Wetland Preserve

10/09/2026

Fall Horticultural Festival, Alachua County 17 October 2026- 9:00 am to 4:00 pm ET at Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center, 23100 W Newberry Rd, Newberry, FL 32669. Over 75 vendors offer educational booths, plant sales (including native plants), activities for kids, food trucks, demonstrations and more. This year, there will be an Orchid Showcase, “Fang Fest”, and Keynote Speaker Brie Arthur will provide a presentation. https://www.ggcfl.org/fallexpo

10/05/2026

October is Florida Native Plant Month

Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 Celebrate by planting a native plant. While the rest of the country looks toward the first autumn frosts, North Florida gardeners know that October is our time to shine. Our best planting window as the weather starts to cool off encour...

10/04/2026

We couldn't think of a better way to begin October than by welcoming the Beluthahatchee St. Johns FNPS (Beluthahatchee Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society) to Wetland Preserve! Thank you to the Beluthahatchee Chapter for spending the day with us and for the work you do to help people learn about and appreciate Florida's native plants!
- Special Thanks to our friend Rhonda K Lovett for capturing these moments.

10/03/2026

In our last video, Ben showed some of the damage left behind after the lightning-strike wildfire at Wetland Preserve — including mature pines that were lost after the fire continued to smolder in the accumulated duff around their bases.

Next phase: salvaging some of the timber that was killed by the fire.

If you listen in here Ben walks us through the process as a harvester and forwarder work together to remove the fire-damaged pine. The equipment we're using is Ponsse forest machinery, designed specifically for efficient and controlled forest harvesting. https://www.ponsse.com/en/products

09/25/2026

Wildfire meets a forest that has gone too long without fire:

This section of Wetland Preserve was burned by a wildfire ignited by a lightning strike this is a natural source of fire in Florida's fire-adapted ecosystems.

But while fire is natural here, the conditions THIS fire encountered were not necessarily. Let me explain ......

Long periods of fire exclusion can allow layers of leaves, organic material and duff to build up on the forest floor, particularly around the bases of mature trees. When that accumulated "duff" becomes dry enough to burn, it can smolder for long periods and generate enough heat to damage the roots of even large, fire-adapted pines.

Unfortunately, as Ben shows in this video, we are now seeing evidence that most if not all of the trees in this area did not survive that prolonged heat.
fire-adapted does not mean fire-proof.

But the story goes on.

As the overstory opens up, sunlight will reach the forest floor, creating opportunities for native grasses and other groundcover to flourish — providing valuable food and habitat for wildlife.

Some of the dead pines will be removed while the wood can still be salvaged. The hardwoods that were killed by the fire, however, will remain standing where it is safe to do so. These standing dead trees, called Snags, are an important part of a healthy forest and provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, including woodpeckers.

One of the lessons we continue to learn as forest stewards is that fire is not the enemy of this ecosystem. In fact, this forest needs fire. But the timing, frequency and conditions under which fire enters the forest can make a world of difference.

Prescribed fire helps us maintain a forest that is better adapted to the fire it evolved with — reducing accumulated fuels while protecting the mature trees, habitat and ecological diversity that make these forests so valuable.

Obviously we there is loss here. But there is also renewal, and there is a lot to learn from both.
North Florida Prescribed Burn Association

09/12/2026

A small late season fawn plays in front of the cabin. Sound on for Ben’s narration.

09/05/2026

*Anyone who is interested is welcome to come* - North Florida Prescribed Burn Association 2026 Annual Meeting
8:30 am to 12:00 pm at UF Stern Learning Center at Austin Cary Forest Campus. Join us for the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association’s (NFPBA) 2026 annual meeting. Come learn what the organization does to promote responsible land management – including the use of prescribed fire and to network with a group of engaged landowners.

Fall 2026 General Meeting Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026 Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Stern Learning Center at Austin Cary State Forest (10625 NE Waldo Road, Gainesville FL) Gathering, sign-in and networking at 8:30 AM. Meeting starts at 9:00 AM, ends at 12:00 PM, reports from the officers...

