04/24/2026
🌳 Happy Arbor Day! 🌳 We came together to celebrate Arbor Day this morning at the beautiful Robert J. Huckshorn Arboretum on the Florida Atlantic University Jupiter Campus🌳
The event was a reminder of how deeply Florida’s natural landscapes are woven into its history. Professor of Biology Dr. Jon Moore highlighted the legacy of William Bartram—whose explorations and writings captured the richness of Florida’s ecosystems long before modern development.
ECOS' Alana Edwards was honored for her contributions to the creation and growth of the Arboretum. 🦋
Undergraduate Student and Arboretum Intern Erica Torres spoke to her rewarding experience working in and learning from her internship.
From appreciating native plants, including being able to purchase them in the plant sale, to reflecting on conservation, today was about honoring the past while planting inspiration for the future. 🌿
Tribute to Alana Edwards:
"As we gather here today to celebrate Arbor Day and the continued growth of the Robert J. Huckshorn Arboretum, it’s important that we pause to recognize the people who have helped shape this space into what it is today.
One of those individuals is Alana Edwards.
Since the very beginning—over 20 years ago—Alana has been an integral part of this Arboretum’s story. When this space was just an idea, she was here, helping to bring it to life from the ground up. Not only did she believe in the vision, she helped design it.
Alana played a key role in shaping the layout of the Arboretum, helping to create and define the different natural areas we experience today. The way this space flows—from one environment to another—is not by accident. It reflects her thoughtfulness, her care, and her deep understanding of what this Arboretum could become.
What makes her contributions even more special is how personal they are. This wasn’t just a project—it was something she built alongside her family. Her father helped construct the original wooden bollards that line the trails and even helped cut the rope that helped define and protect these spaces in the early days. Those details are part of the foundation of what we see around us, and they serve as a lasting reminder of the care and dedication that went into creating this Arboretum.
And if you know Alana, you also know her love for butterflies. That passion has helped shape this space in its own unique way—encouraging an environment that supports not just trees and plants, but the life that depends on them. The Arboretum is not only a place of growth, but also a place of movement, color, and transformation—something that reflects that love.
Because of Alana, this space has become so much more than a collection of trees. It is a living classroom, a place for reflection, and a meaningful part of our campus identity.
Her dedication over the past two decades has helped position us for continued recognition and success through initiatives like ArbNet and Tree Campus Higher Education. These milestones are built on the foundation that she helped create.
Alana, your vision, your passion, and your hands-on dedication have truly shaped this Arboretum—literally from the ground up. The impact of your work will continue to grow here for generations to come.
On behalf of all of us, thank you for everything you have given to the Robert J. Huckshorn Arboretum."
