The East Side
This is the area between the parking lot and the fence on the side toward Towson. There are a lot of trees and shrubs here but many are of the same variety. Boundaries are the front corner already described and the tall Hickory tree near the north exit. Let's make tentative diagnosis of the evergreens starting at the most southern light post.
There are seven pines, the needles grow off the twigs in bunches of five. This probably indicates white pine (five letters in white). There are exceptions to every rule (even this one), but in the Maryland area pines with 5 needle clusters are usually white. "Seeing Trees" rhapsodizes about the life cycle of white pines and urges you to look at the microscopic features of male and female cones as the seasons progress. This is the tree that helped to start the Revolutionary War. These pines may be too small to see much action, but worth checking during the year.
Between the second and 3rd light pole are 3 spruce, five more arborvitae, two tall cryptomeria and one lonely fir. There are no cones on the fir as yet so hard to be more specific. It is closer to the second light and up the hill. INaturalist calls it a silver fir (Abies alba). Even the spruce could be checked further. The needles should have a square cross-section , be attached to a small woody stalk, and roll easily between your fingers. Tentatively I have called the group around the third light post spruce. Beyond the third light are more spruce , six more arborvitae, two more taller cryptomeria, and a group of four hollies.
Past the corner of the parking area are four more pines and the tall hickory tree. I am guessing by the fragments of nuts at the base. It looks about 100 years old and planted at an earlier time in Towson history. So far this would be the most huggable tree on the property.
Now there are, in front of the conifers, toward the parking, an assortment of deciduous trees and bushes. Starting back at the southern end, there are 3-4 maples judging by the opposite leave buds, opposite twigs, and one or two straggling leaves. The terminal bud might identify the species. At the north end of the first parking bay there is a cluster of deciduous trees and bushes that are unknowns.
(some ideas but no definite clues). The deciduous tree in the grassy projection appears the same as the trees in the circle at the front door. I am calling those a honey locust cultivar. It has the lichen similar to those trees. Twigs look similar.
From the 4th light pole (counting from south) there is a tulip tree with the typical terminal bud and a group of serviceberries (multi-stem) and small oaks. The oaks still have leaves attached, thank you oaks. Opposite the last light is another unknown, I am rooting for hop hornbeam but uncertain. There are a scattering of sycamores with the irregular bark, another tulip tree, and at the top of the hill an unknown small tree or bush with opposite buds. The sycamores are probably variations of the London plane tree, a hybrid. Some like these, some not. Look for the number of seed balls as identification. Near the hickory is another redbud.
So there are numerous challenges. Diagnose the unknowns, confirm the knowns with more evidence, be more precise about the species. Most interesting will be to see the changes with the seasons and the weather. Did the recent warm weather start early budding. How soon can we start the spring service for the serviceberry? Pick a tree or bush, any one, and follow it from month to month.
There are seven pines, the needles grow off the twigs in bunches of five. This probably indicates white pine (five letters in white). There are exceptions to every rule (even this one), but in the Maryland area pines with 5 needle clusters are usually white. "Seeing Trees" rhapsodizes about the life cycle of white pines and urges you to look at the microscopic features of male and female cones as the seasons progress. This is the tree that helped to start the Revolutionary War. These pines may be too small to see much action, but worth checking during the year.
Between the second and 3rd light pole are 3 spruce, five more arborvitae, two tall cryptomeria and one lonely fir. There are no cones on the fir as yet so hard to be more specific. It is closer to the second light and up the hill. INaturalist calls it a silver fir (Abies alba). Even the spruce could be checked further. The needles should have a square cross-section , be attached to a small woody stalk, and roll easily between your fingers. Tentatively I have called the group around the third light post spruce. Beyond the third light are more spruce , six more arborvitae, two more taller cryptomeria, and a group of four hollies.
Past the corner of the parking area are four more pines and the tall hickory tree. I am guessing by the fragments of nuts at the base. It looks about 100 years old and planted at an earlier time in Towson history. So far this would be the most huggable tree on the property.
Now there are, in front of the conifers, toward the parking, an assortment of deciduous trees and bushes. Starting back at the southern end, there are 3-4 maples judging by the opposite leave buds, opposite twigs, and one or two straggling leaves. The terminal bud might identify the species. At the north end of the first parking bay there is a cluster of deciduous trees and bushes that are unknowns.
(some ideas but no definite clues). The deciduous tree in the grassy projection appears the same as the trees in the circle at the front door. I am calling those a honey locust cultivar. It has the lichen similar to those trees. Twigs look similar.
From the 4th light pole (counting from south) there is a tulip tree with the typical terminal bud and a group of serviceberries (multi-stem) and small oaks. The oaks still have leaves attached, thank you oaks. Opposite the last light is another unknown, I am rooting for hop hornbeam but uncertain. There are a scattering of sycamores with the irregular bark, another tulip tree, and at the top of the hill an unknown small tree or bush with opposite buds. The sycamores are probably variations of the London plane tree, a hybrid. Some like these, some not. Look for the number of seed balls as identification. Near the hickory is another redbud.
So there are numerous challenges. Diagnose the unknowns, confirm the knowns with more evidence, be more precise about the species. Most interesting will be to see the changes with the seasons and the weather. Did the recent warm weather start early budding. How soon can we start the spring service for the serviceberry? Pick a tree or bush, any one, and follow it from month to month.
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