Famous Trees
Texans have a certain affinity for all things Texas, and taking pride in everything related to our great state. As an arborist who is also a native Texan, I am no different. Texas lays claim to many large, beautiful and famous trees, most of which are Live Oaks (Quercus virginiana) or closely related. Of course, we can’t forget about the state tree, the Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) and the part it plays in some of our great state’s history.
One particular tree of note is “The Big Tree”, or it may also be known by some as the Goose Island Oak, found at Goose Island State Park in Rockport, Texas. This tree is thought to be at least 1,000 years old, and has survived many hurricanes. Another notable Live Oak is the Century Tree, the famous tree on the campus of Texas A&M University. It is thought to have been planted not too long after the university’s establishment, in the late 1800s. It’s no coincidence that many of the historic Texas trees still standing today are live oaks. These trees are often planted for their durability, resilience and beautiful evergreen form.
Naturally, we have to include some of the great historic pecan trees in our list! There is the towering La Bahia Pecan, called as such because it lies along what was once known as ‘La Bahia Road’. This was once a major trade route for Native Americans and settlers in Texas and Louisiana. The road is located in Washington-on-the-Brazos state park, site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the historic river ferry crossing where the Navasota and Brazos rivers meet. There is also the San Saba Mother Pecan tree. This tree, still standing in San Saba today, has provided genetic material for many of the popular varieties we have today.
At Fannin Tree Farm, we grow many sizes of beautiful Live Oaks. Come in today to choose a beautiful and resilient tree of your own, to leave a lasting legacy. We also have a selection of 30-gallon pecan trees. If you already have one of these trees and would like for it to be a standout tree of your own, our tree services team has expert knowledge in the care of all trees. Give us a call at (972) 747-9233 if you would like us to prune your tree, or if you would like more information on our other tree services.
Sources:
Aggie Century Tree Project. “History”. 2014. https://www.aggiecenturytreeproject.com/. Accessed 08 January 2018.
Bailey, Walt. “Park Pick: Witness to History, Washington-on-the-Brazos evokes the feeling of early Texas through re-enactors and a historic tree”. Texas Parks and Wildlife, January/February 2013. https://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2013/jan/scout4_parkpick_washington/. Accessed 11 January 2018.
Texas Forest Service. “Famous Trees of Texas”. 2012. http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/websites/FamousTreesOfTexas/TreeLayout.aspx?pageid=16138. Accessed 11 January 2018
Winter is here and most of the deciduous trees have shed their leaves. The early January freeze reminded us what a winter is supposed to be like. Trees have an appreciation for a good freeze. For the first time in a couple of years, we have had a freeze that last more than a couple days. This slows down the biological processes of trees and allows them to go into full dormancy. As arborist, we love this time of year as well. We can better see structural defects, mistletoe and perform more invasive tree surgery that we have been holding off, until now. The winter is the perfect time to consider tree pruning and other ways to care for your trees. 