March 21, 2026

Rooted Together: The Giving Trees of Lynn Haven

Rooted Together: The Giving Trees of Lynn Haven
Spotify podcast player iconApple Podcasts podcast player icon
Spotify podcast player iconApple Podcasts podcast player icon

After Hurricane Michael, the landscape of Lynn Haven changed almost overnight. Trees that had stood for generations were lost, and with them, a quiet but defining part of the community.

In this episode of Haven444, we explore what it means to rebuild—not just structures, but identity—through the story of the city’s tree canopy.

From the science of how trees shape our environment, to the simple act of planting one in your own yard, this is a story of resilience, memory, and growth.

You’ll hear from local arborist, Randy Wright and Ty Farris, the city’s Parks and Grounds Director about the effort to restore what was lost, including the distribution of more than 4,000 trees to residents across Lynn Haven.

We also reflect on how trees can become symbols of remembrance, marking both loss and hope for the future.

Because what we plant today will one day offer shade, comfort, and meaning to future generations.



WEBVTT

00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:12.080
There are some things in a city you don't notice until they're gone.

00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:23.519
The shade that falls across the front yard in the afternoon, the canopy that lines a familiar street, the quiet presence of trees that have been there longer than we can remember.

00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:28.640
In Lynhaven, those trees were more than part of the landscape.

00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:32.399
They were part of the identity of this place.

00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:36.159
Over twenty thousand people call home.

00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:41.759
In October of twenty eighteen, Hurricane Michael changed everything.

00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:47.280
In a matter of hours the skyline shifted, trees that had stood for decades were gone.

00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:49.280
Neighborhoods looked different.

00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:53.359
The light felt different, even the air felt different.

00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:58.799
What had once been shaded streets and layered green canopy became open sky.

00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:07.439
In the days and weeks that followed, the loss was everywhere, not just in what we could see, but in what we felt.

00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:10.640
Because trees do something quietly powerful.

00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:17.359
They root us in place, they hold us to memory, they mark time.

00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:30.239
In this episode of Haven 444, we look at what it means to lose something so woven into the fabric of a community, and what it means to begin again.

00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:37.439
From the science of rebuilding a canopy to the simple act of planting a tree in your own yard.

00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:40.959
This is a story of resilience.

00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:49.760
And a story of how a community grows back not all at once, but one little kindness at a time and one tree at a time.

00:01:53.920 --> 00:02:06.959
Haven 444 had the pleasure of sitting down with Randy Wright, owner of Gulf Coast Tree Specialist in Lynn Haven, who is an ISA certified arborist and has been for the last 25 years.

00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:08.479
He had firsthand knowledge.

00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:12.560
He was here and he saw the damage and destruction that it caused to the city.

00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:19.520
And he also understands how the loss of our canopy has affected our stormwater issues.

00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:27.680
The estimates for the Bay County and 11 counties around it were 70 to 80 percent of the canopy.

00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:36.240
Lynhaven was hit exceptionally hard with the waterways, the water that exposes the shoreline to all the big pine trees come down.

00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:38.719
So Lynhaven was hit extremely hard.

00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:42.319
Lynn Haven was probably one of the worst hit areas.

00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:04.000
So you have a tree the size of a 55 gallon drum, so 10 gallons per inch per week.

00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:06.560
And it can be more depending on the species.

00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:08.560
Different species drink more.

00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:18.319
So with those trees missing, initially it impacts the groundwater, um doesn't soak in and transferate up into the air.

00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:24.719
So it puddles and goes to the streets and gutters and to the bay.

00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:36.400
So initially, it definitely hurts because at first, the with the trees missing and the water not sucking it up, the water does go through to the aquifer quicker.

00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:54.240
But as time goes by, like we are five to eight years after a storm, all of those roots and those tree trunks that used to bring water down to the lower depths of you know ten feet and deeper, are now decayed and gone, and there's no path for water to go through.

00:03:54.479 --> 00:04:10.719
So without trees, soil becomes usually more compacted, which sheds water, and there's no roots to transfer the water deep into the soil, which leads to more runoff five to eight years after a storm than there was right after the storm.

00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:28.720
You begin to hear things like 500 gallons of water a week, and 200 gallons of water a week, and 800 gallons of water a week that Cypress would drink.

00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:38.000
And you realize after the fact, you're not just missing a canopy, you're missing an ecosystem.

00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:44.480
You're missing everything that was working together to keep things in balance.

00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:48.160
And when the storm came, the balance was thrown off.

00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:55.199
And this many years later, we're still recovering, we're still figuring it out.

00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:58.560
We're planting trees.

00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:14.160
We were also able to visit with our parks and crowns director, Ty Ferris, who understands trees and the importance of replanting them into the community.

00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:23.680
Since Hurricane Michael, we've given away close to 4,000 trees to Lynhaven residents.

00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:30.560
And I think what inspired that is Hurricane Michael was a once-in-a-generation forest reset for the panhandle.

00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:38.959
Estimates vary a little bit, but I think everyone's in agreement that there was at least one million trees either destroyed or damaged in some way.

00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:43.199
And Lynn Haven was in the core impact zone of that storm.

