Pawpaw Fruit with Seeds.  Photo by Kristina Blokhin/ Adobe Stock

Pawpaw Fruit with Seeds. Photo by Kristina Blokhin/ Adobe Stock

Updated: June 12, 2025
By Andrew Kling , Daniel Pratson , and Lisa Kuder

In our Spring 2025 issue...

In this issue: With warmer weather comes a reminder to stay vigilant about woodland threats, and a look at the importance of pollen. There's an assessment of ghost forests in the region, plus a roundup of news you might have missed. Read about the pawpaw in our "Native Trees of Maryland" feature and about glossy buckthorn in our "Invasives in Your Woodland" feature. And more!

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Enjoy the Season, But Stay Vigilant

Andrew A. Kling, Branching Out editor

Enjoy the warm weather, but continue to stay on the lookout for woodland threats from invasive diseases, plants, and insects.

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No Pollen, No Seasonal Allergies … & No Trees

Daniel Pratson, Extension Natural Resources Specialist

Though pollen can be vilified for wreaking havoc on our immune systems each spring, it serves an important role in tree reproduction and more. 

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Native Trees of Maryland: The Pawpaw, Asimina triloba

Lisa Kuder, Native Plants & Landscapes Extension Specialist

Pawpaws, prized for their tasty fruits, produce the largest native fruit in North America. Their fruits contain high levels of essential amino acids. This small understory tree (10-40’ tall), might be a fun and fitting option for your backyard woods.

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Ghost forests are growing as sea levels rise

Jude Colman, knowablemagazine.org

Clusters of tree trunks, stripped clean of bark, are appearing along the Chesapeake Bay on the United States’ mid-Atlantic coast. They are ghost forests: the haunting remains of what were once stands of cedar and pine. 

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Invasives in Your Woodland: Glossy Buckthorn

Andrew A. Kling, Faculty Associate

Glossy Buckthorn is now found in 29 states and several Canadian provinces from Nova Scotia to Idaho and from Québec to Tennessee. Currently, it is reported in five Maryland counties, but given that it is observed as far west as Garrett Co. and as far east as Worcester Co., it may exist elsewhere.

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Events Calendar

July 15-18, 2025
The American Forest Congress Meeting
Washington DC

The congress is a gathering of natural resource management leaders focused on discussing and shaping forest policy in the U.S. The decision to convene soon is driven by the congress’ goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and focus on the vital role forests play in providing natural climate solutions. The theme of this meeting is Equity & Climate, to highlight the congress’ commitment to diversity.  Learn more at this link.

 

July 30-31, 2025
Teaching Trees for Teachers
New Kent Forestry Center, VA

A 2-day training for middle and high school teachers who wish to incorporate forestry into a science or agri­culture curriculum. The workshop focuses on local for­est ecology, management, and products, and includes real-world, field-based activities for students. Class includes 14 hours of instruction, two SOL-correlated Project Learning Tree modules and related supplies, and ideas for incorporating forestry field study into classes. Cost is $25 (lodging reimbursement is available to those traveling outside the area). Learn more and register by June 3 here.

 

November 7-9, 2025
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Chesapeake Watershed Forum 
National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown WV

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s 20th Annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum, is a watershed-wide event reaching over 400 restoration and protection practitioners to inspire and empower local action towards clean water. We share successful tools and techniques, offer lessons and learnings from on-the-ground work, build capacities of local organizations, foster partnerships, educate on new initiatives and emerging practices, network with others, and celebrate our successes. Learn more and register here.   

Branching Out, Vol. 33, no. 2 (Spring 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.

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