Run your hand across the bark of the ancient tree. It is craggy and weathered, splotched by moss and pale green lichens.
Now look up. You’re in the presence of a giant.
Scattered throughout East Texas are a handful of trees that have escaped the logging and clearing of the past 150 years. With help from a state program that identifies and protects the biggest of the big, many of them will still be here long after their current owners are gone.
“Big trees really capture people’s imaginations,” said Pete Smith, a Texas Forest Service employee who manages the state program called Big Tree Registry.
“Especially the biggest of the big, they really dwarf us, and I think there’s some connection that people have with the biggest trees. Of course, this is Texas, so the biggest of anything is noteworthy,” Smith said. “And finding a true champion really does spark the imagination because the tree is older than us, in all likelihood, and anything that lasts longer than a human’s lifespan we memorialize in some way.”
It’s worth noting that those saplings will grow into helpful giants that suck up carbon dioxide, release the oxygen that people breathe, hold soil in place, shade homes and provide habitat for wild animals, arborists say.
Many of the trees on the Big Tree Registry come from the counties surrounding Longview. By identifying the state’s largest pines, oaks and other species, the forest service aims to protect the arboreal specimens while sparking an interest and appreciation for trees.
“My goal is to bring these trees to the public so people can ultimately see them, if not touch them,” Smith said.
Of the nearly 20 champion trees in the Longview area, the winning loblolly pine, willow oak, wax myrtle and eastern redbud are profiled below.
LOBLOLLY PINE
Scientific name: Pinus taeda
Where: Rusk County
Circumference: 165 inches
Height: 130 feet
Crown spread: 49 feet
Measured: November 2008
Nominated by: Fred Spivey
Not long ago, Texas’ biggest loblolly pine tree on record was just one of many giant pines that grew in a forest near Mount Enterprise.
“I was raised up where that tree was,” said Fred Spivey, a Mount Enterprise timber grower. “I lived maybe four miles from there. We’d go in there and squirrel hunt with a shotgun, and those trees were so tall a shotgun wouldn’t shoot a squirrel at the top. But you could shoot it with a .22.”
By the time Spivey purchased the property in 1992, the giant pine was the only big tree left standing on the property.
“The guys that owned the land before that, they cut everything,” he said. “There could have been some trees just as big, but they cut everything. That was a shame. I would have saved all the big trees, but they done that before I bought the land. Lucky they didn’t cut this one.”
Spivey also owns the state’s No. 2 giant loblolly, on a different property in Mount Enterprise. The No. 1 tree, he estimates, is between 150 and 200 years old. He keeps the area trimmed and has planted timber around it, so it’s no longer alone in a clear-cut field.
“It worried me that lightning would strike it because it was standing by itself,” he said.
WILLOW OAK
Scientific name: Quercus phellos
Where: Harrison County
Trunk circumference: 244 inches
Height: 107 feet
Crown spread: 118 feet
Measured: August 2008
Nominated by: David Simpson
Before the Civil War, a willow oak grew on a cotton plantation in Karnack, where more than 100 slaves toiled for a pioneer woman and likely divorcee named Rebecca McIntosh Hagerty.
Later, Lady Bird Johnson’s family owned the property, known as the Phoenix plantation, and the tree continued to grow.
Today, it’s the largest known willow oak in Texas, with limbs so big they could pass for trees in their own right. Owner David Simpson estimates the oak is around 200 years old.
“It’s just a mammoth tree. It covers almost two acres of ground,” said Simpson, a timber grower who purchased the property in 2002. “We all speculate that this big old tree was probably a hanging tree at one time. Its big and low-lying limbs would suit a quick rope and noose, but that’s just pure speculation.”
The Hagerty family’s remains are buried in a little cemetery near the tree, not far from a historic barn that Simpson has converted into a lodge for his family.
When a tree doctor left a rope hanging from the oak, Simpson turned it into a swing.
“My children love to swing on it,” he said. “It’s a very enjoyable tree. It provides a lot of shade and causes you to speculate about what happened in the previous 200 years.”
WAX MYRTLE (SOUTHERN BAYBERRY)
Scientific name: Morella cerifera
Where: Gregg County
Trunk circumference: 17 inches
Height: 29 feet
Crown spread: 18 feet
Measured: July 2006
Nominated by: Dencil Marsh
Dencil Marsh was exploring a forest one day when he stumbled upon an oddly shaped tree growing in a depression on 30 acres that had been set aside for the Longview Arboretum and Gardens.
It was a wax myrtle tree, and it dwarfed the others he has seen.
“It’s a shrub or bushy tree that every rancher in East Texas tries to get rid of,” said Marsh, the arboretum founder.
“It’s a nuisance to every farmer in East Texas.”
Later, Marsh showed the wax myrtle to Stephen F. Austin State University horticulturist Dave Creech, who was in town while developing a master plan for the arboretum, which is next to the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center.
“He said, ‘Golly, Dencil, that’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen. That might be some kind of record.’ ”
Texas Forest Service employees went out to measure it, and sure enough, it was the biggest.
“Right now we’ve got the bragging rights,” Marsh said. “Now, it’s not much of a tree, but it’s not much of a bush, either.”
EASTERN REDBUD
Scientific name: Cercis canadensis var. canadensis
Where: Upshur County
Trunk circumference: 78 inches
Height: 42 feet
Crown spread: 40 feet
Measured: April 1997
Nominated by: Marie Johnson
The state’s biggest redbud is a reminder that even champions grow old and die. State forester Ken Conaway of Gilmer checked on the redbud in Ore City a week ago and found that time has taken its toll on the tree. It is no longer the magnificent specimen it was in 1997, when Marie Johnson nominated it.
“There is another contender for the title in Smith County, and I suspect it may declared the champion soon,” Conaway said in an e-mail.
