MEETING MINUTES

 

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Meeting Held Through Email Due to Coronavirus Restrictions

 

Attendees:

 

Gabrielle Oldham       Dori Murphy

Ron Anderson             Kathie Jarmon

Michael Morgan         Tom Frederick

John Bennett                                      

 

 

Big Tree Program Update:

 

John reported:

 

In Cecil County, BT-2791, the common apple near the Holly Hall Mansion, is the new State Champion, after the death of the previous champion in Montgomery County.  Dori Murphy confirmed it is still alive and took photos of the tree and some apples.

 

I was contacted by the Director of the Rodgers Tavern about recommending an arborist to evaluate the health of the Rodgers Tavern willow oak.  The Director said the oak had recently dropped some limbs.  I directed her to the DNR list of registered arborists.

 

Wayne Merkel told me about some large cedars at the Furnace Bay Golf Course outside Perryville.  He believed they may be Blue Atlas cedars.  I have not had time to check them out.

 

I was contacted by the Director of Haven House about the Bicentennial white oak on the property which had recently dropped some limbs.  I stopped by Heartwood Landscaping and told Christy I would pay for an evaluation of the tree—knowing that Haven House survives on grant funds.  Hopefully Michael will tell me the tree is OK to leave standing.

 

At the State level, as usual I responded to a number of email requests.  One that stuck out was a request by Kenneth Jolly to respond to an illustrator about permission to use an illustration of the Goshen Elm in Montgomery County in an upcoming book.  It turned out that Joli had been working with this gentleman for over a month, so not sure why he decided to contact Maryland government.

 

Only one tree was measured in July—a very nice yellow poplar that is privately owned in Harford County—measured by Jim Sherring. (photo below)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website Update:

 

Ron reported that he updated the website as follows:

 

Added July meeting notes

Added August agenda

 

Ron updated and corrected a few typos on Cecil County Big Tree page.

     

BT2791 Common Apple is now state champ

            Removed saucer magnolia state champ status

            BT3668 Pignut Hickory noted as state champ

 

(Cecil County currently has 26 state champion/co-champion trees)

 

 

NRCC Report:

 

:Gabrielle Oldham reported:

 

It was a good week with a good group of kids.  Counselors were wonderful.  Weather was a bit on the warm side and we had problems with several yellow jacket nests.  I'll send a more detailed report later.

 

 

New Business:

 

Dori found the first Spotted Lanternfly on her property.

 

Tom reported that the logging contractor began operating again on August 2nd.  He started on the east side of Rt 272.  Of course, we immediately located an osprey nest in the area.  We are currently investigating what if any restrictions need to be implemented with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

 

Next Meeting:                        September 1, 2021