Plant List: Middle of Southside of Y property, a Clump of Nature

There is a dense group of trees between the chain link fence and the road, southwest corner of the parking lot. This is just a few of the more obvious or interesting trees. 

On the road side there is a Tree of Heaven, beginning to produce a plethora of seeds.  This is part of the reason it is so invasive.  There are large compound leaves, crush one of the leaflets and take a whiff.  There are more of these east of the other exit.  When the seeds are ready to drop they can be compared with the maple and ash seeds to see how they flutter down.  Another tree that sometimes plethoras seeds is the box elder, but they differ close up.

There is Virginia creeper on the ground and growing up the maple tree. Something you will see on most walks around Baltimore.

There is the large example of poison ivy which we already mentioned, can grow up the tree and get you from overhead.  Note the hairy vine, and maybe look up the poems that warn about poison ivy.  " Hairy vine, a danger sign".  

There are two small trees with mitten shaped leaves.  The Sassafras has three different shapes, leading to myths  about which child was turned into a sassafras tree?  Comments involve the sassafras tea from the roots, but rarely is the tea produced.

Next to the sassafras is a Mulberry tree.  It also has variable shaped leaves but usually not two thumbs. Comments are about red vs white mulberry and why the mulberry was brought to America (feed the silkworms).  

There are a few shoots of Japanese honeysuckle.  This is another Asian invasive.  White flowers in May and June dark berries in September.

Not everyone will want to go into this chaotic grove.  Aside from the poison ivy you can be sensitive to other plants. I am after the fact cautious about ticks, that is post hike inspection, but avoiding over-grown areas is one choice.