CAF Member Magazine: Spring 2024

SPRING 2024 BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) is a delicate native ephemeral with thin pink stripes on the petals. These stripes are like “landing strips,” guiding insects to the center where the pollen is. This is probably the most common spring wildflower in the northeast.

“A choir of seedlings arching their necks out of rotted tree stumps, sucking life out of death. I am the forest's conscience, but remember, the forest eats itself and lives forever.”

–Barbara Kingsolver

At Cylburn Arboretum we have over 35 individuals in the genus Prunus on display, which contains not only ornamental flowering cherries, but also fruit trees such as cherries, plums, and apricots.

Photo: Sara Smith

Did you know that at Cylburn Arboretum there are patches of old growth forest with trees dating back over 240 years? In many places on this property, the forest layers are healthy and intact: from the rhizosphere beneath our feet all the way to the canopy. But there are also places in our woodland that need investment. Before Jesse Tyson purchased the various parcels of land that today make-up Cylburn Arboretum, it served many purposes. There were mills along the Jones Falls River, farms, and pastureland. There were also, luckily for us, areas of forest that have been less disturbed over the years. During the Tyson era, carriage paths were established within the forest. Many of these remain today, converted now to walking paths.

In more recent history, the property has been transformed by large trees falling and non-native plants populating abandoned farmland. Even our oldest forest patches are being threatened by the increased deer population and climate change. In this issue of Seasons, we share some of the investments a variety of stakeholders are making in Cylburn’s woodland. From conducting a land inventory, to introducing our forest to school students, to research studies on the trees within our woodland – there are many ways we are committed to protecting the Cylburn forest for future generations of Baltimoreans.

As Cylburn Arboretum Friends members, you too are investing in our woodlands. As we continue our collective journey to safeguard this vital ecosystem, I appreciate your shared passion and commitment. Together, we can make a lasting impact and leave a legacy of environmental stewardship. As always, I am

Booke M. Fritz, Executive Director Cylburn Arboretum Friends

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rebecca Henry President

Hilles Whedbee

Vice President

Ramesh Moorthy

Secretary

Robert A. Cook

Treasurer

Linda Wright Butler

Will Clemens

Beverly Davis

Emily Dillon

Patricia Foster

Alan Gilbert

Sandra P. Gohn

Mark Gurley

Nancy B. Hill

Mae Hinnant

Sorrel King

Douglas Nelson

Daniel Pham

Courtney Sawyer

Nell B. Strachan

EX OFFICIO

Melissa Grim

Chief Horticulturist, Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks

Colleen Vacelet

Owner, Intreegue Design

SEASONS is published by

Cylburn Arboretum Friends

Written and edited by

Brooke M. Fritz

Executive Director

Erika Castillo

Director of Education

Brent Figlestahler

Head Gardener

Bill Geenen | Communication Design

Layout and Design

4915 Greenspring Ave. Baltimore, MD 21209

Info@cylburn.org

Phone: (410) 367-2217

Cylburn.org

INVESTING IN CYLBURN’S FOREST

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"…It’s hard to believe trees stand here that predate Maryland statehood, that there are more native tree species in this unsung green hillside than are found in Yosemite National Park. Rarely does a patch of green in the middle of a two-million-person metro region hold so much intrigue.…"

— Michael Gaige, consulting ecologist

UPCOMING EVENTS: BACK COVER

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A GIFT FOR FUTURE GENERA

TIONS

BY ERIKA CASTILLO

Irecently had the pleasure of re-reading Wendell Berry’s beautiful novel Jayber Crow. Set in a fictional farm town in mid-twentieth century Kentucky, the novel explores themes of place, community, identity, and belonging. One particularly important locale in the story is a patch of old growth forest referred to fondly as the “Nest Egg.” The Nest Egg was the fifty or so acres of timber that Athey Keith—the neighbor and friend of the titular character, Jayber Crow—keeps and protects from harvest. Here, I should note, the term Nest Egg is used facetiously. Athey never intended to profit financially by harvesting this precious patch of woods. For Athey, Jayber, and their friends, the Nest Egg was priceless—a gift that Athey intends to retain for generations to come.

