Residents of the lagoon region are enjoying a view that once was blocked by Brazilian Pepper. Now native trees, shrubs and wildflowers accentuate a vista of the lagoon. A $147,000 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation along with a match of $170,000 from the MRC and $10,000 from the Palm Bay Redevelopment Agency has been used to remove Brazilian Pepper and to plant native plants. This is a great beginning of the improvements occurring along the Lagoon National Scenic Byway. In addition to beautifying the Lagoon's Scenic Byway, the native plants provide habitat for birds and butterflies, and demonstrate the beauty and low maintenance of native plants in home landscapes. Volunteers and MRC staff cleared each site of invasive plants, then planted more than two hundred native trees, like gumbo limbo, sabal palm, red cedar and live oak, hundreds of native shrubs like coontie and saw palmetto and tens of thousands of native wildflowers including dune sunflower, blanket flower and red sage. Native plantings are still going on. To volunteer, call the MRC at (321) 504-4500.