmeier, who has been in business with his wife for 20 years, recalls the moment of confirmation when he knew Heartland Snacks was the right decision, “We bought in, but it’s always good to hear from someone outside of your general circle of people you trust, and have somebody say ‘I want to put my sticker on this and have it on my channels and website and that’s how much I believe in you’… having Everglades say this, said this was a legitimate product.” The couple initially chose to create Heartland Place, which is an umbrella for all of their businesses. Its core being 82 acres of land where public and private events are hosted and simply called Heartland Events. They also have a recently started Heartland Ministries. Then there’s Heartland Snacks, the newest escapade that consists of roasted nuts in 15 different flavors — five of which are collaborations with other companies. They have flavors such as Monkey Nuts (the almond, cashew, pecan, pistachio, and hazelnut mix), Cinnamon, Sugar & Spice, Hot Cajun (the perfect blend of a vanilla and creole seasoning), and Fire In The Hole (the varying spicy blends, together with sea salt, and cane sugar). Heartland Place along with the Scheipsmeiers’ are headquartered in Bowling Green, however, their kitchen and packaging happens to be in Lakeland at an entrepreneurial incubator hub duly donned, Catapult. “We found it by chance, we were here watching the fireworks for the 4th of July and they (Catapult) were having an open house.” Anthony quickly joins with a laugh, “So we walked in and we stayed.” Both Erica and Anthony are genuine and open when asked a question, obviously appreciative of a good conversation. Erica has “the memory for details,” as Anthony states, which presumably can be attributed to her career as a CPA. Anthony appears to revel in the connections, seemingly most eager when discussing the perks of their nut business. They defer to each other when needed and with ease, support the other as the moment calls. They exude a pride in getting to work together. “If we didn’t love doing this, if it were not fun, we wouldn’t be doing it,” Erica emphasizes. Anthony chimes in, in agreement, “It wouldn’t be worth it.” “I spent all my time in my career as a CPA … and I didn’t love it,” Erica adds the reason they are currently enthralled with their nut business — it has the potential to replace her long standing job title. Anthony, formerly in farming and construction, concurs. For the Scheipsmeiers, all they needed was an empty nest and some nuts; already living in the neighborhood of entrepreneurship on the avenue of new quests, the willingness to mix and mingle wherever their camper parked always existed. They enjoy the trips and camaraderie as much as the commerce of their product. As many festivals and shows Heartland Snacks have been to, they have an equal presence locally. Their latest collab is with Whiskey Bent BBQ Supply in Lakeland, they sell to local shops, and breweries. The joint efforts are the highlight of the snacks, given the multitude of flavor options as they dress the nuts in seasonings of various known brands. The couple excitedly plan the near and far chapters of their nut-filled pursuits, but take care to not become too strict while allowing Heartland Snacks to grow. They have another notable collaboration in the works; feeling the success from Catapult’s launch, they’re looking for their own warehouse; they’re talking to a distributor; they’re refining their “secret, special recipe,” to be replicable and scalable; and within a year they’re projecting to be on shelves in a major chain. If you ever have the chance to try Heartland Snacks, know that you’re getting the ambitions and the ideas, the nuts and the fun, the packaged ‘why not’ turned ‘oh wow’ of Anthony and Erica Scheipsmeier all from an adventure they chose. heartlandsnack.com IG & FB @heartlandsnackco Photos by Amy Sexson

Polk County’s population increased by 93 percent between 1900 and 1910. Winter Haven’s population more than tripled from 429 to 1436 residents. Still, 1400 is a relatively small number for the adventures the village pursued between 1910 and 1920. Here are the bold initiatives that marked the decade … Florida Chief BOARD OF TRADE Along about 1910, in fact before Winter Haven formally incorporated, local businesses banded together to form a Board of Trade. Forerunner to the Chamber of Commerce, it existed until 1923 when it transitioned to the Chamber. The group published one of the earliest promotional pieces for the community. We estimate it was published in 1913. It begins, “Winter Haven is the center of the world’s richest citrus-fruit section, and likewise the center of the famous lake region of Polk County. Unlike many cities of southern Florida, Winter Haven is not a mere winter resort — it is a substantial town, with an energetic year-round population …” “Both in winter and summer Winter Haven has ideal climatic conditions. In winter the temperature is mild and free from extremes. In summer, Winter Haven feels none of the discomforts of the so-called semitropical sun … the rainy season checks undue warmth, and the nights are delightfully cool.” (Remember, this was before air-conditioning!) “The air is always pure, the water is bright, clear, and refreshing, and mosquitos seldom are known.” The brochure goes on to tout the local altitude (200 feet above sea level) as a great advantage, both climatic and natural. It noted that at that elevation, there were “no swamps, fevers, malaria or great humidity.” It also notes the lakes are all “the product of overflowing springs,” which we know today is not true. There can be some seepage from the aquifer, but none of the area lakes are “spring-fed.” And lest the