Howard County Unveils Arboretum at Government Campus

Elected officials gathered to unveil an arboretum Monday at the Howard County government campus in Ellicott City.

More than 40 different trees have been marked with interpretive signs to educate and delight visitors, according to a statement from the county, which said the Howard County Forestry Board and county government partnered in the project.

"This location contains a wonderful display of a particularly wide range of trees not usually found within the same site," Patricia Valentine, chair of the Howard County Forestry Board, said.

Near the entrance to the government campus is a Wye Oakseedling that was planted in 1988 and now stands as one of the focal points of the 24-acre arboretum, the statement said.

"I think people would be surprised to learn that there is so much diversity and preservation, even in unexpected places," Howard County Executive Ken Ulman said. "I truly hope visitors to the George Howard Building will take a moment to walk around and appreciate what we have."

Citizens can also take a virtual tour of the arboretum online, designed by the county's GIS office in partnership with the forestry board. They can use the tour as a guide while walking around or also pick up paper copies of the maps at the guards' desk. The virtual map is the first such tool for exploring an arboretum in Howard County, which has several.

Other arboreta are at Wilde Lake, Jackson Pond, Guilford Park, Centennial Park, Harwood Park, Lake Elkhorn, Howard Community College and Robinson Nature Center, according tothe forestry board.