Media contact: Dr. Marguerite Beckford, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County commercial horticulture agent, 941-861-9825 ormbeckford@scgov.net. |
SARASOTA COUNTY — In celebration of Florida Arbor Day on Jan. 21, Sarasota County invites the community to once again journey on a “TreeQuest” at select county parks. Now in its fifth year, the “TreeQuest” scavenger hunt launches Jan. 21 and runs for two weeks, along the way highlighting the importance of trees and their many benefits. “TreeQuest gives residents an opportunity to reflect on the natural beauty of the trees that share our community,” said Marguerite Beckford, commercial horticulture agent with UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County. “Plus, we’ve added some information on each tree species so participants can learn about all the resources trees provide.” National Arbor Day is observed across the country on the last Friday in April to highlight the key roles that trees play in our lives, from improving air quality to reducing the impact of urban heat islands. Many states also celebrate on other dates more suited to their climate, with Florida celebrating the third Friday of January, given its year-round growing climate. |
Part of that celebration, TreeQuest brings key information in the form of a family-friendly contest. Participants vie for a chance to win prizes by using clue cards—available only online at Let’s Go on a TreeQuest(http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/?p=8415)—to search for tagged trees at either of two county parks:Red Bug Slough Preserve, 5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota, orNokomis Community Park, 234 Nippino Trail, Nokomis. The tree tags alert contestants that they have found the right tree species, and each tag carries a set of interesting facts specific to that type of tree that showcase for contestants and other park visitors the many ways trees improve our lives and communities. Participants who find all trees on a clue card then submit their answers online using the clue submission form found in the Let’s Go on a TreeQuest post (http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/?p=8415) for the chance to win prizes. For more information about “TreeQuest,” visit http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/?p=8415, email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu, or call 941-861-5000. |
UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County partners county, state and federal resources to deliver research-based information and programs across six core areas: sustainable agriculture; gardening and landscaping; natural resources; nutrition and healthy living; sustainability; and youth development. Learn more at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota, or call 941-861-5000 or email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu. |