Christmas tree cutting in Ocala Nat’l Forest

Cut down your very own fresh-from-Florida Christmas tree in the Ocala National Forest.

Join the Florida Wildflower Foundation on Dec. 3 for a fun, family-friendly day in the forest. Meet at the Pittman Visitor Center on US 19 in Altoona (across from the Lake Dorr Campground) where Forest Service biologist Jay Garcia will introduce us to the Ocala National Forest. Learn how the scrub habitat is being managed and restored. Find out why the Forest Service is allowing people to cut down trees and how it fits into their management plan.

Then we’ll caravan to the Christmas tree cutting site, where everyone with a permit* will have the opportunity to pick out and cut down their very own fresh-from-Florida sand pine. We may even see some of the forest’s rare and endangered plants, and some forest critters, too. The weather should be mild, so stick around and enjoy a hike or picnic in the forest.

This field trip is free for Foundation members and $5 for non-members. No charge for children 18 and under. Permits are an additional $7 for members and non-members and can be purchased with your field trip ticket. Limit one permit per person. A maximum of 20 permits will be issued. Permit fees benefit the Ocala National Forest programs. Cutting a tree is not required in order to attend the field trip.

Click here for details and to register.

Not sure if you’re membership is current? Contact Stacey Matrazzo at smatrazzo@flawildflowers.org to find out. To join as a member, visit www.flawildflowers.org/membership.php.