Howard County Arboreta
County Office Complex
- Wilde Lake
- Jackson Pond
- Cobbs Creek
- County Office
- Guilford Park
- Centennial Park
- Harwood Park
- Lake Elkhorn
Complex
Forestry Homepage
History
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.
Dedication
On October 25th, 1999, Jim Robey, the Howard County Executive, officially announced the "Arboreta without Walls" program at the County Office Building. This marked the official beginning of the volunteer educational program to tag the trees in the County's public parks.
The picture above features Steve Parker, the Howard County Forest Conservancy District
Board's Chairman, with Jim Robey, County Executive standing by. Below we have captured
Jim Robey and other Council representatives in the act of tagging the Bald Cypress
on Governor's Hill.
Trees at Governor's Hill
In addition to providing facilities for the government of Howard County, Governor's Hill has a fine collection of both native and exotic trees and shrubs. Each tree below is linked to its ArborTag which describes the distinguishing features of the species. Those pages can be used to make your own laminated tree tags.
| Ailanthus | Ailanthus altissima |
| Crab Apple | Malus coronaria |
| Green Ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica |
| White Ash | Fraxinus americana |
| River Birch | Betula nigra |
| Baldcypress | Taxodium distichum |
| Black Cherry | Prunus serotina |
| Flowering Cherry | Prunus serrulata |
| Kwanzan Cherry | Prunus serrulata v.Kwanzan |
| Weeping Cherry | Prunus subhirtella |
| Dogwood | Cornus florida |
| Korean Dogwood | Cornus kousa |
| Lacebark Elm | Ulmus parvifolia |
| Goldenrain | Koelreuteria paniculata |
| Hawthorn | Crataegus |
| American Holly | Ilex opaca |
| Hornbeam | Carpinus caroliniana |
| Black Locust | Tilia americana |
| Littleleaf Linden | Tilia cordata |
| Boxelder | Acer negundo |
| White Mulberry | Morus alba |
| Crimson King Maple | Acer platanoides |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum |
| Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum |
| Pin Oak | Quercus palustris |
| Red Oak | Quercus rubra |
| Wye Oak | Quercus alba |
| Austrian Pine | Pinus nigra |
| White Pine | Pinus strobus |
| Dawn Redwood | Metasequoia glyptostroboides |
| Chinese Scholartree | Sophora japonica |
| Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua |
| Spruce, Norway | Picea abies |
| Black Walnut | Juglans nigra |
| Yellowwood | Cladrastis kentuckea |
| Zelkova | Zelkova serrata |
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
Take route 40 to Roger's Avenue which is just east of the route 29 intersection. South on Roger's Avenue to Court House Drive, and take your first right into the Howard County Office complex. Public parking is available. Enjoy the trees!
Contacts
Want to establish an arboretum where you live? Mail your questions to theArboretum Director
Howard County Arboreta
Howard County Forest Conservancy District Board
P.O.Box 819
Clarksville, MD 21029