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Terrific Trees

Sunday October 14, 2007
On a sunny fall afternoon, nine tree enthusiasts led by Joe Howard enjoyed an excursion through Sligo Creek Park and surrounding neighborhoods to admire some of the largest trees in the county. In all, we visited fourteen giant trees, twelve of them county "champion" trees, including two state champions.

"Champion trees" are those whose combined height, trunk size, and crown spread is greater than any other know specimens, whether in the county, state, or country. (For details on how champion trees are determined, and a complete list of county champions, see www.mcmdforestryboard.org.)


Photo by Mike Mullins 		Our leader was Joe Howard, a 40-year resident of Sligo, member of the Montgomery County Forestry Board, and founder of the Register of Champion Trees for the county. He is also well-known as a "trash emperor" for his ongoing litter-removal efforts in Sligo.
Two of our county champion trees are located along Sligo Creek Parkway, though neither is a native species. The champion Yellow Buckeye, 91-feet tall, can be found just south of Brunett, at the edge of the mown field on the east side of the Parkway. A number of junior buckeyes have sprouted nearby.
(This species is native to the Appalachians.)

Photo by Michael Wilpers

The champion Yellowwood, at 70-feet tall, grows just across from the first parking lot downstream from Wayne Ave., up a short path from the east side of the road. With its smooth gray bark, it could easily be taken for an American beech. But even though its trunk measures 9-feet around, noone has carved their initials into it.
(It is native to parts of Kentucky, Tennesse, Virginia and North Carolina, among other places.)

Photo by Michael Wilpers

We spent considerable time in the Woodside neighborhood of Silver Spring (the section east of Georgia), which is home to a number of champion trees. Two are state champions: a 36-foot-tall Arbor Vitae (another non-native) and a tree-sized Blackhaw Viburnum (below), one of our native shrubs. Who knew a shrub could grow to such robust stature, with a crown spread of 28 feet?
(The champion tree registry withholds home addresses from publication.)

Photo by Michael Wilpers

The same neighborhood boasts the county champion Northern Red Oak,
with a massive trunk nearly 19-feet in circumference.
Photo by Michael Wilpers