301-926-2256 [email protected]
Select Page

Forestry & Beautification Committee

The Forestry and Beautification (F&B) Committee of the Town of Washington Grove oversees the health and maintenance of trees, shrubs and the general appearance of Town land in the residential area of town, including the parks.

The committee liaises to the Town Council through the Council member for Forestry & Beautification.  The Woods Committee, including its liaison to the Council, restores and manages the Town’s forest preserve, which encompasses both the East and West Woods.

Through the F&B Committee, interested residents can be part of ensuring our continued tree canopy by:

  • selecting new trees for planting each year,
  • determining tree health needs,
  • developing landscaping plans around public buildings and in our parks,
  • supervising installation of new trees, and
  • planting annual/perennial plants at the Town entrance and the Town Hall.

F&B meeting times are published in the Town Bulletin; we’d love to have you join us!

i

Meeting Agendas and Minutes

F & B Committee News


The latest news from the Committee is described in the F&B Committee section of the most recent monthly Town Bulletin.

Trees and Other Flora in the Grove


Invasive Vines Not Wanted in the Grove

Before describing two invasive vines, let us consider what makes a non-native plant (also known as an alien plant) invasive and why we should care. An invasive plant must meet two basic criteria: humans have deliberately or accidentally introduced it into an area...

read more
Plant Free Trees to Fight Global Warming

Planting trees is a key tool in the fight against global warming. Climate change is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere. Trees help to reduce these gases by taking in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it...

read more
Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

An article on the invasive and destructive spotted lanternfly (actually a leafhopper) was recently posted on the Grove website. The article mentioned that tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a preferred host and should be removed from the landscape. This article...

read more
Living Fossil Trees

An attraction of Washington Grove is its great variety of trees, some of which are hidden gems and a pleasure to discover. Discussed here are three “living fossils” from Asia that have no close relatives among other plants. We hope that readers will use this...

read more
Plant Free Trees to Fight Global Warming

Planting trees is a key tool in the fight against global warming. Climate change is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere. Trees help to reduce these gases by taking in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it...

read more
Spruce Trees in the Grove

Spruces (genus Picea – meaning pitch in ancient Latin) are usually tall, symmetrical, conical evergreen trees. The genus includes thirty-five species (half native to China), most of which are restricted to cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, growing at high...

read more
Lindens and Hairy Crabweed

Lindens Tilia (linden) is a genus of about 30 species of trees and bushes, native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Two species of lindens are familiar to Maryland landscapes: Tilia cordata (little-leaf) and Tilia americana (American basswood)....

read more
Magnolias

Of the approximately 100 species of magnolias, eight are native to the eastern U.S. Cultivars of the species preferred in trade, however, number in the thousands. Magnolias prefer acidic soil and full sun. Other common magnolia characteristics are attractive, smooth,...

read more
Persimmon, Elm, Yellowwood

On October 9, the Town had 11 shade trees installed by Stadler Nursery. As we have tried to do in recent years, all were trees native to the U.S. Among the oaks, maples, and American beech, there are three are new species for us: American persimmon (Diospyros...

read more
Hickories

Hickories are native trees important to wildlife and to humans well before the arrival of Europeans. One hickory, the pecan tree (Carya illinoensis), is one of the few commercially significant sources of food that is native exclusively to North America. The wood of...

read more

Contact


Georgette Cole
Co-Chair
301-330-6740
[email protected]

Audrey Maskery
Co-Chair
240-205-4756
[email protected]

Sycamore

Doug Tallamy’s Presentation “Homegrown National Park”

In this talk, which was sponsored by the Town’s Sustainability, Forestry & Beautification, and Woods Committees, Dr. Doug Tallamy, T.A. Baker Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Delaware, explains to Grovers what they can do to support a healthy ecosystem and why that’s important. He describes an approach to conservation that empowers each of us to play a significant role in the future of the natural world.  Watch the video here.

Notes on Native Plants

Are you interested in using more native plants in your yard to increase butterflies and other native pollinators? Here’s advice and local resources from some Town residents.

The Woman’s Club and the Forestry & Beautification Committee co-hosted a free Zoom seminar Going Native: How to Turn Your Yard into a Habitat for Nature on Thursday, March 17, 2022. View a video recording of the presentation (YouTube; 57 min.).

Translate »