City Forest and Trees
Baltimore City Forest Conservancy District Board	
                                                            Baltimore, Maryland	  2006	

M
aryland 
         Forestry 1906-2006
    Following a long period of uncontrolled cutting of trees, things changed for the better with the donation by Robert and John Garrett of 2,000 acres of mountain woodland in 1906. This land was given to the State of Maryland (provided it was properly cared for). 
    As a result of the donation, the Board of Forestry was created. Fred W. Beasley was appointed State Forester and served until 1942. In 1941, the Board of Natural Resources was started and Joseph F. Kaylor became State Forester. Many changes took place, encouraging the regulation of forest practices, including practices on private land. Loggers and other forest operators were to be licensed by the state, under the terms of a 1943 Forest Conservancy District Act. 
    The 24 forestry boards --one for each county and Baltimore City --came into existence in 1943, They were (and are) appointed by the Assistant Secretary of Natural Resources and work in partnership with that department. The boards are all concerned with forests within their respective jurisdictions. Overall authority rests with the State Forester. Concerns about ecological processes, biodiversity and forest health have been stressed by the two most recent State Foresters, Donald E. MacLauchian, and the present State Forester, Steven W. Koehn. 2006 marks the 100th Anniversary of the Maryland Forest Service. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/centennial/

B
ALTIMORE'S TREE 
CANOPY GOAL 
     Baltimore is one of two cities in Maryland, which is working with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the USDA Forest Service to come up with a realistic goal for increasing the urban tree canopy in the city over the next 20 years. This goal will be announced by Mayor O'Malley this spring (check the Baltimore City Forestry Board website for updates) and will guide the tree planting agenda 
of the Department of Forestry for the next several

decades. The expectation of this goal setting process is that the results will be something that other cities and urban areas can emulate. 
      Currently the UTC (Urban Tree Canopy) of Baltimore City is about 20 per cent. Substantially increasing the canopy would have the effect of cooling more of the city, increasing the pollution absorbing leaf area available, reducing run-off from the land and helping clean the water flowing into the Chesapeake Bay. It could also reduce social stresses and generate health benefits in high- density neighborhoods. 
    Under the UTC (Urban Tree Canopy) goal will be increased street tree plantings in sidewalk and street medians, increased tree plantings on non-public "commercial" properties and increased tree plantings in residential areas. 

R
ebecca Feldberg 
-New City Forester     
     After working for seven years with the Arlington County, Virginia, Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources where she was Natural Resources Program Coordinator, Rebecca Feldberg has returned to Baltimore as the City Forester. A native of Baltimore, Rebecca grew up in a house near Cylburn Arboretum, where she spent much of her childhood. 
    With a bachelor's degree in horticulture from the University of Maryland, she has been working toward a master's degree at Morgan State University. Much of her work in Virginia involved running a tree-planting program, with volunteers and community groups. Today, she is managing the forestry division, of thirty people. She has an assistant arborist. Taking down dead trees and planting new ones are among the duties of the forestry department crews. Rebecca's main responsibility now is developing a program to improve existing forestry conditions. 
    The new forester enjoys gardening, always has had a large vegetable bed, grows native plants and tries to plant to attract wildlife. While she is 
presently living in Riverdale, Rebecca hopes to move to Baltimore. She also enjoys walking her dog. A widow, Rebecca has a twenty-five year old son who recently graduated from Temple University and lives in Philadelphia. 
    In addition to all her other achievements, Rebecca is a certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture. 

