Champion Trees - Standing the Test of Time

Story by George Newman
Photography by Robert Tinari

"Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven." -Rabindranath Tagore, Indian poet and Nobel Laureate

"Poems are made by fools like me but only God can make a tree." -Joyce Kilmer, editor, poet and author of "Trees"

Rabindranath Tagore and Joyce Kilmer are poles apart in poetic style but both speak to the eternal spiritual bond between humans and trees- a literary staple since the Book of Genesis introduced the "Tree of Life." Among the earth's plants, only trees both capture our imagination and force us to confront our limits of size and power. We can't escape the reality that as a rule, trees are bigger than we are and live longer than we do.

The Champion Tree program, involving hundreds of Southern Marylanders, grows out of this complex people-tree relationship, although the program itself is simple: It seeks to identify the biggest trees in each species by county, state and nation. Although it now reaches all 50 states, the program was born in Maryland when the first state forester, Fred W. Besley, compiled a "Noted Tree List" in 1925.

Besley's inspiration was the Wye Oak, in Talbot County on the Eastern Shore. This 96-foot tall white oak was recognized as the largest of its kind when the Champion Tree program went national in 1940. Sadly, a thunderstorm toppled the Wye Oak in 2002, when it was about 460 years old. It was the honorary Maryland State Tree, and its wood has been used to make a desk for the Maryland governor's office.

The white oak is one of more than 200 tree species found in Maryland, from alders to zelkovas. In Southern Maryland, Calvert County lists champions in 170 species, of which 37 are state champions, and two of those- an American hazelnut in Prince Frederick and a pale-leaved hickory in St. Leonard- are national champions.

Charles and St. Mary's counties are much less well-represented, but that doesn't necessarily reflect on their vegetation. Calvert's edge can be traced to neighboring Prince George's County, where a naturalist named Chris Wagnon established an active Champion Tree program, accompanied by regular public tree tours. Wagnon's successor, John Zyla, started a similar program in Calvert when he joined the Battle Creek Nature Center in 1993. Zyla has since left for the private sector, but the program is still going strong, now coordinated by Tania Gale, a naturalist at Battle Creek.

Expanding on a format begun by Zyla, the Calvert tree tours, conducted every 18 months, feature not only naturalists but also local historians, who relate the champion trees to their surroundings. Kirsti Uunila, Calvert County historic preservation specialist, helped guide the most recent tour, which included a visit to Scientists Cliffs, a bayside community of 200 home sites established in 1935 as a summer colony for scientists. Many of its homes are now year-round, and membership has been opened to other professionals, but it remains a private community that has preserved its natural setting, and is home to several champion trees.

Not all champion trees are on private property. The tour included a walk through the cypress swamp adjacent to the Battle Creek Nature Center. Notable in itself as one of the northernmost stands of cypresses in the United States, the swamp is home to Maryland's largest bald cypress, standing 132 feet tall with a diameter of 68 inches. People whose private property contains champion trees have no obligation to allow anyone to visit, says Andrew Brown, senior naturalist at Battle Creek. However, many tree owners do open their properties to the tree tour.

What, exactly, makes champion trees so interesting to so many? "For me," says John Zyla, "it's mostly the history. It's a link to colonial times" when old-growth forest covered much of Maryland. "I think for most people it's something that makes their property special."

Champion status confers no legal rights, and owners can cut their trees down if they want to. But they almost never do, say those involved with the program. When trees drop off the list, it's because of death or disease, or because a larger tree has been found. Human justice may not protect champion trees, but they enjoy poetic justice, from the Bible to Joyce Kilmer.

Got Big Trees?

Think your tree might be a champion? Get out your measuring tape. Trees are judged by a formula comprising height, circumference 4 1/2 feet above the ground, and spread. Both the State of Maryland and Calvert County have nomination forms. It's a good idea, however, to call first. The Maryland Big Tree Program is administered by the State Department of Natural Resources, 410-665-2847. For the Calvert County Natural Resources Division, call 410-535-5327. Both the state and county publish lists of champion trees viewable at www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/trees/bigtree.html. Calvert County Champion Tree Tours are held every 18 months, with the next occurring in spring 2007. For more information call 410-535-5327 or e-mail CypressSwamp@co.cal.md.us.