Page 53 - Free State Summer 2022

GROWING WITH EDUCATION A Ginny Rosenkranz

Giants in our Landscapes

I
can remember the very first time I saw Maryland’s Wye Oak
Tree, long acknowledged as being the largest White Oak
alive, not only in Maryland but also throughout the whole
United States. The small fenced in area seemed too fragile
against the background of the mighty Wye Oak, and the
large spreading branches that arched up and over the fence
proved that it did not consider itself ‘fenced in’ at all. I did
feel a bit dwarfed by the Wye Oak, but trees always seem so
peaceful that I was never intimidated. Although I never signed
up for a ‘Wye Oak’ seedling, I have many friends who did and
many of the decedents of that giant are still thriving in home
landscapes.

I did not realize that the recognition of our Giants in the
Landscape began in the State of Maryland with the first
Maryland State Forester, Fred Besley, who came up with the
idea of the Big Tree Champions of Maryland. After it was
successful, Mr. Besley created the National Big Tree Champion
Contest to encourage all the states to join in. Because he was
the first to list the Champions in Maryland, he started with his
collection of native Maryland trees, starting with the Wye Oak
Tree. He then expanded to the National Big Tree Champion
Contest, adding non-native trees to the list. The National Big
Tree Champion Contest continues in all 50 states and the
District of Columbia.
Mr. Besley realized that there should be a way to measure
trees, knowing that not all trees are created equal. He created
standards for the trees to meet the qualifications to become
a Big Tree Champion that would apply to trees that normally
grow very tall and others that thrive in the shade of their taller
cousins.

First the tree must have a single trunk for at least 4 ½ feet
above the ground. Depending on the species of the tree, it
must reach a total height of at least 15 feet tall. This allowed
trees like Amelanchier canadensis, the Serviceberry, Cercis
canadensis, Eastern Redbud or Cornus florida, the Flowering
Dogwood, to be considered despite their diminutive size. Now
a point system is in place to apply for a ‘Big Tree’. The tree
needs to have 3 measurements, the circumference of the trunk
taken 4 feet 6 inches from the ground (in inches), the height
(continued on next page) Black Oak