Page 54 - Free State Summer 2022

GROWING WITH EDUCATION (Continued) recognition of the Arboretum achieving particular standards
of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and
of the tree from level ground (in feet) and ¼ of the average
spread of the crown of the tree (to the nearest foot). Add them botanic gardens.
all together and you have a total number Salisbury University in Wicomico County is also an arboretum
of points. that covers over 200 acres with over 3000 trees. The University
began to document and record their trees in 1985, and in 1988,
Because trees don’t all grow straight up, and small trees
like Flowering Dogwoods often branch below the 4 they gained their accreditation as an Arboretum from the
feet 6-inch mark, there is now a wonderful publication American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Arboretum
‘Measuring Guidelines Handbook’ by the National Register has now achieved Level III Accreditation by ArbNet Arboretum
of Champion Trees. In the publication they break down how Accreditation Program and the Morton Register of Arboreta
to measure a tree for beginners who are not professionals by the use of GIS and establishing an online map that anyone
using basic equipment, another level for the State Big Tree can view with a smart phone, tablet or computer.
Program Coordinators and Certifiers that confirm all the Both of these wonderful Arboretums are open and welcome
nominations, and directions for the professionals who have the public to take a walk through the trees and to enjoy the
advanced measuring equipment and the skills needed to novelty of seeing, photographing and hugging a Champion
make a definitive ruling when 2 trees of the same species Tree.
have been entered and have very close point totals. Within In this issue of Free State, we’ll feature the Salisbury University
the Handbook, there are explanations and diagrams by Champions; the UMD College Park Champions will be
American Forests Tree-Measuring Guidelines that walk you featured in Free State’s winter issue.
through the measuring process, and some very impressive
Giant tree photos. There is also a wonderful tree list by tree Salisbury University has 3 State Champions and 5 County
and by county and if they are able to be viewed by the public Champions, and 4 out of the 8 are native trees. Cercis
and found on https://www.americanforests.org/champion- canadensis or the Eastern Redbud is a lovely deciduous native
trees/champion-trees-registry/ understory tree that can grow 20-30 feet tall and wide. The
County Champion tree is almost 30 feet tall and can be found
Some of the champion trees were planted by nature and just off the main campus at the center of a circular driveway
escaped being removed by luck or by thoughtful planning
of the owners of the property. Some champion trees are
chosen for their size and their relationship with a historical
event; the Daughters of the American Revolution nominated
trees for Washington and Lafayette. Others were planted
after buildings were established and the land was kept
undamaged so the trees could continue to grow to their
present size. Some of the Champions are native trees while
others were planted to add new and unusual plants that will
inspire new ideas in the landscape. Some of the champion
trees are on private property and are not available to the
public, but there are wonderful champion trees available to
see, touch, and photograph on the campus of the University
of Maryland College Park and Salisbury University.
The University of Maryland College Park in Prince George’s
County began as an agricultural school in 1856 and became
a Land Grant Institution in 1862. In 2008 the 1250 acres of
campus became designated as the UMD Arboretum and
Botanical Garden after the Department of Plant Sciences
and Landscape Architecture developed a master plan for
the campus landscape and the Facilities Management
inventoried all the trees on campus. In 2019 the UMD
Arboretum and Botanical Garden achieved the Level IV ArbNet
Accredited Arboretum by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation
Program and the Morton Arboretum. This designation is in
Korean Pine
54 SUMMER 2022 • Free State News