During my re-read, I was struck by Jayber’s account of entering into the Nest Egg; it led me to reflect on the forest at Cylburn Arboretum. Jayber writes:

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From this place of entrance…the dark trunks went up so tall, and among them you would see here and there the silver of beeches, or along the hollows, the sudden whiteness of sycamores. This was a many-storied place, starting under the ground with the dark forest of roots…And then there were the dead leaves and the brilliant mosses and the mushrooms in their season. And next were the wildflowers and the ferns in their appointed places and times, and then the spice bushes and buckthorns and devil’s clubs...And next were the low trees: ironwood, hornbeam, dogwood, and (in the openings made by fallen big trees) redbud. Above these, the big trees and vines went up to the crown of foliage at the top. And at all these aboveground stories there was a moving and singing foliage of birds. Everywhere there were dens and holes and hollows and secret nests. When you were there, you could be sure that you were being seen, and that you more than likely would not see what was seeing you. Everything there seemed to belong where it was. That was why I went there. And I went to feel the change that that place always made in me. Always, as soon as I came in under the big trees, I began to go slowly and quietly…because in a place where everything belongs where it is, you do not want to disturb anything.

Do you know this feeling, the forest making a change in you?

I do. This has always been true for me, especially as a child. When life felt chaotic, the forest did not. I spent most of my childhood free time in the woods, and it provided me with solace. This was the one place where everything there seemed to belong where it was.

Continued

Photo: Jim Ritter From Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

Jayber and I are not alone. Numerous studies affirm that spending time among trees has physical and mental health benefits: reducing stress, improving mood and focus, lowering blood pressure, and boosting the immune system.

Besides the listed benefits to humans, a healthy forest provides some pretty major ecosystem services as well: preventing soil erosion, providing habitat for wildlife, and capturing carbon (helping to mitigate the effects of climate change), to name just three.

One of the greatest joys of my job, and in fact of my life, is sharing Cylburn’s forest with school children when they come for a field trip. Before entering the forest, we stop at the woodland edge and I talk with students, helping them to process their feelings and sometimes their fears. How are they feeling about walking into the woods? (Excited! Nervous! Afraid!)

I ask them: How many of you have been in the woods? (Usually two or so per class, among my city school groups). We talk about the dangers of walking in the woods (tripping over roots and rocks). I assure students that I will not leave them, and that we will stay together. After exiting the forest, we stop again and debrief. Using a thumbsup/thumbs-down scale, how was their time in the forest? Did anything surprise them? Notably, the students who felt most afraid to enter the forest are often the most visibly transformed by the experience of walking among massive trees.

At the end of each field trip, one of the most important messages I try to leave with children who visit Cylburn Arboretum is this: this place is yours, please come back and get to know more. Also, I tell them, it’s free! Your families pay taxes for our parks so use them, love them, and enjoy them!

What a ‘Nest Egg’ to leave the children of our city: a forest right here in the city all their own.

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Photo: Aaron Burden

A FOREST RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY ALL THEIR OWN

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Photo: Dia Matthews

INVESTING IN CYLBURN’S FOREST

Establishing an Ecological History and Inventory with Michael Gaige

One way we have invested in our forest’s health is to first learn more about its current state. In 2021, Cylburn Arboretum Friends hired Ecological Historian Michael Gaige to complete a woodland inventory of the Cylburn property. His illuminating sixty-seven-page report begins with this lovely description of Cylburn Arboretum’s forest:

In one of the oldest urban areas in the country, it is hard to imagine a patch of green with a history of farming, industrialization, and nature. It’s hard to believe trees stand here that predate Maryland statehood, that there are more native tree species in this unsung green hillside than are found in Yosemite National Park. Rarely does

a patch of green in the middle of a two-millionperson metro region hold so much intrigue.

Gaige goes on to describe and compare various areas of the Cylburn woodland. He notes that the oldest trees, the most complex structure, and the fewest weeds are in areas that were not heavily used or cleared. In contrast, the youngest forest, the lowest structural complexity, and the weediest areas were the most intensively used areas during the estate period. Below we have pulled the Gaige report descriptions on either end of the spectrum so that you can get a better sense of the state of Cylburn’s forest.

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The ‘Vista Strip’ The ‘Southern Ravine’

The ‘Cylburn Old Field’:

(area along service road and Cylburn Avenue)

This small area along Cylburn Ave. was cleared pasture in old aerial images save for a few trees along the road and a fencerow from the road to the modern parking lot….The vegetation today is representative of this history as ruderal species and exotic weeds dominate the site…Trees in this area are young; the site was abandoned from open “pasture” in the 1980s. Beneath the trees are a tangle of exotic and native woody plants.

