Tree Identification Trail Installed at Booker T. Washington National Monument

Post by Paul Pautler:

As of June 21, 2019, our local NPS Monument has a tree ID trail.   Twenty–three species of common native trees were tagged in the picnic area (12 trees) and along the first 800 yards of Jack O’ Lantern Creek (11 trees).   A pamphlet describing the trail and providing some general information about trees is currently in production. 

We could not ID all the different trees in the park because some of them (e.g., American elm, American holly, black oak, hemlock, sassafras, shortleaf pines) are not close to the trail and because some are typically too small to tag using our screw-in markers (e.g., paw paws, redbuds, spice bush, … ), and because there are surely trees there that we have not yet seen or correctly identified.  (I have learned that I always fail to see lots of things even when I try to be observant).  The least common tree that we have on the trail is probably a cucumber magnolia or cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata L.) that blooms in late summer.  It turns out there are several such trees along the creek about 550-600 yards south of the tobacco barn.  


We hope nature enthusiasts, kids, and their parents will notice the signs and learn something about the different kinds of trees.   The brochure makes a couple of connections between Booker T. Washington’s early life on the Boroughs’ farm to make it more relevant to the historic mission of the park.

BRFAL members Paul Pautler and Kathy Scott worked with Timbo Sims and Betsy Haynes to set up the trail and produce the pamphlet/brochure.  Thanks to a kind contribution for education at the park, BRFAL did not bear any expense for the trail. 

No signs were placed in the “historic” section of the park in the production of the trail.

BTW – there is no longer any poison ivy near the signs in the picnic area.  Take your chances along JOL.