Z
elkovas Adorn North Avenue 
  by Adelaide C. Rackemann 
    Anyone driving along North Avenue has seen the handsome row of young trees in the median strip. The trees are a parts- of the ambitious project spearheaded by Russ Moss of the Baltimore City Forestry Board. 
    The trees are Zelkovas. There are seven species of zelkovas, members of the Elm family (Ulmaceae), all native to Asia. The trees growing on North Avenue are Zelkova serrata, 'Village Green'. This cultivar is especially hardy; a tree suitable for city planting since it tolerates air pollution, grows well in sun or shade in acid or alkaline soil and withstands cold temperatures. It does require good drainage but once established, is very wind and  drought tolerant.  
    Zelkova is highly resistant --though not entirely immune -- to Dutch elm disease. This disease, which is incurable, has destroyed many of our native elm trees. For this reason, Zelkova is being widely used today as a substitute of the elm. The shape of the tree is vase-like and though it does not have the same magnificent crown shape of the elm does have many of the same characteristics. It is deciduous and has pinnately veined leaves, which are alternate, short-stalked and toothed. The flowers are small, green and clustered in the axils of lower leaves  in the spring . The seeds are small and ripen in the fall. Fall leaf color is a rusty red.
     The tree is fairly slow growing, but may grow several feet a year in youth.  Zelkova serrata, the most commonly planted species, may reach a height of 100 feet. It is easily cultivated. Propagation is by seeds, cuttings, and tissue culture. In Japan the wood of Zelkova is prized for traditional construction and furniture. The name 'zelkova' is derived from the Caucasian name “tselkova.”

F
estivals 
and Special Events
Flower Mart- Friday, May 5, 11AM to 8PM- Saturday May 6, 11AM to 8PM: The theme this year is: “Baltimore’s Beautiful Bouquet.” Yellow and Black are the event’s colors.
http://www.flowermart.org/info.cfm

Cylburn Market Day- Saturday, May 13, $4 Parking Fee A popular annual event at Cylburn Arboretum. Opportunity to buy many kinds of plants - including small trees from the Baltimore City Forestry Board.  Come early for best selection! 
http://www.cylburnassociation.org/

Baltimore Herb Festival May 27, 2006 - 10am-4pm Held in Leakin Park 1900 Eagle Drive Baltimore, MD 21207.  http://www.baltimoreherbfestival.com/

Perennial and Herb Day at Cylburn Arboretum (Used Books Sale) Sunday, June 11 8 AM to 2 PM.
http://www.cylburnassociation.org/

Maryland State Fair -August 25- September 4 Timonium all day. Admission charges vary. 

B
US TRIP: NOTABLE TREES       
        OF  BALTIMORE
      On Saturday, May 6, there will be a special trip sponsored by the Baltimore City Forestry Board to see unusual and champion trees in Baltimore. The tour will leave from Cylburn Arboretum at 9:30 AM and return at 2:30 PM p.m. Reservations are required and may be made at the Cylburn Arboretum Association office: 410-367-2217. The cost is $25 per person, which includes a box lunch and drink

S
PECIAL CELEBRATION OF   
      ARBOR DAY
      On Friday, April 28, at 10 a.m., there will be celebration of Arbor Day. The city of Baltimore, the Forestry Board and the Baltimore Bird Club will all take part, as proclamations, presentations and a ceremonial tree planting will take place. Schools, recreation programs and other interested groups will all participate. Call 410-367-2217 to make arrangements to join the celebration. The event is free. 

N
OTABLE TREES POSTER         
       NOW AVAILABLE
     The handsome poster, 18x 22 inches, featuring color photographs of six notable trees in Baltimore, is now offered for sale in the Cylburn Arboretum Association office. The price is $8. Proceeds from sales of the poster will be divided between Cylburn and the Forestry Board, and will be used for planting trees throughout the city. 

C
hampion Trees 
in Maryland      
Among the many achievements of the first State Forester, Fred W. Beasley, was his calling attention to outstanding trees in Maryland, which he did in writing "Noted Trees in Maryland in 1925". This started his search and recognition of Big Tree: Champions. 
While the Wye Oak was both a state and national champion tree and was the most famous, the Liberty Tree, a tulip poplar, at St. John's College in Annapolis) was also a champion. Both trees were at least 400 years old. 
Among champion trees still standing are the Lutheran White oak in Carroll County, believed to be 320 years old, and the Witness Tree, also called the Burnside Sycamore, a tree that survived the battle, is in the Antietum National Battlefield. Another outstanding tree is the Holly Hill oak in Elkton, now 437 years old but in poor condition. An ancestor of President Hoover planted the Hoover Sycamore in Carroll County in 1740.  

