Arboretum and Botanical Garden Staff

Land Acknowledgement Every community owes its existence and strength to the generations before them, around the world, who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy into making the history that led to this moment.

August 31, 2022 Around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, severe thunderstorms hit the College Park area producing straight-line winds, hail, and heavy rain. Peak wind gusts estimated at 80-90 MPH (equivalent to a low-end EF1 tornado) caused tornado-like damage throughout the College Park area including widespread power outages, downed trees, flooding and building damage.

Wooded Hillock, a natural area with rustic trails.  Did you know there are wooded trails to hike on the University of Maryland’s campus? In the northwest corner of campus, across from the Terrapin Trail Garage, lies the Wooded Hillock, a natural area with rustic trails.

The Arboretum supports the sustainable efforts of the University of Maryland and its six goals to reach carbon neutrality.

You may have noticed two things if you are around Morrill Quad on campus. First, it can be a bit of a hike making your way up the hill (Morrill Quad is at one of the higher elevations on campus). Second, it’s where many of the Arboretum’s larger white oak specimens are. In an effort to protect these historic trees from being a target for damaging lightning strikes, we have been installing and updating the lightning protection systems in them.

Over the next few days, you may find yourself wondering “what is he doing to that tree? Is he injecting it with something?” We don’t often think of trees needing check-ups or medical treatment, but sometimes they need just that.

Magnolia x soulangeana, Saucer Magnolia at Mason’s Fairfax Campus Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services Showcasing a collection of more than 100 native and non-native trees and shrubs, the George Mason University Arboretum ea

Thinking of picking figs from one of the many trees on our campus? Please wait!  All of our trees on our campus are part of the University of Maryland's Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and as such, are community trees, intended for everyone to enjoy.

These two Mountain Gordlinia trees (x Gordlinia) were planted in the fall of 2019 on Tawes Plaza.  They are an intergeneric hybrid between Gordonia and Franklinia.  This hybrid does appear to have hybrid vigor as we have had problems trying to grow both of the parents in the past.