The ‘Vista Strip’:

(along the Vista Trail)

This site is a narrow strip that was cut through the forest before 1927 .... I suspect it was cut to provide a view from the mansion to the south towards Druid Hill Park, or the city lights beyond. It is unlikely to have been made for agricultural purposes as the tree canopy on each side would have prevented adequate sunlight from reaching the ground. In later decades under city ownership the Vista served as a dumping ground for tree carcasses, railroad ties, concrete and other materials. Aerial photos suggest this occurred into the mid-2000s. Today these remains line both sides of the strip. The Vista Trail traverses the site. The

vegetation here is what you’d expect for a site that was open and somewhat abused for decades. Trees are young, where they occur, and dominated by ruderal, early successional species. Exotic weeds dominate with a host of species present.

The ‘Southern Ravine’:

(area around the Ravine Trail)

The ravine at Cylburn’s southern end contains very nice American beech forest on account of steep slopes that were never cleared for agriculture. It is likely the area was woodland grazed in varying intensities yet it contains one of the most beautiful beech woodlands I’ve seen anywhere.

The ‘Old Oak Woods’:

(area around the Woodland Trail)

This large compartment is (to me) the highlight of Cylburn’s forest. While it is a mixed compartment vegetationally, what sets it apart is the occurrence of ancient oaks, and the relative absence of invasive weeds. The compartment slopes generally west and north down to the stream running with Cylburn Ave. The area was fully forested in the 1927 aerial photo and every indication on the ground suggests very little disturbance.

Humans have a complex relationship with the natural landscape, and our impact can be both positive and negative. It was important for us at Cylburn Arboretum Friends to know the current state of our forests as we plan for their management in the future, including the protection of our frequently unsung hillside full of wonder. Moving forward, we recognize that human intervention in forest ecosystems can play a positive role in making our forests more diverse, resilient, and beautiful. The interventions and investments that are currently taking place at Cylburn Arboretum include 1) a native oak tree study, 2) a forest management plan, and 3) a woodland edge capstone project.

Michael Gaige is a consulting ecologist based in upstate New York. His work explores the intersection of nature and cultural history at the landscape level. To find about more about his work, visit https://www.knowyourland.com/

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The ‘Old Oak Woods The ‘Cylburn Old Field’ From the report by Michael Gaige

Researching and Planning for our Future Forest

In our mature forests at Cylburn Arboretum, we are finding that oak seedlings are not replacing dying oak trees. This is due in part to non-native plant species out-competing oaks and an overabundant deer population with a preference for eating oak saplings rather than the non-native plants. This has resulted in unfortunate gaps in the tree canopy of an otherwise healthy forest. It also provided us with an excellent opportunity for research.

In 2023, Cylburn Arboretum Friends and Baltimore City’s Department of Recreation & Parks began working with a team of scientists from the United States Forest Service (USFS), the University of Delaware and the University of Kentucky. Our part of the project: an assisted migration study focusing on native oak trees at Cylburn Arboretum.

Climate change threatens forest ecosystems globally. Long-lived (immobile!) tree species face challenges in adapting to rapid shifts in climate. According to Dr. Nancy Sonti, a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service and part of the team of scientists working on the oak study, “a fundamental question is whether tree species can adapt to, or migrate with, changing climate. If tree species cannot keep up with climate change through acclimation or natural migration, then conservation interventions, such as assisted migration (humanassisted movement of species) may be necessary.”

In this project, white and chestnut oak seedlings were grown from acorns collected in Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. In 2023, these seedlings were planted into existing forest canopy gaps in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Areas were chosen because they 1) had open gaps in the canopy so that light could reach saplings, 2) could be enclosed to exclude deer, and 3) were accessible enough to allow for monitoring.

There are two Canopy Gap sites at Cylburn Arboretum. There are also test sites at Baltimore City’s Leakin Park. The research at Cylburn examines the impact of seed sources on tree performance and forest ecology, but it will also protect the oak seedlings (and any fallen acorns) from deer browsing.

Oaks are valuable trees ecologically. According to University of Delaware professor Dr. Doug Tallamy, one mature oak tree can support a food web of more than 1,000 species! It is our hope that the research plots will help these areas regenerate in the decades to come. In the short term, oak seedlings will be protected from the deer population. In the long term, we look forward to learning which oaks are best suited to our changing climate. We hope that these two factors together will protect our oak forest for the future, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem here at Cylburn Arboretum.

