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New Dean Named for UCF’s College of Sciences
Maggy Tomova will become the next dean of UCF’s College of Sciences on Oct. 18. She joins UCF from the University of Iowa, where she currently serves as the associate dean for the Natural, Mathematical, and Social Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her appointment by Michael D. Johnson, interim provost and […]
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Summer 2021 Graduates Head Out With New College of Sciences Degrees
UCF’S newest College of Sciences graduates crossed the stage Saturday at Summer 2021 Commencement. Among them was Nahla Turner, a psychology graduate who not only battled pandemic challenges in 2020, but a cancer diagnosis. A clean bill of health in October 2020 brought her to Saturday’s academic finish line and a new starting line pursuing […]
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Congratulations to the Summer 2021 Doctoral Graduates
Biology Jordan Dowell, Ph.D., faculty advisor, Chase Mason, Ph.D. and Pedro Quintana-Ascencio, Ph.D. Dissertation: “Genetics and Evolution of Specialized Metabolism In Wild and Cultivated Helianthus.” Christopher Long, Ph.D., faculty advisor, Katherine Mansfield, Ph.D. Dissertation: “Long-Term Changes in Juvenile Green Turtle Abundance and Foraging Ecology in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida.” Chemistry Sajia Afrin, Ph.D., faculty […]
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Virtual UCF Arboretum Expands Offerings For Digital Game Designers
The Virtual UCF Arboretum continues to expand its reach and impact, with the recent launch of a new library of 70 photorealistic plants for use in augmented and virtual reality. The free-to-use content pack of 3D plants on the Epic Games Unreal Engine Marketplace follows last year’s $25,000 Epic Megagrant from the same game maker, […]
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2021 Founder’s Day Honorees
BY ALLISON HURTADO ’12 The Founders’ Day Awards celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of our faculty members and students. As we recognize these achievements, we remember the efforts of those women and men who made this university a reality, and we prepare for the accomplishments of the future. In an extraordinary time, our faculty and […]
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Preserving Our Wetlands From Plastic Pollution
If you have been to UCF’s Orlando campus, chances are you have walked along the boardwalk through the Student Union Cypress Dome. You have also probably witnessed the fallout of graduation photoshoot confetti, or noticed the litter left behind by students. We all know plastic pollution is a problem, but did you know that […]
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Growing with Enthusiasm!
The UCF Arboretum Greenhouse team has blossomed tremendously over the last couple years, and we aren’t slowing down anytime soon! Although this very active team engages in a variety of activities, two stand out as the defining current projects and plans; plant sales and nursery development. The plant sales have emerged as a major […]
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Arboretum Park Arbor Day Burke Grant Tree Planting
Spring is in the air! In only a few minutes at the Arboretum Park the sights and sounds of Spring surround you, invoking an overwhelming feeling of joy, and hope for the future. The birds are singing and feverishly building nests, the pollinators are fluttering about and the blue flag iris planted in Whittier’s […]
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Arboretum Student Spotlight- Meet Vincent
Favorite Plant: Frangipani Favorite Sound: River water Vincent Marcucci is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying filmmaking and environmental science. He began working at the UCF Arboretum as an office assistant in January 2019 and would later co-lead the creation of our Media & Marketing Co-Coordinator branch. Alongside his teammate Megan Cahill, he now oversees […]
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Message From the Director
At a time when many people have suffered great loss, and when everyone has had to adjust to pandemic living, it is inspiring to witness our students brimming with youthful enthusiasm. Like most other programs at UCF, the Arboretum has had to make significant changes in the way we run and operate our programs, […]
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UCF Hosts Spring Graduation Celebration, April 30 to May 9
UCF is excited to offer spring graduates and their families the opportunity to choose one of two in-person options to celebrate their achievements. Recognitions of graduates will occur April 30 to May 9. Spring 2021 graduates will have the option of either participating in UCF’s Grad Walk or their college’s in-person commencement. Both recognitions will […]
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Farming with Traditional Companion Planting
Corn, beans, and squash—oh my! Our students grew these three staple native American crops, known as the Three Sisters in the Community Farm and Garden this fall using a traditional companion planting method. The Three Sisters Method is one of the oldest natural growing techniques developed by Native Americans. What makes the Three Sisters […]
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Arboretum Scrub Restoration
Fall is the most wonderful time of the year for Florida’s native wildflowers! Particularly during the month of October, the Arboretum natural lands are strikingly spattered with yellows and lavenders. Our campus prescribed burn program has had huge impacts on the reduction of dense saw palmetto and oaks, opening large spaces where native wildflower […]
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Coming Together for the Environment
One of the hallmarks of the UCF Arboretum has always been bringing people together. We strive to foster and develop a deep sense of community around education and the environment. What better way to embody that notion in 2020 than through a Fall pond planting project joining UCF students, faculty, and staff with local, […]
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Sharing a Restoration Success Story
Our Learning by Leading™ (LxL) Urban Horticulture team had a great experience this semester meeting onsite at the Arboretum with representatives from the City of Oviedo Recreation and Parks and Public Works Departments, and Dix.Hite + Partners landscape architects and designers. Several of the students on the horticulture team plan to pursue advanced degrees in […]
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Arboretum Student Spotlight- Meet Alicia
