In addition to the keys and description of trees, frequent visits to woodland areas are necessary to become thoroughly acquainted with our native trees and shrubs. Only with experience in the field observing the various types and forms, combined with the technical knowledge of trees, can one master the complete identification of trees. (See individual keys accompanying each genus.)
Most of our cities and towns have parks and cemeteries where a great variety of trees are found, including native, rare, and exotic types. A good example is the Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati that contains a wealth of native trees and a variety of fine specimens of ornamental trees introduced from other regions of the world (exotics).
The metropolitan park areas of major cities and towns, where a wide assortment of trees can be found, are open to the public for hikes and excursions. Also, many species, varieties, and cultivars of trees and other woody plants are growing in Ohio's arboretums, such as the Mt. Airy Forest Arboretum and the Stanley M. Rowe Arboretum in Cincinnati, the Cox Arboretum in Dayton, Crosby Gardens in Toledo, Dawes Arboretum in Newark, Holden Arboretum in Mentor, and the Secrest Arboretum at The Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster. All of these arboreta are open to the public. Since the plants in arboreta are usually well-labeled, they afford individuals, schools, and organizations a source of named plants for observation and study.