Every forest has a history. Some were once cleared for agriculture, leaving behind nutrient-rich soil. Others have remained forested for centuries, marked by pits and mounds that reveal their past. By observing the present, we can uncover hundreds of years of ecological and human history—and the woodlands at Cylburn Arboretum are no exception.
In 2024, we were fortunate to host Layla Salomon as a Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps member, supported by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. For her capstone project, Layla created an interpretive guide to Cylburn’s forests and trails to help visitors engage more deeply with the landscape.
Sources
The following sources were used heavily throughout all sections of this guide and are highly recommended for further learning:
Gaige, M. (2022). (rep.). The Forest at Cylburn Arboretum: History, Ecology, and Management. Baltimore, MD.*
Wessels, T. (2005). Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England. Countryman Press.
Wessels, T. (2010). Forest Forensics: A Field Guide to Reading the Forested Landscape. Countryman Press.
Additional Sources
Content:
Barker Plotkin, A., Schoonmaker, P., Leon, B., & Foster, D. (2017). Microtopography and ecology of pit-mound structures in second-growth versus old-growth forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 404, 14–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2017.08.012
Koenig, M., & Wixted, K. (2016, January). Leaf key for common broadleaf trees in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources. https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/TreeGuide_Common-Broadleaf.pdf
Maser, C., Cline, S. P., Cromack, K., Trappe, J. M., & Hansen, E. (1988). (tech.). From the Forest to the Sea: A Story of Fallen Trees (pp. 25–45). Portland, OR: Pacific Northwest Research Station. Retrieved from https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr229.pdf.
Nolan, J. (2021, June). Tulip Trees: Leaves, Flowers, Bark – Identification. Leafy Place. https://leafyplace.com/tulip-trees
Nolan, J. (2022, November). White Oak Tree: Leaves, Bark, Fruit – Identification. Leafy Place. https://leafyplace.com/white-oak/
Nolan, J. (2023, February). Red Oak Tree: Leaves, Bark, Acorns – Identification and Care Guide. Leafy Place. https://leafyplace.com/red-oak-tree/
Nolan, J. (2024, March). Beech Trees: Types, Leaves, Bark – Identification Guide. Leafy Place. https://leafyplace.com/beech-trees/
Quine, C. P., Gardiner, B. A., & Moore, J. (2021). Chapter Four – Wind disturbance in forests: The process of wind created gaps, tree overturning, and stem breakage. In E. A. Johnson & K. Miyanishi (Eds.), Pland Disturbance Ecology (2nd ed., pp. 117–184). essay, Academic Press. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128188132000046.
Walas, M. (2015, December 8). How to determine the age of a tree. The Living Urn. https://www.thelivingurn.com/blogs/news/79236289-how-to-determine-the-age-of-a-tree
Images
Koenig, M., & Wixted, K. (2016, January). Leaf key for common broadleaf trees in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources. https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/TreeGuide_Common-Broadleaf.pdf
Minnesota Department of Agriculture. (2024). Gray furrowed bark of older tree. Retrieved from https://www.mda.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full/public/2024-02/NorwayMapleBark01_MDA.JPG?itok=d3JLulT9.
Thibodeaux, D. (2014). English Ivy on Tree. dreamstime. Retrieved from https://www.dreamstime.com/english-ivy-tree-climbing-clinging-to-oak-image106555390.
Credits
Researched, written, and edited by Layla Salomon
Graphic design by Bill Geenen
Special thanks to Michael Gaige, Dr. Jerry Burgess, and the CAF team for their invaluable guidance and contributions.
This guide was created as a capstone project for the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps, a program by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Visit their website to learn more about their work.
