Cylburn Arboretum Friends

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  • Programs & Events
    • Upcoming
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    • Monthly Programs
    • Field Trips
    • Cylburn Nature Camp
  • Give
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Who We Are

Cylburn Arboretum Friends is the non-profit organization that has been partnering with the City of Baltimore since 1954 to maintain the grounds and gardens at Cylburn.

Mission: Our commitment to the Baltimore community is to support the Cylburn Arboretum through stewardship and educational programming.

Vision: To inspire a love of the natural world.

Our name has changed over the years to better reflect who we are and how we function. We provide horticulturally sound garden practice and science-based educational programs to learners of all ages. Our passion is trees and we want our visitors to appreciate all that they provide to us.

From caring for our specimen plantings to teaching children to respect and discover the wonder that is Nature, we see ourselves as stewards of our environment and we strive to raise awareness of our responsibility to preserve and protect this planet for generations to come.

Staff

Brooke Fritz

Executive Director

Erika Castillo

Director of Education

Brent Figlestahler

Head Gardener

Holly Harris

Financial Associate

Ana Brown-Tempert

Nature Center Assistant

Alison Dombrowski

Development Associate

Rachel Connor

Garden Educator

Steve Plocher

Garden Educator

Mia Dyer

Chesapeake Conservation & Climate Corps Member

Board of Directors

Hilles Whedbee

President

Sandra Gohn

Vice President

Ramesh Moorthy

Secretary

Mark Gurley

Treasurer

Ashley Cleveland

Beverly Davis

Erik Dihle

Chris Feiss

Patricia Foster

Rebecca Henry

Nancy Hill

Bonnie Legro

Douglas Nelson

Daniel Pham

Michael Reamer

Courtney Sawyer

Sara Service

Ex Officio

Melissa Grim

Chief Horticulturist, Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks

Brooke Fritz

Executive Director, Cylburn Arboretum Friends

Visit

  • Hours
  • Buildings and Facilities
  • Know Before You Go
  • The Collections
  • Cylburn Arboretum Tour Information

Events

  • Upcoming
  • Monthly Programs
  • Annual Events
  • Field Trips
  • Cylburn Nature Camp

Give

  • Ways to Give
  • Donate
  • Membership
  • Gifts of Stock
  • Donate a Tree or a Bench

Members

  • Members
  • Monthly Programs

Rentals & Permits

  • Rentals & Photography

Contact Us

  • Contact Us
If you look closely beneath some American Beech (F If you look closely beneath some American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) trees at Cylburn, you might find a unique wildflower known as the beechdrop (Epifagus virginiana). These small, purplish-brown plants grow in clusters near the roots of beeches, and sometimes look like a collection of small flowering twigs. This sole member of the genus Epifagus has a deep connection to beech trees. The greek root Epi means “upon” and Fagus references the latin name of Beeches. As a plant without chlorophyll, beech drops do not photosynthesize and get all of their nutrients from their Beech tree hosts, relying on them entirely to survive. Because of this close relationship, beechdrops are classified as parasites, but they do not take enough nutrients to harm the trees they grow on. Beechdrops bloom in mid-autumn, so now is a perfect time to get out on the trails and find some of these special plants.
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