00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:50.240
So early estimates showed Lynn Haven had about an 80% loss of the tree canopy throughout our community.

00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:57.439
So in addition to losing the natural beauty that that tree canopy provided, I think there were a couple other things that we need to consider as well.

00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:58.879
There's a loss of shade.

00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:05.199
So that loss of shade means the radiant temperature, radiant heat increases temperature.

00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:09.040
It's roofs that are no longer shaded, cars, roads, etc.

00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:17.199
And a huge impact that I don't think a lot of folks realize is the amount of groundwater that is handled or mitigated through the trees.

00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:23.920
Something that's often overlooked is the impact that trees have on groundwater and stormwater runoff.

00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:31.839
A typical mature oak may soak up 100 gallons a day, whereas a bald cypress may be 800 gallons of water a day.

00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:39.920
So considering the loss of trees that we had, now you have a groundwater level that has risen closer to the surface.

00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:49.759
And when we get a heavy rain, what would normally soak into the ground is now meeting a higher than normal groundwater table, which causes runoff and flooding issues.

00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:54.160
And I think Lynn Haven experienced that in the two to three years following Hurricane Michael.

00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:58.959
So it's important that we get trees planted just to mitigate stormwater, if nothing else.

00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:21.759
One of the beautiful things about the beauty of Lynn Haven is our closeness to the water, views of the bay, our natural resources, all the things that make it so special to be living here.

00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:25.439
But it also means basically Lynnhaven sits at sea level.

00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:33.600
And what that means is we have this beautiful sloping city that reaches North Bay, connects to St.

00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:36.879
Andrews Bay, connects to the Gulf of Mexico.

00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:39.199
It's a tiny piece of paradise.

00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:44.399
But it also means it's very naturally vulnerable to storm surge and to flooding.

00:07:44.800 --> 00:08:19.920
Some of the ways that the city has worked to take care of the infrastructure and to try to alleviate some of the flooding and standing water issues from stormwater is it maintains the city's stormwater collection system consisting of, get this, approximately 2,057 catch basins, 96 outfalls, 52 miles of culverts, 153 ponds, and 44 miles of ditches and swales.

00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:37.600
As Lynnhaven continues to look ahead, the work of resilience is happening not just in what we plant or how we manage those miles of culverts and ditches, but in how we plan.

00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:49.200
The city was recently awarded a$285,000 resilient Florida grant to develop an adaptation plan focused on one of our key drainage basins.

00:08:49.360 --> 00:09:00.639
That plan will help us better understand how water moves through the area, identify ways to reduce flooding risk, and guide future improvements that strengthen our community over time.

00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:05.039
But just as important as the data and design is the voice of this community.

00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:19.279
In the months ahead, residents will be invited to share their thoughts, experiences, and ideas, helping shape a vision that reflects both the needs of today and the future of Lynn Haven tomorrow and for generations to come.

00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:26.240
Because resilience isn't just built through infrastructure, it's built together through community.

00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:29.200
People have embraced these tree giveaways.

00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:34.240
Number one, I think they want to replant so many of these properties that lost trees.

00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:42.000
The three to five trees they may have had remaining on the property were damaged or had to be removed as a result of rebuilding or cleanup efforts.

00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:46.159
So I think everyone is in agreement that we've got to get this re-established.

00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:51.440
We actually use a supplier here in town that gets most of them from Middle Florida area.

00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:56.240
And availability of the species will depend on what the growers have available at the time.

00:09:56.559 --> 00:10:10.000
If you're wondering what kind of tree is best suited, our local arborists, Randy and Ty, both have some advice on what trees are best suited for our city and our area.

00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:12.320
Well, you want a variety of trees.

00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:19.279
So when you're talking about planting or replacing trees that were lost by the hurricane, you want a variety in your yard.

00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:27.279
You don't want to just go with all of one species because the diversity is what helps our ecosystem.

00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:33.200
So live oaks did the best, they're the most resilient, and did the best during Hurricane Michael.

00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:37.519
There's several trees that were like magnolias, the southern magnolia did great.

00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:41.679
They lost their limbs, but they kept their trunk and they're big and full and green today.

00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:48.320
So good thing to do again is have an arborist look because it's mostly the right tree in the right place.

00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:57.519
People put a nice tree out in their yard 10 feet from the house, not realizing that it's going to become a 36 to 40 inch diameter tree touching the house.

00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:13.919
So having somebody, whether it's a forester or an arborist, just give them the best tree for the location and species, because when you're buying a tree, if you buy a tree that's locally grown in our climate zone, it does a lot better when we get these cold weather.

00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:15.440
Palm trees are good.

00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:18.320
Our Florida native tree is a sable palm.

00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:21.200
Um, they do really well in 100 mile-an-hour winds.

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:25.440
The best thing I can say about a palm tree is plant the right palm.

00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:34.080
So having the Florida sable palm and the varieties that do well in our panhandle of Florida is so important.

00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:36.320
Um, a maple tree grows very quick.

00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:38.879
In about seven years, it can get 35 feet.

00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:41.919
I love a maple tree, a red maple, a silver maple.

