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His Garden Continues To Grow

Latina family photo

Al Latina talks with a group of children who were on a field trip to Woodmont Park. They learned about the park's many plants and viewed its butterfly garden.

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By Joyce McKenzie of The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2008

TEMPLE TERRACE - In the four years since retiring as a University of South Florida biology professor, Al Latina, 71, has not let the grass grow under his feet.

Instead, the master gardener dug right in with both heels as a member of the Temple Terrace Garden Club. He is chairman of its Woodmont Park Committee, in which he was instrumental in designing new flower beds for the park and establishing a memorial garden to honor deceased club members.

Al Latina

He also heads up Sunday in the Park, the organization's annual fundraising affair, whose proceeds benefit charities in the community. This year's event raised $7,159, all of which was donated to Sincerely, Santa, a project that provides presents to underprivileged children.

"I think with Al, you can always depend on him. He always does what he says he's going to do," said Mary Grevencamp, garden club president.

Latina also is president of Friends of the Temple Terrace Parks and Recreation Department, a group that supports the department's special events and projects, including one to raise money to build a new Bat Tower at Riverfront Park. He also leads other volunteers to follow his devotion to promoting the importance of protecting the city's natural environment.

"Al is a hard-working, dedicated volunteer that gives 100 percent to everything he does," James Chambers, director of the Temple Terrace Parks and Recreation Department, wrote in an e-mail.

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