Where the green things are (only a short drive away)

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

Darin Crew is walking down the line at Herring Run Natives Nursery. Potted trees and shrubs, some only a few inches tall, some well over five feet, are lined up, as orderly as soldiers ready to go into battle.

“This is our sale stock,” he says proudly. “We probably also have 3,000 in the hopper for the future.”

The nursery, a program of the Herring Run Watershed Association, is nestled in this little corner of Hillendale, near the Mt. Pleasant Golf Course. And right now, it’s gearing up for its Native Tree and Shrub Sale. The sale, which will be held on Sunday, April 27, noon-3 p.m., allows for the purchase of healthy, well-rooted plants that have been proven to succeed in Maryland’s environment. It also benefits the HRWA, a non-profit organization.
Need another local connection? Upper Fells resident Mary Roby is the executive director of the Herring Run Watershed Association.

Most trees cost between $25 and $70. Shrubs run $15-$35. Some buyers may be eligible for additional discounts, depending on what is being purchased and where it is to be planted.

And Crew, the watershed restoration manager, is enthusiastically promoting the sale to all comers. Not only are the trees good for the ecosystem, and not only do the sales benefit Herring Run, he states, but buyers get something extra for their dollars.

“You get expertise,” he notes. “You get to talk to someone who can help you see if you’re getting the right tree for the right location.”

It might be something that’s missing from the experience of a buyer who patronizes the garden department of a big box store, or who sees a tree somewhere and decides on the spur of the moment to get one identical to it.
Doing the research becomes essential, says Crew, particularly for city residents who want a tree to grow in their backyard, or in a tree pit next to the front sidewalk.

“A lot of people say they want a tree, but then they say they want something really neat and tidy, something that doesn’t create a lot of mess,” says Crew.

Fact is, every tree or shrub drops something — leaves, needles, petals, pods, cones, bark, seeds, you name it. So all trees take some tending.

Then there’s the soil. Some trees and shrubs need wet soil, some trees prefer sandy, well-drained locations. Some plants love full sun, others prefer shade.

Then, or perhaps most importantly, there’s the water factor.

“That’s the most important thing,” says Crew. “You have to be willing to water the tree.”

It’s something that many overlook. Trees that are planted in tree wells outside homes particularly tend to be regarded as being located in no-man’s land. The homeowner thinks that the city will water them (it doesn’t) or that enough rain will fall to keep it growing (ditto).

“The problem is that with our summers, we may get a lot of rain, but it only falls during four storms,” says Crew. “So the trees have to be watered during the rest of the time, when there’s a drought.”

No tree is maintenance-free, but all will reward their owners with lasting beauty, and often with lower energy bills and the satisfaction of knowing that it’s becoming a part of the urban tree canopy. Herring Run’s volunteers are able to point out shade trees, and to provide advice and guidance regarding which are the best for given conditions.

“Purchasing native plants from Herring Run’s nursery is a great way to support HRWA’s efforts to clean and green the watershed while making your yard more attractive to birds and butterflies,” says Mary Roby. “Natives are also more likely to thrive in the summer heat of Baltimore’s urban environment and are more resistant to pests.”

Maple, black walnut, tulip poplar, sycamore, beech and others fall into the shade tree category. Shrubs include azaleas, dogwood, Virginia creeper, viburnum and fragrant sumac, among others.

The nursery is staffed by volunteers, and is open during sale hours, and by appointment during other times. A complete list of species, size and prices is available from the website, www.herringrun.org (click on the nursery link). Send any questions by e-mail to Darin Crew at dcrew@herringrun.org. In advance, call 410-254-1577 or on the day of the sale, 443-629-6285.