lazy become interested the text states, “Winter Haven does not seek, invite, or tolerate the shiftless or the idle. It is not the place for the person who expects to make a fortune without individual effort …” The Board of Trade, while spirited and inclined toward hyperbole, had its ups and downs during the 1910-20 decade. It would transition to the Chamber of Commerce in 1923. WHHS THE VILLAGE INCORPORATES On June 22, 1911, the townspeople elected to officially incorporate the city. A town council was formed, and the town seal (a citrus tree) was adopted. While their numbers were modest, their plans were mighty! NEWS CHIEF BEGINS PUBLICATION M. M. “ Dad” Lee was the founder of Winter Haven’s first newspaper of the twentieth century, The Florida Chief. Volume 1 Page 1 debuted On September 28, 1911, and featured a Native American Chief with a feathered headdress as a part of its “flag” or page design. (History tells of an earlier newspaper published for about one year in the late 1890s, but there are no known copies of The Lake Region Gazette.) Lee had relocated to Winter Haven from Kansas where he had worked both as postmaster and newspaper publisher. His wife was hospitalized in Topeka when he arrived here in Winter Haven with his three daughters and two sons. They purchased a large home on Lake Silver adjacent to the home of J. Walker Pope (a real estate developer and father of the man who would eventually found Cypress Gardens, Richard “Dick” Pope). In that first issue, Lee wrote directly, “To the People of Winter Haven: In presenting this first issue of the Florida Chief we have no apologies to offer, no promises to make. Winter Haven needs a newspaper, the people say so ... Our policy will be to build up and not tear down ... Come in and get acquainted.” The newspaper grew with the community and then, during the height of the Florida real estate boom, Lee expanded the paper from a weekly to a daily on September 15, 1924. The paper was then published every afternoon but Sunday. The Florida Chief continued to serve Winter Haven as the sole provider of news until 1930 when George Burr and his wife Josephine (author of The History of Winter Haven) founded the weekly Winter Haven Herald. The Florida Chief would later merge with a competitor to become the News Chief. FIRST K - 12 SCHOOL In 1915, the community finished construction on its first school, serving kindergarten through grade 12. The building was located on the present site of the downtown Post Office. Prior to its opening, the eighth grade was the highest grade of education attainable in Winter Haven. Due to rapid growth, Winter Haven would build a new High School in 1922 on the present site of Denison Middle School. That 1915 building would become Central Grammar for generations of students and later, briefly as Central Junior High. THE “GRAND” CANAL As early as 1912, M. M. “Dad” Lee, publisher of Winter Haven’s fledgling Florida Chief newspaper was editorializing in favor of creating a “grand canal” to connect area lakes. By 1915, a small group of determined residents moved forward with a vision of connecting many of our lakes by canals. The group was organized as the Twenty Lakes Boat Club. The month the charter was signed, the club had a Savannah engineer plat a proposed course for boats to traverse the south, west, and northern perimeters of Winter Haven and beyond from Lake Winterset to Lake Hamilton. The fledgling citrus industry had made a healthy comeback from the freezes of the mid-1890s. Roads of the day were sand or clay and used to haul the crop. A team of mules would pull a wagon loaded with ten to fifteen field crates of fruit. The crates weighed from 900 to 1400 pounds and proved difficult to move. Some believe the canal concept may have been an idea the growers thought would provide a better means of transportation. Canal Dredge The lakes originally targeted included Winterset, Eloise, Lulu, Shipp, May, Howard, Cannon, Idylewild, Hartridge, Conine, Rochelle, Haines, Smart, Fannie, Buckeye and Hamilton. Of the original twenty lakes to be connected, all but Buckeye eventually became a part of what today is known as the upper and lower chains comprising a total of 25 lakes. These are separated by U.S. 17 between Hartridge and Conine where a lock now exists. The self-funded private group had great determination, but by early 1917 they were bankrupt. The Twenty Lakes Boat Club did not accomplish the entire task before its demise. The ultimate failure of the effort is thought to have involved the group having created responsibilities larger than their budget could maintain. No further progress was made on the canal system until May 20, 1919, when the Winter Haven Lake Region Boat Course District was established by an act of the Florida Legislature. Taxing power was granted by local referendum (78 for and 49 against) in a special election on July 7 of that same year. By September 1919, an engineering company was authorized by the “Canal Commission” to dredge and clean canals. At the time there were no seawalls used in the system. As the system matured, wood and later asbestos panels would be used to secure the canal walls. Today, aluminum sheeting is the canal wall of choice. Today’s system of canals and boat ramps on area lakes are maintained by the Lakes Region Lakes Management District created by citizen referendum more than 105 years ago. Our “Chain of Lakes” is viewed by many citizens as our defining asset, all the more reason to be known as the “Chain of Lakes City.” The decade from 1910 to 1920 is arguably the timeframe where the smallest number of our citizens created some of Winter Haven’s greatest destiny-defining moments. Next Month: “The Roaring Twenties and the Florida Boom!”