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INVESTING IN CYLBURN’S FOREST

Dr. Nancy Sonti (above center) is based at the USFS Baltimore Field Station, where she works as an interdisciplinary researcher studying urban socialecological systems. Dr. Sonti builds collaboration among academics, community groups, and government agencies. She also studies processes of forest restoration and regeneration in urban areas and motivations for community engagement with urban green spaces.

Find out more about this project at

https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/ nrs/projects/oaks-cities

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INVESTING IN CYLBURN’S FOREST

Developing a Forest Management Plan

The Natural Areas unit at Baltimore City’s Recreation & Parks Forestry Division is composed of two full-time members dedicated to the conservation and restoration of forested natural areas on city park lands. Ashley Bowers and Megan Carr are the two-member team, and they oversee the development and implementation of Forest Management Plans (FMPs) for large, forested park properties around the city. Since 2019, they have been implementing an FMP in Gwynns Falls-Leakin Park, the largest forested park in Baltimore.

The Natural Areas team frequently collaborates with community members, Friends groups, and researchers through the Forests in Cities Network and Urban Silviculture Network to ensure that stewardship and research activities are in line with the long-term best interests of the forests and people who use them.

Ashley Bowers is an Environmental Policy Analyst who has spent the last seven years building and developing Baltimore’s nationally-recognized natural areas management program. In her role in Baltimore City, she has co-authored a number of academic publications on the preservation, protection, and restoration of urban forests.

Last year, Carr and Bowers worked with Straughan Environmental, Inc. to gather data on forest conditions in the next three largest forested parks, including Cylburn Arboretum. They anticipate having a finalized FMP for Cylburn Arboretum in summer 2024 and are excited to share results with the community and expand their forest management operations.

Megan Carr is an Urban Forester specializing in the management of forested natural areas. Originally from south Texas, Carr started her career in natural resources management in Hawaii, where she served as a field crew member controlling invasive plants in remote areas. Since that time, she has worked in various roles in natural areas management across the state of Maryland.

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The Natural Areas unit coordinates the Baltimore City Weed Warriors program, where they provide training and support to volunteer stewards interested in helping to manage non-native invasive plants on city park properties. Since 2017, over 700 people have taken one or more classes in the Weed Warriors training series, and 168 volunteers have completed their certification. If you are interested in participating, visit https://www.treebaltimore.org/weed-warriors-1 for class dates and registration.

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Forest Path

INVESTING IN CYLBURN’S FOREST

A Capstone Project: The Benefit of a Woodland Edge

Ron Roberto is the 2024-25 Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Member working with Cylburn Arboretum Friends. An important component of the Corps Member’s year is the Capstone Project, a year-end project that ties together the young person’s passion and skills with the needs of the host organization. For Roberto, that intersection is Cylburn’s woodland edges. He shared, “I was interested in tackling a project that would help to restore an ecologically important part of Cylburn Arboretum and I also wanted the project to have a design component.” For CAF, even within a larger Arboretum and forest management plan, the borders are critical because they are the most prominent, highly-visible portion of our woodland for visitors.

An excerpt from Roberto’s Capstone Narrative:

A woodland edge is a naturally occurring transition zone between maturing forest and adjacent habitats, such as grasslands or wetlands. Or, in Cylburn Arboretum’s case: lawns, buildings, gardens, and tree collection. Woodland edges are especially important to wildlife that require

two types of habitats to cover their needs. For example, many species will nest in one habitat but find food in another.

In its current state, this woodland edge lacks biodiversity, is filled with invasives, and is aesthetically unappealing. My goal is to create and implement a design and a process that re-establishes all of the layers of a healthy forest edge. I will clear the present invasive plant species population and increase biodiversity by planting a wide variety of native plants. This high-diversity planting will provide interest to the public through its different color, texture, form, fragrances, and seasonal interests; and will provide shelter, cover and a source of food (nectar, pollen, seeds, and fruits) for wildlife. Finally, I will establish a framework for evaluating and managing all of Cylburn’s woodland edges.

This summer, Roberto will present his project as a whole, highlighting his findings, successes and failures to Cylburn Arboretum’s Landscape Committee. Keep an eye out for his work as you walk the trails in the coming months!

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How to build a forest edge: The layers

Ron's woodland edge project includes a plant list of 50 different trees, woody shrubs and herbaceous plants. Important to the planning process was considering all of the different layers of a forest. For example, additional white oaks and hickory tree seedlings will be added to fill in the large canopy gaps into the existing oak-hickory forest. Each level has multiple components - particularly the herbaceous layer with over 30 different plant species. Here is a sampling of some of our favorites.

CANOPY: White Oak