“Before settlers filled West Volusia, the nearly impenetrable forests of oak tangled with scrub oak, palmetto scrub and vines that we know today did not exist. Henry DeLand fell in love with the towering stands of longleaf pines surrounded by open meadows of grasses when he arrived. Two efforts, one private and one public, are in gear to restore longleaf-pine forests.” Read more of West Volusia Beacon Staff Writer Pat Hatfield’s story HERE.
