Category: Forests
Alumni Spotlight: Breeding Climate-Resilient Cacao for Mars
October 15, 2025
Dr. Ashley DuVal, an alumna of UF/IFAS with a Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences, has built a career devoted to ensuring that chocolate has a sustainable future. Now a Senior Scientist and cacao breeder with Mars Wrigley, Dr. DuVal works ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Forests, Horticulture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & LifeTags: Agroforestry, Alumni, Alumni-feature, Cacao, Climate Resilience, Food Science, Horticultural Sciences, Mars, Plant Breeding, Sustainable Food Systems, Teaching
Unlocking the Forest: A High-Tech Nature Walk at Alafia State Park
October 15, 2025
Equipped with binoculars, field guides, and AI technology, we set out for a crisp fall morning adventure at Alafia State Park. We discovered that today’s nature walk isn't just about what you can see, but what technology can help you hear, ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, WildlifeTags: 4-H, AI, Anorris, Central Florida, Hillsborough County, State Parks, Technology, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Youth
Silent Sentinels: The Enduring Legacy of Trees
October 15, 2025
October brings a gentle change in rhythm. The air cools at dawn, the light lingers differently, and the plants around us begin to slow. In this quiet transition, trees stand steady, silent sentinels that have watched over seasons, centuries, ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS ExtensionTags: Old Trees, Trees Are Cool, UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Forestry Extension
Weekly “What is it?”: Fan clubmoss
October 9, 2025
I love hiking in new places. Different terrain, new perspectives, and always some plant or animal I’ve never before come across. Last weekend on another hike along the Cumberland Plateau in southern Tennessee, we noticed a low-growing, ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Natural ResourcesTags: Native Plants, Weekly What Is It
Florida Land Steward Update, October 9, 2025
October 9, 2025
NEW TRAINING TO HELP LANDOWNERS AND LAND MANAGERS TO PLAN INVASIVE PLANT TREATMENTS The University of Florida IFAS Invasive Species Extension Program is providing a series of workshops on creating data-driven invasive plant treatment plans ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, WildlifeTags: Award, Family Forest, Florida Land Steward Program, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Season, Invasive Species, Landowner Assistance, Natural Resources, Online Course, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Tree Farm
Florida Land Steward Update, October 2, 2025
October 2, 2025
JENKINS TREE FARM TOUR HIGHLIGHTS About 50 private landowners and partners joined us on Thursday, Sept. 25 for a tour at the Jenkins Family Tree Farm in Walton County, FL. This family forest operation exemplifies multiple-use and muti-generation ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, WildlifeTags: Award, Family Forest, Florida Land Steward Program, Gopher Tortoise, Hurricane Preparation, Longleaf Pine, Natural Resources, Online Course, Prescribed Fires, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Tree Farm, Wildlife
ex•plore: The Monty Andrews Arboretum
September 29, 2025
As a horticulture educator, I spend a lot of time talking about plants—how to grow them, how to care for them, and how those simple acts can be nourishing for us as humans. Gardening gets us outside, puts our hands in the soil, and reminds ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Horticulture, Recreation, UF/IFAS, Work & LifeTags: Explore, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Pgm_HortRes, Trees
Trees help reduce temperatures in cities — how can we get more of them?
September 23, 2025
Dealing with heat in the urban forest Urban heat is a common issue faced by residents of both dense metropolitan areas and suburban developments. But did you know trees have several ways they can help us beat the heat? In this post, we’ll ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Natural ResourcesTags: UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension
The Dirt behind the Data
September 22, 2025
During the first week of September, a week marked by surprisingly brisk morning air, the Koeser Lab team gathered to perform some necessary and challenging tasks. In previous Show Us the Data! posts, we gave you a glimpse into the world of field ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS ResearchTags: Rooted In Tree Research, Show Us The Data!, UF/IFAS Research, Urban Forestry Extension