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About Governor's Hill Arboretum

On April 28, 2014, Council member Mary Kay Sigaty, on behalf of Ken Ulman, unveiled an arboretum on the campus of Howard County government in Ellicott City. Due to County Executive Ken Ulman's generous support, permanent identifying signs were placed at more than 40 important trees at the site. Brochures are also available to guide the public around the property, and an interactive map developed as a joint effort between the Forestry Board President Tricia Valentine and Howard County's GIS Department can be accessed on mobile devices.

"We work hard to protect our natural spaces throughout Howard County," said Executive Ulman. "I think people would be surprised to learn that there is so much diversity and preservation, even in unexpected places. I truly hope visitors to the George Howard Building will take a moment to walk around and appreciate what we have. Especially our young people."

Interactive Map The Forestry Board and Howard County's GIS Department have collaborated to create an interactive map of the arboretum. The map may be enjoyed on both computers and mobile devices. View Interactive Map The interactive map will help you locate and identify the wonderful trees planted around the arboretum. Identification signs have been placed at 41 of these trees. Click on each tree name to see an illustration and more information about the tree. We hope this exhibit piques your curiosity and encourages you to look at the trees carefully and inquisitively.

Trees at Governor's Hill

Common Name	Scientific Name	Map ID
Smoketree	Cotinus coggygria	1
Flowering Dogwood	Cornus florida	2
Baldcypress	Taxodium distichum	3
Dawn Redwood	Metasequoia glyptostroboides	4
Sweetbay Magnolia	Magnolia virginiana	5
Lacebark Elm	Ulmus parvifolia	6
Scholartree	Sophora japonica	7
Red Maple	Acer rubrum	8
Korean Dogwood	Cornus kousa	9
Flowering Cherry	Prunus serrulata	10
Weeping Cherry	Prunus subhirtella	11
Goldenrain Tree	Koelreuteria paniculata	12
American Holly	Ilex opaca	13
Mugo Pine	Pinus mugo	14
Crimson King Norway Maple	Acer platanoides	15
Hedge Maple	Acer campestre	16
Northern Red Oak	Quercus rubra	17
River Birch	Betula nigra	18
Green Ash	Fraxinus pennsylvanica	19
Pin Oak	Quercus palustris	20
Saucer Magnolia	Magnolia Xsoulangiana	21
Sassafras	Sassafras albidum	22
American Beech	Fagus grandifolia	23
Princess Tree	Paulownia tomentosa	24
Pignut Hickory	Carya glabra	25
Sweet Cherry	Prunus avium	26
Silver Maple	Acer saccharinum	27
Kwanzan Cherry	Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan'	28
American Hornbeam	Carpinus caroliniana	29
White Oak (Wye Oak seedling)	Quercus alba	30
Eastern Redbud	Cercis canadensis	31
Nellie Steven Holly	Ilex 'Nellie Stevens'	32
Crabapple	Malus sp.	33
Boxelder	Acer negundo	34
Tree of Heaven	Ailanthus altissima	35
Black Locust	Robinia pseudoacacia	36
Zelkova	Zelkova serrata	37
Serviceberry	Amelanchier arborea	38
Western Arborvitae	Thuja plicata	39
White Ash	Fraxinus americana	40
Eastern White Pine	Pinus strobus	41

History The arboretum at Governor's Hill was opened by former County Executive Jim Robey in 1999. Significant improvements were made to breathe new life into the exhibit in 2014 thanks to generous donations by Ken Ulman. The government center hill is sometimes called "Governors' Hill." The office buildings on it are named for four Maryland Governors: Howard, Carroll, Ligon and Warfield, all residents of Howard County. The Howard Building, opened in 1978, is named for George Howard, son of John Eager Howard, a Revolutionary War hero for whom the county is named. George filled in after a Governor of Maryland died, from July 1831 to January 1833 and was then elected for a year's term. The Carroll Building, opened in 1967, is named for Governor John Lee Carroll, Governor of Maryland from 1876 to 1880. He lived in Doughregan Manor, still owned by the Carroll family. His campaign opponent from the Know-Nothing Party unsuccessfully attacked Governor Carroll's Roman Catholicism. The Ligon Building, connected to the Carroll Building, is named for Thomas Watkins Ligon, Governor of Maryland from 1854 to 1858. Ligon barely won over his Know-Nothing Party opponent from Montgomery County. Governor Ligon married into Howard County's Dorsey family. The Warfield Building opened in 1973 and is named for Maryland Governor Edwin Warfield of Howard County, who held office from 1904 to 1908. He was previously a state senator and owned the Ellicott City Times from 1882 to 1886. From: A pictorial History of Howard County by Joetta M. Cramm.

Focus A wide variety of trees have been planted in the Howard County Office Complex; many which are native to the county, and many which are considered exotic. While probably not native to Howard County, the Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) is certainly native to Maryland. Because this tree loses its leaves and branchlets in winter it has earned the name "Bald" Cypress. The needles are soft and flat, crowded on flexible stems. In autumn the needles turn brown and the entire brachlet drops. Unlike the Dawn Redwood (growing right next to this tree) which has opposite leaves, these leaves grow alternately and spirally around the branch. The cones are less than an inch in diameter and nearly round. Growing at the end of the twig, these cones are gray, becoming purple or brown later in the year. These cones grow on very short stalks unlike the Dawn Redwood whose cones have stems of 1-2 inches. The Baldcypress grows naturally in swampy areas, on river banks, and on the border of marshes. In such wet areas it can grow characteristic "knees", woody projections from submerged roots. A long-lived tree, it can grow well over 100 feet. The Baldcypress is the state tree of Louisiana, and is found growing naturally as far north as the Delmarva peninsula. Excavations in Baltimore City uncovered the ancient remains of a Baldcypress swamp. The heartwood is notably resistant to decay and has been used for construction, railroad ties, piers and durable fenceposts.

Directions

Contacts

Arboretum Director 
Howard County Arboreta 
Howard County Forest Conservancy District Board 
P.O.Box 819 
Clarksville, MD 21029