The sweet acorns of dwarf chinquapin oaks are a favorite of many birds and mammals. Photo © William Van Hemessen, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
In this issue: Read about the transitions in woodlands from autumn to winter, and the benefits of leaving leaves where they fall. There's also news about a new milestone for the Healthy Forests Healthy Waters program. Our "Native Trees of Maryland" looks at the Dwarf Chinquapin Oak, and "Invasives in Your Woodlands" looks at the goldenrain tree. And don't forget the events calendar and the Brain Tickler challenge.
Transitioning from Fall to Winter
Andrew A. Kling, Branching Out editor
As the famous pallet of fall colors begin to fade, Maryland's forests undergo an important transformation into the winter season.
Leave the Leaves for Natural Pest Control
Aaron Anderson, xerces.org
Once flowers have bloomed and your yard plants have died back in the fall, you might wonder where all the insects you saw in your yard spend the winter. Most overwinter right where they spent all summer, just hidden. Leaving the leaves provides year-round habitat for all sorts of beneficial insects.
Native Trees of Maryland | Small Tree, Big Impact: Why the Dwarf Chinquapin Oak Deserves a Place in Your Landscape
Lisa Kuder
The dwarf chinquapin oak (Quercus prinoides), unlike its towering relatives, is a mere 3-12 feet tall (rarely up to 20 feet). It’s one of only two shrublike oaks native to Maryland. Easily grown in a variety of environments, the dwarf chinquapin oak, while small, is ecologically mighty.
News and Notes
In the News and Notes roundup for this issue: The Maryland state tree nursery is now taking orders for 2026 planting projects; Virginia tribal members establish a food forest; a writer from Backpacker explores a grove of American chestnuts; and NSF funding assists AI research at UMD to forecast wildfires.
Another Milestone for Chesapeake Forests
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
The Healthy Forests Healthy Waters program (HFHW), a collaborative reforestation initiative between the Alliance, the Maryland Forest Service, the Maryland Forestry Foundation, and landowners throughout Maryland, has planted its 2,000th acre of forest in Maryland! Read about two HFHW projects, at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary and the former Wakefield Valley Golf Course.
Invasives in Your Woodland: Goldenrain Tree
Since its introduction in the United States, goldenrain tree became popular as a landscape tree. It was planted throughout the mid-Atlantic and as far away as California. While initially prized for its resilience and speed of growth, observers and researchers began to recognize its invasive nature as it outcompetes native flora, significantly altering local ecosystems.
This issue's Brain Tickler...
For this issue, name the native Texan who included the woodsy saying "You can't see the forest for the trees" in a song that became a hit three years after he wrote it. Email Andrew Kling at akling1@umd.edu with your answer.
Last issue we asked for the website address (URL) of the first website for this program that debuted in 2001. The answer is “naturalresources.umd.edu.” Congratulations to Joel Gagliardi who had the correct answer.
Events Calendar
December 6, 2025, 10:00 AM—12:30 PM
First Saturdays – Invasive Plant Management Workday
Kingman + Heritage Islands, Washington DC
Come lend a hand and help to remove invasive plants near the entrance of Kingman + Heritage Islands and the Anacostia River Trail. DC Department of Energy and Environment staff will provide tools, gloves, and instruction. Please wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray. For more information about other dates in this monthly series and to register, visit this page.
December 9, 2025, 7:30 AM —4:00 PM
2025 Timber Taxation Workshop
Online
Presented by Dr. Yanshu Li from University of Georgia. Forest landowners, foresters, land managers, tax professionals, attorneys, and others who work with forest landowners in matters pertaining to timber taxes will benefit from this workshop that will cover federal timber taxes, forest management expenses, Income tax consideration during a timber sale, tax treatment of cost-share payments, and more. The final session is specific to Georgia state taxes. Early bird registration through December 2 is $145.00. More information and registration here.
December 14, 2025, 1:00 PM
Winter Tree ID & Potluck
Blandy Experimental Farm, Boyce VA
The winter tree identification walk is approximately 90 minutes and led by a Virginia State Forester. Ensure you never again mistake an oak for a walnut, or a spruce for a fir. A holiday-themed potluck and social hour with fellow nature nerds will follow the walk. Please bring a snack or dessert to share! Attendance is limited to 30; visit this link for more information and to register.
Branching Out, Vol. 33, no. 4 (Fall 2025)
Branching Out is the free, quarterly newsletter of the Woodland Stewardship Education program. For more than 30 years, Branching Out has kept Maryland woodland owners and managers informed about ways to develop and enhance their natural areas, how to identify and control invasive plants and insects, and about news and regional online and in-person events.