09/05/2026

We were honored to be part of the Florida Forestry Association’s annual conference—an event that brings together so many of the people who work every day to keep Florida’s forests healthy, productive, and growing.

For our family, it was especially meaningful to be recognized with an award alongside so many outstanding individuals and organizations working in Florida forestry. We are grateful for the recognition and, even more so, for the opportunity to be part of a community that values responsible stewardship, working forests, conservation, and the long-term health of Florida’s natural resources.

The conference gave us an opportunity to learn from many speakers and important conversations—from forest management and prescribed fire to conservation, markets, policy, research, and the challenges facing Florida’s forests. Just as important were the many agencies, organizations, landowners, foresters, loggers, researchers, and other professionals who came together to share knowledge and strengthen the connections that make good forestry possible.

Florida’s forests face an evolving landscape of challenges—but opportunities, too. Ensuring that forestry remains strong for future generations requires cooperation, responsible management, sound science, active stewardship, and people who are willing to invest in the long view.

Some of the most exciting conversations at the conference were about what that future might look like. Presenters exploring new and emerging markets shared ideas that demonstrate just how much innovation is happening within the forestry sector—from engineered biocarbon and sustainable packaging solutions to recovering rare earth elements and finding new ways to optimize timberland through the soil microbiome.

One of many intriguing discussions was about soil health and the fungi that lives within it. It is a fascinating reminder that there's an entire world beneath our feet contributing to the health and resilience of the forests we see above them.

Conversations like these remind us that the future of forestry is not simply about continuing to do what we have always done. It is also about asking better questions, investing in research, embracing new technology and markets, and finding innovative ways to support both healthy forests and the people whose livelihoods depend on them.

We are grateful to all of the speakers who shared their knowledge and vision, and to the many agencies, organizations, businesses, researchers, landowners, and individuals who helped make the conference possible.

And we are especially grateful to the Florida Forestry Association for continuing to bring this community together and for embodying its mission: “Our mission is to keep Florida forestry growing.”

Florida’s forests will need thoughtful stewardship, collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to invest in the long view. We are proud to be part of that story—and grateful for everyone working to ensure that Florida’s forests remain healthy, productive, and thriving for generations to come.
https://flforestry.org/membership/benefits-of-belonging/
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09/04/2026

Clay County Landowners Workshop!
Meet agricultural, forestry, and natural resource professionals with partner agencies and learn about agriculture, forestry, and natural resource management. You'll get valuable information on cost-share programs, land conservation opportunities, Best Management Practices (BMPs), forest management, prescribed fire, more. Connect to the resources and assistance that can help you achieve your land management goals and protect your property's future. For more information and to RSVP please contact Clay County SWCD at (904) 284-6355, [email protected]

09/01/2026

Cogongrass. It’s not something to mess around with.
Ben and Louann recently found some along the side of our entrance road, and it is something we are taking extremely seriously. ...This invasive plant is a problem for several reasons. Besides forming dense stands that displace native plants, cogongrass also poses a serious fire hazard.
You might be thinking, “Well, that’s not good… but at least it’s a grass that deer and tortoises can eat, right?”
NOPE.

Because of its rough leaf edges and silica particles in the leaves, cogongrass is unpalatable to native wildlife. They generally won’t touch it.

Cogongrass is considered one of the top 10 worst weeds in the world.

Finding it here at Wetland Preserve isn't surprising. It is a widespread invasive throughout Florida, and unfortunately, it can show up even on carefully managed properties.
But we are committed to wiping it out on our property.
In this video, you can listen to Ben explain his perspective on the situation, while Louann gets down in the weeds—literally—and individually treats the cogongrass, stem by stem.
Typically, an infestation like this would be treated by thoroughly applying a herbicide to the affected area. But cogongrass can be particularly difficult to eradicate because it spreads through underground rhizomes. Even after treatment, it can reemerge like the walking dead. 😳
Hopefully, this careful, targeted application of a specially mixed herbicide will do the trick while also sparing the surrounding native vegetation. .We’ll be keeping a very close eye on this area, and we’ll bring you an update in two weeks.
Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us! 🤞🌱