Plans Change, but Memories are Made
Week of December 7, 2025 – December 13, 2025
by Katie McLaughlin, Environmental Educator
Did you know that there is an old christmas tree farm at Baltimore Woods? Originally planted in the early 1980s, this area has grown to astounding heights. It is located near the northern side of the boundary trail; you can spot an evergreen stand that looks a little odd. Within this area is a plethora of Abus concolor, otherwise known as concolor fir or white fir.
White fir is not the most common Christmas tree; however some people enjoy this type of evergreen due to its citrusy aroma and striking looks. With bright slender sliver-blue needles this fir is often thought of for its aesthetic appearance. However, the trees located at Baltimore Woods are far too large to be a standard christmas tree now. Perhaps they are the right size for Clinton Square or Rockefeller Center.
This area is one of my favorites to visit on the preserve for all the memories I have there with kids! In the last year I remember taking my Trail School students to the Christmas Trees where we played in the fallen branches of a tree. Or another time finding a giant puffball and sharing my love of mushrooms with a camp group. They then would point out every mushroom they saw on the trail… which made any hike twice as long but gave us the chance to appreciate the weird world of fungi.
I have even had a close encounter with a young buck in the area this year. I am not sure who startled who more the first time we saw each other, but our paths crossed again later that week while I was with a group of children. This deer made eye contact with us, where everyone had the chance to see before the buck took off towards the center of the preserve.
Even on a regular day, this spot is one of my favorites to take my camp groups for lunch. While eating we will play word games, or I will tell stories with dad joke punch lines – with the groans and giggles to go with. But anytime I bring a group this way they ask me “Why do you call this area the Christmas tree farm?” To which I will tell part of the story of the beginnings of Baltimore Woods to what it has become today.
Baltimore Woods is full of history and memories. While this one concolor fir stand was originally planted for Christmas tree harvest, it is now a home for many creatures large and small. I do wonder what the area looked like when it was first planted – the landscape has changed over time, but we still connect to nature through the trees in this space even if it wasn’t how it was originally planned.
Each year the trees grow taller, but we return to areas with a fondness that only happens through creating our own history with the land. Where do you return to with strong memories even though it may have changed? I hope that at least one of those memories is at Baltimore Woods, either way we hope to see you on the trail to make some new memories soon!
We invite our members to enjoy a weekly blog written by our naturalists. Every blog will be uniquely different but always inspired by nature. We may share a memory from a recent hike at The Woods or teach you about an animal or plant that lives on the preserve. No matter the topic, we will be sharing with you our passion for nature and celebrating the connections we all have to the natural world. Each blog will be connected to a weekly set of activities and ideas to help you put nature in your hands, even if you’re at home!