2009 State of Maryland Big Tree Summary

The Maryland Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards, and the Cecil Forest Conservancy District Board are pleased to announce the results of the 2009 Maryland Big Tree Program. There were 204 trees measured or re-measured in 2009 in 18 counties. There are 114 trees that were newly nominated, measured and registered, and 49 trees were re-measured. There are currently 2,071 Big Trees on the Maryland Big Tree Register at the end of the 2009 year. The deaths of 25 trees were reported this year. 16 trees were not registered as they did not meet the minimum size standard, but certificates were issued to the owners

The Maryland Big Tree Program was first started in 1925, and each year the list is updated to reflect new trees, re-measured trees, and deceased trees. Trees are eligible if their total points are at least 70% of the current State Champion tree in that species. The largest tree in each species is designated the “champion” tree. Trees are designated “co-champions” if they are within 5 points of each other.

This year examples of 5 species were located, identified, measured and added to the State list. They are: Ashe Magnolia, Magnolia ashei, and Striped Maple Acer pensylvanicum (Harford); Black Maple, Acer nigrum, (Allegany); American Smoketree, Cotinus obovatus, (Cecil) and Sugarberry, Celtis laevigata, (Montgomery). Also this year we measured examples of American Chestnut and Franklinia; both species were on the list but we had no measurable examples.

In 2009, we continued to locate and re-measure our State Champions. We have new champions for these species: American Basswood & Cherrybark Oak (Charles), White Ash (Howard), Sweetgum (PG), and Silverbell (Montgomery). In addition, these trees became new State co-champions as they were within 5 points of the existing State Champion: Northern Catalpa & Kentucky Coffeetree (Montgomery), Yellow Buckeye (Baltimore), American Hornbeam (Calvert), 2 Black Oaks (Baltimore & Montgomery), and Catawba Rhododendron (Cecil). I’m sad to report that State Champions Black Oak (Calvert), Bur Oak (Washington), Chinkapin Oak (St. Mary’s), White Oak (Anne Arundel) and Weeping Willow (Allegany) have died and have been replaced with smaller examples.

In October we submitted 23 candidates for consideration as National Champion Trees to American Forests. The new National Champion list is expected to be published in April, 2010.

We do not have an updated list of the non-native species champions. At this time the funding and volunteer base does not exist to locate and re-measure the non-native trees to determine the largest of each species. Also non-native species are much more difficult to identify correctly. Non-native species are eligible to be nominated, measured and registered, but we do not attempt to identify the State Champion for each species, or to certify that the species is correctly identified.

General information about the Maryland Big Tree Program is available at www.cecilfb.sailorsite.net, including a downloadable Big Tree Nomination Form. For a downloadable Word file on the native or naturalized Maryland Big Tree Champions, contact John Bennett at www.mdbigtreeprogram@aol.com. Most trees are located on private land, and therefore not available to visit. Specific locations of these trees cannot be released to the public.

Brochures

Each big tree owner, either a new tree or a re-measured tree, received a brochure in his packet. Each of the brochures was specific to the county of location. Approximately 20% of the owners had multiple trees, but received only 1 brochure, so we estimate we mailed 180 brochures in 2009.

In addition, we attended these events in 2009 at which time we distributed brochures to those who requested them:

Bugs ‘N Blight Seminar – Carroll County – January – approx. 20 brochures

MFA Legislative Reception – Annapolis – January – approx. 5 brochures

Kitty Knight House Questors – Kent County – March – approx. 10 brochures

Cecil Spring Seminar – Cecil County – March – approx. 10 brochures

State Forestry Board Meeting – Annapolis – April – approx. 5 brochures

Woody Plants Class – Cecil College – October – approx. 12 brochures

State Forestry Board Meeting – Annapolis – November – approx. 5 brochures

We provided the Caroline County Forestry Board with 10 copies in April for Arbor Day

Best Guess – 260 brochures distributed

Volunteers – people who physically helped to measure a tree

Allegany – Mark Beals & Garrett College Forest Measurements Class (no idea how many individuals)

Anne Arundel – Jim Bardsley

Baltimore City – Amanda Cunningham, Glenda Weber

Baltimore County – Glenn Ferenschak

Caroline – Dave and Ann Reinecke – I think Dave had other help at times

Calvert – 3 staff members at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, Kevin Hook

Cecil – John, Dorothy, Dori, Gabrielle, Ron, Stephanie & Michael Garrity, K. Jarmon, K. Price

Charles – Ron Simmons & Greg Zell (both from Alexandria, VA)

Frederick – Joe Metzger

Garrett – Alice Orendorf family (owners, no idea how many family members)

Harford – Charles Day, Ron Hendricksen, Ted Moran, Sam Jones

Howard – Steve Parker, Audrey Suhr, Marty Adams, Stephanie Davis

Montgomery – Joe Howard, Joli McCathran, Vince Berg, Donna Wills

Prince George’s – Chris Garrett, at least 3 other staff from M-NCPPC, Russ Carlson (DE)

Queen Anne’s – Bob Stanley

St. Mary’s -- Carl Dyson

Washington – Washington County FB officially – I think George Eberling did the measuring

Wicomico – Joan Maloof