Alex Floyd honored with memorial planting at Marion Grove Retirement Village Coffs Coast Coffs Coast - popup ad Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - August 8, 2023 Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare president, Barry Powells addresses the gathering of Marion Grove residents at Alex Floyd’s memorial tree planting event for National Tree Day. COMMEMORATING the life of botanical legend, the late Alex Floyd, a group of his friends and long-time fellow residents at Marian Grove Retirement Village in Toormina, gathered in the property’s lovely gardens to plant two trees marked with a plaque. As part of National Tree Day, on Sunday 30 July, members of Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare (CHRL) hosted the event and brought along two specially-chosen trees. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au “As a brahminy kite soared gracefully overhead, two local native trees were planted in the glorious winter sunshine,” CHRL president Barry Powells told News Of The Area. Twenty-or-so people gathered, chatted and fondly remembered a gentle, intelligent, and humble man, who generously shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for the unique local flora in and around Coffs Harbour and contributed greatly to its conservation. Alex and his wife Cynthia were responsible for the establishment of the Botanic Garden here in Coffs Harbour. “Alex was never too busy to help out with an ID for any plant I couldn’t recognise”, said Barry. “He would have a look at my plant sample, then take me straight over to the right drawer in the herbarium, where he’d pull out a pressed specimen. “His botanical knowledge was astounding.” At over 90 years of age, and still an active Landcare volunteer, Judith Paul assisted Barry to plant one of the trees, while fellow Landcarers Dave Woods and Charlie England planted the other. A small plaque marks the occasion and together with the new trees provides a feature for gathering in quiet contemplation of a wonderful man’s legacy. “I thought today’s gathering was an excellent way of remembering Alex, an outstanding botanist who not only had two genera named in his honour, but also six species,” said Barry. “Both Boambee Headland and Bongil Bongil National Park are fortunate enough to have very healthy areas of Floyds Grass (Alexfloydia repens) growing, so memories of Alex are never far away. “CHRL would like to thank Marion Grove management and residents for actively facilitating and participating in this lovely event,” said Barry. By Andrea FERRARI Marion Grove Landcare member Judith Paul and CHRL president, Barry Powells, plant a blueberry ash at Marion Grove in memory of the late Alex Floyd. Marion Grove residents enjoy the winter sunshine while remembering an old friend. Friends gather for the memorial tree planting for Alex Floyd; Dave Wood and Charlie England on the right.
