LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 29, 2025)—What began as a small dye garden at the University of Kentucky Arboretum has grown into a hands-on summer internship and cross-listed course that immerses students in the sustainable production and use of natural dyes. The project was sparked several years ago when horticulturist Shari Dutton received the book “A Dyer’s Garden” as a Christmas gift.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 18, 2025)—Urban trees do so much more than make our campus look beautiful. They filter the air, cool the ground, and improve our mental well-being. But many of the trees at the University of Kentucky are under attack from an invasive pest.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 11, 2025) — The sustainability internship program has been around since 2016, giving undergraduates the opportunity to engage with others through campus projects, research, and outreach within sustainability. Each intern works within a unit within the sustainability department, strengthening their professional and technical skills while enhancing their leadership skills. This year, 17 interns represent the sustainability department.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 19, 2025) — For over 20 years, Reforest the Bluegrass has been Lexington’s premier community tree planting festival, resulting in the planting of more than 215,000 tree seedlings.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 12, 2025) —UK has long been a growing epicenter of healthcare and academics, and large facilities have been built, renovated, or demolished to accommodate this. But with all this expansion, what is the impact of growth on our campus tree canopy?
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 5, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Sustainable Office Certification (SOC) Program will be certifying its third cohort of offices this fall. Developed in collaboration with local environmental nonprofit, Bluegrass Greensource (BGGS), the program aims to improve everyday office practices and encourage contribution to greater university-wide sustainability goals.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 28, 2025) — Heading into my senior year as a Natural Resources and Environmental Science major at UK, I became interested in studying the Dahurian buckthorn (Rhamnus davurica), a woody invasive that is emerging in central Kentucky. This plant is extremely under-studied and could have tremendous impacts on our ecosystems if left untreated.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 23, 2025) — Walk through any arboretum, and you will find signs that guide your experience, naming plants, offering insights into the ecosystem’s role, or even helping you find your way around. However, many signs fall short of connecting with visitors or sparking a deeper understanding.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 14, 2025) — As the “horse-capital of the world,” Kentucky is home to a thriving population of horses - and a rampant population of flies. In a state where horses are central to our identity and economy, addressing the fly problem is a matter of critical importance.