00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:50.639
They do have some issues with roots and with their uh longevity, they live about 35 years and can be longer and can be shorter.

00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:56.720
But in 35 years, I mean you're gonna have a lot of pleasure out of that tree, and in 20, plant another one.

00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:02.720
But if you want a fast-growing tree, the the maples are a good choice, the birches are a good choice.

00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:05.919
We have several natives that grow very fast.

00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:10.879
We try to stick with Florida natives as much as possible for a couple of reasons.

00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:16.639
One, those trees are hugely impactful to our wildlife and ecosystem here.

00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:20.720
For instance, one of the trees people request all the time are crepe myrtles.

00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:24.480
Crepe myrtles do very little to help the wildlife here.

00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:40.799
There may be one or two insects on there, whereas a mature oak would have dozens of species, if not a hundred different species, of bugs or insects on it, which then provide a food source, a reliable food source anyway, for a variety of birds, provides a habitat for squirrels and birds.

00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:43.679
We want to go back with as many Florida natives as possible.

00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:49.039
Now, with that said, a lot of folks want an ornamental tree, such as a crepe myrtle.

00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:56.000
They're beautiful trees, but the still water mitigation is minimal and definitely doesn't help out a whole lot on the wildlife.

00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:03.200
When we first started having the tree giveaways, almost to a person, they would tell you the story of why I'm planting.

00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:04.480
I lost so many trees.

00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:09.360
You know, as time, as time has passed over the last five or six years, I hear less and less of that.

00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:15.919
I think, as silly as this may sound, I feel like trees have a way of tying us to our community.

00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:24.240
And as an example, I can remember waking up early one morning and seeing this absolutely beautiful sunrise.

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:24.879
Gorgeous.

00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:28.799
So much so that I woke up my three-year-old daughter and said, Come here, you gotta see this.

00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:33.039
And so I took pictures outside, and she happened to be standing beside the small tree.

00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:43.840
Well, fast forward 27 years, and this is just a few months ago, I had her two-year-old daughter at the house, and we were outside and stood beside the same tree and took picture.

00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:49.360
Now, there's nothing special about that tree in any way, but I feel like it's a part of our story.

00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:52.320
It's it's woven through our community in so many ways.

00:13:52.480 --> 00:14:01.039
Whether it's a tree I pass and realize, hey, I used to climb on that when I was a kid, or a tree that I associate my kids being on or around.

00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:04.559
We've got a huge cross-section of our community that comes out.

00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:12.799
You're gonna see young families, you're gonna see the elderly, we see folks pull up in golf carts, folks will be out there with cups of coffee, socializing with each other.

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.679
Many times they show up 30 to 45 minutes ahead of time.

00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:17.919
And it's just a huge social space.

00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:23.759
When the trees arrive that morning, a lot of those same residents put down whatever they have and help us offload the trees.

00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.360
So plenty of kids.

00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:33.919
As a matter of fact, we have a kids' tree giveaway every year where we let every kid, Lynnhaven resident, get a tree and we give away books.

00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:39.279
Like last year, there were educational books, and the year before that it was the giving tree, which is classic.

00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:41.759
So we get a huge cross-section of folks.

00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:46.000
I heard a quote a few years ago that really resonated.

00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:49.360
The best time to plant a shade tree is 20 years ago.

00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:51.200
The second best time is today.

00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:57.919
And I feel like this is a shared partnership with our community where we're doing this together.

00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:01.759
So we know what Lindhaven's going to be in the next 30 years.

00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:09.679
Just people keep planting, people keep doing the best they can to be a good steward of their tree.

00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:11.039
That's what I'd like to see.

00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.960
Replace the canopy.

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:16.559
Rebuilding a canopy doesn't happen overnight.

00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:18.799
It happens one tree at a time.

00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:23.440
One yard at a time, one street, one neighborhood.

00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:29.840
One decision to plant something that may take years to fully grow, but that's the nature of trees.

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:38.000
They ask us to think beyond today, beyond this season, and beyond even ourselves.

00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:41.120
And sometimes they become something more.

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:46.559
Because sometimes they're not just a part of the landscape.

00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:50.000
They are markers of memory.

00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:56.159
We've talked about our trees as symbols of resilience, of roots, of growth, of beginning again.

00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:01.200
And here in Lynnhaven, one tree now stands as a symbol of that remembrance.

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:09.919
A memorial tree has been planted in honor of a beloved city employee whose impact on this community will not be forgotten.

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:17.440
Carol Funtner began working with the city of Lynnhaven in the summer of 2020.

00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:25.200
She passed away from an unexpected illness, which took all of her co-workers and the people who loved her by surprise.

00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:38.799
The city planted a tree in Sheffield Park as a memorial to her and something that can continue growing and reminding us of where we're going and of the hope we have for a future.

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:43.440
And the fact that we continue contributing to that by planting.

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.200
Because we're rooted together.

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.639
We're in this together.

00:16:46.799 --> 00:17:00.399
We're a city and this small city by the bay of twenty thousand plus and growing both remembers and looks forward to the future in consideration of the generations that follow us and we'll live here.

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:02.559
This is Haven four four four.

00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:03.679
Our city.