Category: Forests

From Florida’s Wetlands to the Chelsea Flower Show: Behind UF/IFAS Ghost Orchid Conservation

by Eva Sailly
February 10, 2026

Leafless and ephemeral, the ghost orchid seems to float in the shadows of South Florida’s wetlands. They’re a mystery that has fueled books, films, and decades of fascination. But behind the mystique is a far more complicated reality. ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Conservation, Forests, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Carrie Reinhardt Adams, Chelsea Flower Show, Conservation, Environmental Horticulture, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Germinate, Ghost Orchid, Horticultural Sciences Department, Michael Kane, Ph.D., Plant Breeding, Restoration And Plant Ecology

Alumni Spotlight: Breeding Climate-Resilient Cacao for Mars

by Eva Sailly
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: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Forests, Horticulture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Agroforestry, Alumni, Alumni Feature, Cacao, Climate Resilience, Food Science, Horticultural Sciences, Mars, Plant Breeding, Sustainable Food Systems, Teaching

From Foraging to Farming: Florida’s Feral Fruity Flora

by Shane Teachworth
July 23, 2025

Introduction I am fascinated by the origins of our food. It’s a little absurd to imagine our distant progenitors, searching for food by trying every random plant and mushroom. It's harder still to imagine the investment across generations ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Recreation
Tags: Beautyberry, Blueberry, Elderberry, Foraging

Persimmons: A Florida Fruit Treasure

by Kevin Folta
October 19, 2023

Did you ever feel like you had a burning secret, something that you wanted to scream to the world because it is so good, yet so few people knew about it? This is how I feel about persimmons. I'll scream here. While they are a spectacular ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables
Tags: Diospyros Kaki, Diospyros Virginiana, Fruit, Persimmons

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