Do you want to know about the different kinds of trees in Kentucky? Do you like to go outdoors and wander through the woods? Then, this page is just for you!
· Learn about trees and how to identify them
· Ask questions about forest management and tree care
· Visit links to favorite forestry sites for kids
· Look for books, literature, games and activities
· Publish your own pictures and stories
· Find forestry programs and outdoor events for kids
· Explore careers in forestry
A wide variety of tree species are found in Kentucky. These include hardwoods such as yellow-poplar, oak, hickory, maple, beech, birch and black locust and softwoods such as shortleaf pine, Virginia pine, loblolly pine, eastern red cedar and baldcypress. A recent forest inventory revealed 115 individual species with the predominant forest type being oak-hickory.
Identifying different types of trees is like being a detective. You must first examine all the different parts of the tree and then compare them to other trees. With a little practice, you will be able to determine an oak from a hickory and any other type of tree that may interest you.
Here are some of the tree characteristics to look for:
TREE TYPE: Is the tree deciduous (leaves shed annually) or coniferous (bearing cones and typically evergreen)?
LEAF TYPE: Are the leaves simple or compound? The picture at the left shows the difference between a simple leaf (a single blade leaf) and a compound leaf (leaflets attached to the midrib of the leaf).
LEAF PATTERN: Arranged alternate or opposite? Opposite leaves occur in opposing pairs along the twigs and alternate leaves are arranged singly at intervals along the twigs.
BARK: What is the color and texture of the bark?
FRUIT: What is the shape and size?
TWIG: Look at the buds and shape of the twig. The end-bud scars, type of bud, and the pith on the inside of the twig can be distinguishing features.
FORM: What is the overall shape of the tree?
Tips for identifying trees:
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Look for certain characteristics that are unique to that tree.
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Learn how to use a dichotomous key to determine the correct species of tree. A dichotomous key is a series of questions about the different parts of a tree that lead to its identity.
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Learn how to use field guides. Field guides are books with photos or drawings of different species. Field guides also include descriptions, habitat, range and other specifics.
Think you can stump our foresters? Contact us at Hey, Forester? for your questions about forestry. We'll do our best to find an answer for you.
Why are leaves green and why do they change colors in the fall?
Leaf color comes from a coloring substance known as pigment. Green leaves contain the green pigment called chlorophyll. Inside the cells of leaves, chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, but it doesn't use all of the sunlight's rainbow of colors. It absorbs only the red and blue part of the spectrum, so the light that reflects back to our eyes is green. Chlorophyll is also where an important chemical process known as photosynthesis takes place. During photosynthesis, sunlight energy is converted to carbohydrate, which the plant uses for food.
In the fall, the days become shorter and the nights become longer. As a result of less sunlight, the cells of leaves produce less and less chlorophyll and a yellow pigment called carotenoid begins to show through. Carotenoid creates the bright yellows and oranges. A red pigment, called anthocyanin, is also produced as a result of cooler temperatures. Anthocyanin gives leaves the different shades of red and purple.
"What drives life is a little electric current, kept up by the sunshine." Albert Szent-Györgyi
Arbor Day Foundation
From information about the history of Arbor Day to how to plant a tree.
AWAKE (All Wild About Kentucky's Environment)
All about the natural flora (plants) and fauna (animals) of Kentucky.
eNature Field Guides
Check this site out for help with tree identification!
Environmental Education in Kentucky
Find outdoor programs and events in Kentucky.
Forest-A-Syst
A site for anyone who wants to learn about forest management.
Kids National Geographic
Includes games, activities and videos about the natural world.
Ranger Rick
Ranger Rick is a national magazine for children ages 7 - 12.
Smokey Bear
Visit Smokey Bear's Web site for games and activities.
Virtual Forest
Learn how a tree grows and the importance of forests.
BOOKS
A Tree Is Born
by Jean M. Guilcher and R.H. Noailles
A Tree Is Something Wonderful by Elizabeth K. Cooper
ABCs Up in The Trees by Nina Adkins-Heider
Apples--How They Grow by Bruce McMillan
City Park (Habitats) by Wendy Davis
Exploring City Trees by Margaret Anderson
Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia
Forest Log by James R. Newton
It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schultz
The South Overlook Oaks by John Reardon and Chris Youngbluth
This Is a Tree by Ross E. Hutchins
Tree (Fantastic Facts) by Peter Mellett
FACT SHEETS, GAMES, ACTIVITIES and COLORING PAGES
Parts of a Tree Fact sheet featuring different parts of a tree.
Growing up a Tree Fact sheet about tree growth.
Tree Products Fact sheet about products made from trees.
Smokey Bear Web site with activities and games.
Change It Word puzzle for "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!"
Crossword Forestry terms crossword puzzle.
Word Search Forestry terms word search.
Don't Play with Matches Coloring page with Smokey Bear.
Be Careful With Fireworks Coloring page with Smokey Bear.
My Friend the Forester Coloring page of Foresters
Connect the Dots Connect the dots and see what it is!
Pick a Leaf Identify trees by their leaves.
Contact us at Kids Forest Ventures and we'll add your photos and stories of outdoor ventures in Kentucky.
The Wolfe County Forestry Field Days held this summer offered a variety of topics for young students interested in forestry. The students learned about forest management, forest ecosystems, forest wildlife, forest uses and wood products. Students also toured S&S Lumber and Red River Hardwoods to learn about timber harvesting and manufacturing.
Forest wildlife is a favorite topic. Various species of reptiles and amphibians were on hand at the Wolfe County Forestry Field Days to show the students that forests provide important habitats. This young man was thrilled with the corn snake.
Smokey Bear visits students throughout the Kentucky River District each year to spread his message, "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires."
Contact us at forestry events to post your events and programs.
Upcoming Fall and Winter Events:
* The annual Jim Claypool Conservation Art and Writing contest, sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau, the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts and the Kentucky Division of Forestry is "going green" this year. Agroforestry and other forestry-related topics are the focus for this year's contest. Please click Working Trees: Kentucky's Renewable Future for a complete teachers guide, including contest rules, information and entry form.
* The Horine Environmental Education Center in Fairdale, Ky., is offering an exciting new program series, Forest Explorers. Children ages 5 to 6 can experience the life of a naturalist by discovering the wonders of the forest through field studies, crafts and more. Forest Explorers will meet the third Saturday of October through December. For more information, contact http://www.memorialforest.com/.
* For information on other outdoor events, go to Environmental Education in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Division of Forestry offers a variety of jobs for people interested in natural resource management including the following:
Forester
Forest Ranger Technician
Forest Stewardship Program Specialist
Forest Health Program Specialist
Forest Fire Management Chief
Timber Harvest Compliance Program Specialist
Urban Forestry Specialist
Environmental Education Specialist
Landowner Education Specialist
More information is available online at Careers in Forestry and Natural Resources.
Click Careers in Forestry for a description of various forestry careers.