I
nvasive Species
      As we celebrate the centennial of the Maryland Forest Service, we must mention that invasive alien plants are to be found in our forest. 
Among them are the following: 
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) 
Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) 
Japanese Barberry (Barberry Berberis thunbergii)
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) 
Bush Honeysuckle 
(Lonicera maackii, tatarica, morrowii); 
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora). 
    
      These trees and shrubs, and many more, have tended to crowd out native species. Moreover, native 

insects, birds and animals are adversely affected and may not be able to reproduce and may be vulnerable to pests and predators. 
    To cope with the problem of invasive alien species, don't plant them on your property and discourage others from doing so. Eliminate them and replace them with native species. 
    Much more information about these invasive non-native plants is available on the Internet. Maryland Invasive Species Council: 
http://www.mdinvasivesp.org/ is one helpful source. 

E
nglish Ivy Can Suffocate Your Tree 
    
English Ivy, when controlled, can be an attractive addition to a landscape. But, left unchecked, it can slowly creep up the tallest trees and sap the tree's strength. 
English Ivy boasts over 100 varieties and has been know to live up to 400 years old. Once this waxy leaf evergreen produces seeds, birds consume the seeds and this prolific vine is further spread in local forests. 
The major threat English Ivy poses to trees is when they grow into the canopy and cover the trees’ leaves. This prevents leaves on the tree from processing nourishment for the tree. In other words, the ivy literally suffocates the tree by choking out light its leaves need to sustain its very life. 
    Because of the density of leaves, ivy also prevents detection of early disease warnings on the bark of a tree. Furthermore, this vine is 80 percent water and will weigh down the tree's limbs, thus making it more vulnerable to limb damage. By adding this evergreen weight to the tree it can help causes damage in high winds and snow/ice. It can also hide a multitude of problems on the trunk, for example when there it is a heavy infestation.
     The best time to tackle ivy is during the dormant season. Make a shoulder-high and ankle-high cut to the vine at the base of the tree. Remove the growth (about three feet) between your shoulder and ankle. Next, pull up the ivy near the base of the tree. A thick coat of mulch will slow its return. For more information Google "removing vines from trees." 

cholarships Available 
S
Two scholarships are available for this year’s Forestry and Natural Resources Careers Week Training. The Maryland Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards and the Maryland DNR sponsor the workshop. The Baltimore City Forestry Board will pay the student’s expenses.

     The workshop, located at Hickory Environmental Education Center in Garrett County, will be held Sunday, July 23–Saturday, July 29, 2006. Two students will be selected from each county and Baltimore City to represent that area's Forest Conservancy District Board.  

Approximately fifteen professional foresters and environmental specialists will lead the 48 students, working in small groups.  

The students will have an opportunity to handle technical equipment and participate in tree climbing, water testing, animal tracking, map and compass use and fire control. Traditional Forestry will be the main focus of this educational experience with the inclusion of GIS and GPS technology. Watershed ecology is also emphasized as well as an entire day spent on Urban Forestry.  

Contact Sandy Sparks at srsparks@verizon.net for more information or go to: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/careersconf06.html

T
he Baltimore City Forest Conservancy District Board is an advocacy panel to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources‑Forest Service. 

The Board: 
Russ Moss, Chairman, 
Tom Green,  Treasurer, 
Meredith P. Millspaugh, 
Adelaide Rackemann, 
Elsa Lankford, 
Gary Letteron, 
Ann Lundy , 
Darin Crew, 
Gary Novak, 
Ken Desmarais, 
Elspeth Wheeler
Robert Black, Webmaster

Technical Advisors:  
Rebecca Feldberg, Forestry Division; Department of Recreation and Parks; 
Pam Kelly, Secretary, Executive Director, State Association MD DNR-Forest Service; 
Joe Burch, Forestry Division Department of Recreation and Parks; 
Amanda Cunningham, Community Forestry Parks & People Foundation; 
Jeffery Barrett - Baltimore City Public School Grounds; 
Gerard Moudry - Member Emeritus

      For more board information, contact Pam Kelly at 410-260-8589. The Baltimore City Forestry Board web page is located at: http://www.baltocfb.sailorsite.net/BCFB.html