Howard County Arboreta
Jackson Pond
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History
Howard Jackson was a dedicated volunteer in Long Reach Village. He loved Columbia and Long Reach, working very hard on various projects and committees. Some of his concerns dealt with open space, consumer affairs, and the well-being of the community in general.
Mr. Jackson served as chairman of the Long Reach Open Space Committee, working with residents and County officials in spruce-up projects and helping to resolve issues regarding the silt ponds in the Village. He was a member of the Columbia-wide Open Space Forum and of the newly formed ad hoc Open Space Site Identification Committee of the CA Executive Committee. He was influential in the efforts of Long Reach to obtain a left-hand turn signal at the intersection of Tamar Drive and Rt. 175. He was involved in the efforts to obtain street lighting along Tamar Drive, collecting signatures and encouraging the Village Board to pursue the issue. In cooperation with the Howard County Police Department, Howard helped develop Operation Identification, a project to decrease the incidences of burglaries. He conducted a campaign in Long Reach to remove the graffiti on the walls of the tunnel used by school children to cross Rt. 175.
So that all Columbians will be reminded of his contributions to the community, the Long Reach Pond, known as Hittman Pond, has officially been renamed Jackson Pond. The Long Reach Village Board has earmarked funds for a memorial plaque to be placed at Jackson Pond.
Marcia Harris, Reach Out, June 1978
Trees at Jackson Pond
In addition to providing lakeside recreational opportunities, Jackson Pond 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.
| American Beech | Fagus americana |
| American Holly | Ilex opaca |
| Amur Maple | Acer ginnala |
| Autumn Olive | Elaeagnus umbellata |
| Black Cherry | Prunus serotina |
| Black Locust | Tilia americana |
| Black Walnut | Juglans nigra |
| Black Willow | Salix nigra |
| Crabapple | Malus coronaria |
| Corkscrew Willow | Salix matsudana cv Tortuosa |
| Colorado Spruce | Picea pungens |
| Dawn Redwood | Metasequoia glyptostroboides |
| Dogwood | Cornus florida |
| Forsythia | Forsythia x intermedia |
| Flowering Cherry | Prunus serrulata |
| Flowering Plum | Prunus cerasifera |
| Green Ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica |
| Goldenrain | Koelreuteria paniculata |
| Hazel Alder | Alnus serrulata |
| Honey Locust | Gleditsia triacanthos |
| Japanese Maple | Acer palmatum |
| Cherry, Kwanzan | Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan' |
| London Plane Tree | Platanus x acerifolia |
| Norway Maple | Acer platanoides |
| Pin Oak | Quercus palustris |
| Redbud | Cercis canadensis |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum |
| Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua |
| Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum |
| Silver Maple | Acer saccharinum |
| Sweet Cherry | Prunus avium |
| Tulip Poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera |
| Weeping Willow | Salix babylonica |
| White Ash | Fraxinus americana |
| White Mulberry | Morus alba |
| White Pine | Pinus strobus |
| Willow Oak | Quercus phellos |
| Witch-hazel | Hamamelis virginiana |
| Yew | Taxus baccata |
| Zelkova | Zelkova serrata |
Focus
In particular you should see the Corkscrew Willow. Introduced to the U.S. from China in 1923, the Hankow Willow (Salix matsudana) is an extraordinary member of the willow family. This tree is dedicated to the great Japanese botanist Sadahisa Matsudo who wrote one of the first floras of China: a catalog, systematically describing the plants of the country.
The contortions of the Corkscrew Willow (Salix matsudana cv. Tortuosa) is the most notable feature; even the leaves are curled and twisted. Like many willows the leaves are alternate and narrow, coming to a slender point. The catkins grow upright, about one inch long, and open in late April.
The younger shoots being more flexible exhibit the greatest degree of twisting, but all components of the tree, its stems and branches, are dramatically contorted.
The contorted twisting of the branches, the stems, and the leaves of
the Corkscrew Willow make it a central specimen in many gardens. A tree
of moderate size it grows to 30 feet, occasionally up to 50 feet high.
Its contortions make this tree an attraction especially in wintertime.
Directions
Jackson Pond is located in the Phelps Luck neighborhood of Long Reach Village in Columbia. Take 175 to Tamar Drive north. Turn left onto Phelps Luck Drive and take the third right onto Lightspun Lane. 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