December 3, 2020 - Christmas trees have been embedded in western holiday culture for hundreds of years, but it was only within the past several decades that artificial Christmas trees entered into the fold. Technological advancements in the plastics industry led the Addis Brush Company, a toilet bowl brush manufacturer, to use the same plastic fibers from their brushes as the needles for a Christmas tree. The artificial Christmas tree industry has been expanding ever since thanks to its convenience and affordability.
November 16, 2020 - Oak wilt is one of the most destructive tree diseases in the United States, and has been killing oak trees in Central Texas at epidemic proportions. Texas A&M Forest Service urges all Texans, particularly hunters, to take preventative measures and be cautious when collecting and purchasing firewood this time of year to reduce the spread of oak wilt.
August 20, 2020 - Dry air will persist over the state through the weekend, contributing to increased rates of drying in vegetation. Wildfire activity and fuel dryness is continuing to expand north and east into higher population centers.
Fire environment—weather, fuels and current conditions