Tree Week: Identifying Kentucky’s Trees — The Basics

Learn to recognize Kentucky trees

The University of Kentucky will offer a free Tree Week webinar on tree identification Oct. 12, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern. Laurie Thomas will lead Identifying Kentucky’s Trees — The Basics. The online session introduces beginners to the features that help distinguish trees, including leaves, bark, twigs and overall shape. Participants will attend through Zoom after registering. This event is one of three separately listed lunchtime webinars in the university’s Celebrate Tree Week series, with additional sessions Oct. 13 and Oct. 16.

Make observation part of your preparation

A useful starting point is a tree you pass regularly but cannot name. Before the webinar, take a few photographs that show the whole tree and closer views of features you can safely observe from the ground. Record where it grows and what catches your attention. These optional notes give you something concrete to think about as the presenter discusses identification. Do not assume that one photograph or a leaf alone will answer every question. Instead, use the session to build a habit of comparing several visible features. A notebook can help you keep unfamiliar terms together and mark the observations you want to check again outdoors. This preparation is a suggestion for learning, not a requirement from the organizer or a promise of individual identification service.

Register for the lunchtime session

Use the university’s registration link to receive the Zoom joining information. Check your confirmation for any instructions about attending multiple Tree Week webinars. Keep this Oct. 12 session separate from the wildlife assistance webinar Oct. 13 and the invasive species webinar Oct. 16 when planning your week. Test your audio and internet connection before noon, and allow a few minutes to join. If you plan to watch from a farm office or another shared space, consider how you will take notes without interrupting other work. After the session, revisit your chosen tree and compare your observations with what you learned. The organizer’s event page provides the current schedule and registration link. Check it again before the webinar for updates and use the confirmed Eastern time when setting your calendar reminder.

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