My name is Alicia Lowenstein, and I am one of the Co-coordinators for the Community Farm & Gardens Team. Starting as an intern, the Arb quickly became my home away from home, and my co-workers became my closest friends. My passions include permaculture, farm to table cooking, and learning about Florida’s ecology. From conducting prescribed […]
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November 2020 Message From the UCF Arboretum Director
As we enter the holiday season, people might be struggling to find things to be thankful for in a year that has proven difficult for so many. The corona virus pandemic has put a stress on everyone’s life, and has placed particular strain on those who have lost a loved one, lost their […]
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Student Horticulturists Have Bright Future With Help From Landscaping Company
There’s more to landscaping than pulling weeds and pushing a mower — much more. Experts in logistics, finance, small engine repair, soil chemistry and human resources are all in demand at Baker Commercial Landscaping, a 250-plus employee company that maintains the properties of homes and businesses across Tampa and Orlando, including UCF’s main campus and […]
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Recipe – Vegan Ratatouille & Rice
Vegan Ratatouille & Rice Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 30 minutes Total Time 40 minutes Total Yield 3 servings Calories Per Serving 363 kcal Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1 white or yellow onion diced 3 cloves garlic minced 1 medium zucchini diced 1 eggplant diced 1/8 tsp ground black pepper 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes 1 red bell pepper diced 2 Roma tomatoes diced 1 cup white rice 1 and 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth plus more as needed fresh basil for serving Instructions In a […]
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Whittier’s Walk Phase II
Our students are at it again! They cannot be stopped! During the Spring 2020 semester our Learning by Leading™ (LxL) Urban Horticulture Co-coordinators (CoCo’s) worked with their interns to design and plant Phase II of our Whittier’s Walk commemorative garden, using skills they developed while working with our campus landscape architect last fall […]
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UCF Prescribed Burn Team
Spring Break is typically a time when college students leave campus to vacation at beaches and springs to cool down and relax outside, however this year a select group of UCF students chose to stay on campus and turn up the heat! In March 2020, the UCF Arboretum hosted its first S130/S190 Basic Wildland […]
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Community Garden Transition
The original Arboretum Community Garden, which has been a centerpiece of our volunteer program since it was established in 2009, has undergone many changes in the last few years. As we reported previously, due to construction of a new cell tower, we moved the Community Farm and Garden to a new location that is larger […]
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Message from the Director
One thing everyone has had to face in response to the coronavirus pandemic is transition. We’ve transitioned from face-to-face interaction to remote meetings and online interactions, transitioned from working in the office to working at home, and many people have had to face the difficult transition of losing a job or shutting down a business. […]
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Arboretum Donation Inspired By Work of Granddaughter
Kelsie Johnson’s thumb was decidedly not green growing up. So it was all the more surprising to her grandparents when Johnson ‘16 announced she was pursuing horticulture and environmental conservation as a career. “Kelsie has always been outgoing, but never did we picture her becoming involved in the Arboretum program or any of the outdoor […]
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UCF Offers Free Nature-themed VR and AR Applications to Help Students and Those Isolated Because of COVID-19
UCF is offering a free virtual reality environment and augmented reality app to help teachers supplement science lessons and provide some stress relief for those isolated because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Maria Harrington, an information scientist and artist, created the applications as a way to advance virtual reality technology, while engaging the public in informal […]
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Epic Games, Maker of Fortnite, Awards UCF Professor Grant to Enhance AR and VR Technology
The company responsible for the online video game hit Fortnite has awarded a UCF assistant professor a grant to develop an immersive technology to take virtual experiences to new levels of reality. Epic Games provided UCF information scientist and artist Maria Harrington a $25,000 grant to expand her cutting-edge augmented and virtual reality work, which […]
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Beans and Greens Recipe
The Arboretum Community Farm and Gardens grow many delicious produce varieties seasonally. In fall and spring, wonderful leafy greens are at their peak when the days are nice and cool. Escarole, Lacinato Kale, Swiss Chard and Rosemary are just a few of the varieties grown, and the following recipe showcases each of them in a […]
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Tea Recipes
Easing Elderberry Tea Ingredients 2 cups of water 2 TBSP. Elderberry (fresh or dried) 1/2 TSP. Turmeric (fresh or powder) 1/4 TSP. Cinnamon Honey to taste Directions Start by pouring water and elderberries into a saucepan. Next, add your turmeric and cinnamon. Bring this mixture to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes. Elderberry […]
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Message From the Director
Director’s Message The UCF Arboretum celebrated the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22 by reflecting on how much has changed since the beginning of the semester when we first planned our Earth Week activities. As we adjust to the difficult changes brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, our primary concern is for […]
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Lifelong Friendship With Arboretum Founder Inspires Donation
A passion for plants is at the root of a recent donation made by Biology faculty member Rani Vajravelu, Ph.D. The donation is made out to the UCF Arboretum in aim of supporting students that are passionate about outdoor plant studies. “I would love the money to help alleviate financial stress on students looking to […]