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.)

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

In two backyards, we saw the county champions for Southern Magnolia (with its 10-foo trunk circumference) and a 65-foot tall Deodora Cedar.

Photo by Michael Wilpers

Photo by Michael Wilpers

Back on the east side of the creek, Joe led us to the Argyle Recreation Center on Forest Glen Road, where stands a venerable Black Gum (Tupelo), which, though not a champion tree,
is nevertheless a “Bicentennial Tree” because of its age of 200-plus years, and so marked by a plaque.

Photo by Michael Wilpers

Nearby is the county champion Sassafras tree. Standing at 71-feet tall, and with a trunk circumference of 11-feet, it’s atypical not only for its astonishing size, but also because none of its leaves bear the trademark “mitten” look of more typical specimens.

Photo by Michael Wilpers

Not far from Forest Glen Road stands the county champion River Birch.
At 75 feet tall and with a crown 70-feet wide,
it represents a towering example of one of Sligo’s most common river-side trees.

Nearby, we saw the champion Dogwood, its 33-foot crown providing and
expanse of shade to an intimate garden.

For his grand finale, Joe took us to an awe-inspiring Willow Oak, a county champion and no doubt the most impressive sight on the tour. Its tremendous trunk measures 18 feet around,
and its magnificant crown extends 115 feet over the landscape.

We are grateful to Joe Howard for leading such a wonderful outing and to the many homeowners who agreed to allow us on their properties to admire these champion trees up close.

Participating in the outing were Deena Bleich, Charmaine Foltz, Zev Hochberg, Ann Hoffnar, Laura Mol, Jill and Mike Mullins, Patricia Wood, and Michael Wilpers.

Written by Michael Wilpers, Chair of Natural History Committee.