2,350 responses to “Forest giants weather age, development”
One thing I have actually noticed is there are plenty of myths regarding the banks intentions when talking about foreclosed. One fable in particular is always that the bank wishes to have your house. The financial institution wants your cash, not the home. They want the bucks they loaned you together with interest. Staying away from the bank will only draw a foreclosed realization. Thanks for your posting.
It?s really a great and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Can I simply just say what a comfort to discover somebody who genuinely knows what they are talking about on the net. You actually realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people have to read this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you are not more popular since you surely have the gift.
Aw, this was a very nice post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to produce a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and never manage to get anything done.
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your site by accident, and I’m shocked why this accident did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
Thanks for your short article. I would also like to say that a health insurance specialist also works well with the benefit of the coordinators of any group insurance plan. The health insurance broker is given a listing of benefits wanted by individuals or a group coordinator. Exactly what a broker really does is try to find individuals and also coordinators which often best match up those wants. Then he provides his ideas and if each party agree, the particular broker formulates a contract between the 2 parties.
Wonderful article! We will be linking to this particularly great article on our website. Keep up the great writing.
Thanks, I’ve recently been hunting for details about this subject matter for ages and yours is the best I’ve discovered so far.
Currently it appears like Movable Type is the best blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
This is a topic which is near to my heart… Cheers! Exactly where can I find the contact details for questions?
I’m impressed by the quality of this content! The author has obviously put a huge amount of effort into exploring and arranging the information. It’s refreshing to come across an article that not only offers valuable information but also keeps the readers captivated from start to finish. Hats off to him for producing such a remarkable piece!
Thanks for any other informative blog. Where else may just I get that kind of info written in such a perfect way? I’ve a challenge that I’m just now operating on, and I’ve been at the look out for such information.
I?d need to check with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in studying a put up that will make individuals think. Also, thanks for permitting me to comment!
I figured out more new things on this weight loss issue. Just one issue is a good nutrition is especially vital while dieting. A big reduction in fast foods, sugary foodstuff, fried foods, sweet foods, beef, and white flour products might be necessary. Keeping wastes parasites, and contaminants may prevent targets for losing fat. While a number of drugs in the short term solve the challenge, the awful side effects are usually not worth it, plus they never provide more than a short-lived solution. This is a known idea that 95 of fad diets fail. Thanks for sharing your thinking on this weblog.
I have noticed that of all kinds of insurance, medical insurance is the most controversial because of the struggle between the insurance coverage company’s obligation to remain afloat and the customer’s need to have insurance policies. Insurance companies’ revenue on well being plans are certainly low, hence some organizations struggle to make money. Thanks for the tips you discuss through this blog.
Somebody necessarily help to make significantly posts I would state. That is the first time I frequented your web page and so far? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this actual publish incredible. Fantastic activity!
Today, considering the fast way of life that everyone is having, credit cards have a huge demand in the economy. Persons out of every area are using credit card and people who not using the card have made up their minds to apply for just one. Thanks for revealing your ideas on credit cards.
Your style is really unique in comparison to other people I have read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this page.
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!?
Good post. I study something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It should at all times be stimulating to read content from other writers and apply a bit one thing from their store. I?d prefer to use some with the content material on my blog whether you don?t mind. Natually I?ll offer you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
Hello there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
Out of my observation, shopping for electronic products online may be easily expensive, but there are some guidelines that you can use to acquire the best deals. There are often ways to find discount specials that could make one to possess the best technology products at the cheapest prices. Great blog post.
Saved as a favorite, I really like your website.
I have realized some essential things through your site post. One other stuff I would like to mention is that there are various games out there designed especially for toddler age small children. They consist of pattern recognition, colors, creatures, and shapes. These normally focus on familiarization as an alternative to memorization. This will keep a child occupied without feeling like they are learning. Thanks
Good post right here. One thing I would really like to say is the fact that most professional fields consider the Bachelor Degree just as the entry level requirement for an online certification. When Associate Diplomas are a great way to start, completing your Bachelors reveals many doors to various jobs, there are numerous internet Bachelor Course Programs available from institutions like The University of Phoenix, Intercontinental University Online and Kaplan. Another issue is that many brick and mortar institutions provide Online versions of their qualifications but often for a extensively higher price than the companies that specialize in online education programs.
I needed to thank you for this wonderful read!! I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. I’ve got you book-marked to check out new things you post…
Thanks for these pointers. One thing I also believe is that often credit cards offering a 0 rate of interest often appeal to consumers along with zero monthly interest, instant authorization and easy internet balance transfers, nonetheless beware of the top factor that is going to void your 0 easy streets annual percentage rate and to throw you out into the bad house quickly.
I have read several good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to make such a great informative site.
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the pictures on this blog loading? I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Heya i?m for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to find It really helpful & it helped me out much. I hope to give one thing back and aid others such as you helped me.
Right here is the right blog for anyone who would like to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost tough to argue with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a fresh spin on a topic that has been written about for a long time. Excellent stuff, just wonderful.
It’s hard to find educated people in this particular subject, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Superb site you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any message boards that cover the same topics talked about here? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get responses from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!
Thanks for your post. I would like to say that the tariff of car insurance varies widely from one insurance plan to another, mainly because there are so many different facets which play a role in the overall cost. One example is, the brand name of the automobile will have an enormous bearing on the price. A reliable older family vehicle will have a lower priced premium compared to a flashy racecar.
You ought to be a part of a contest for one of the highest quality websites on the net. I am going to highly recommend this site!
Hello my loved one! I wish to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I would like to peer more posts like this .
certainly like your web site however you need to test the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to inform the reality nevertheless I will definitely come back again.
magnificent points altogether, you just gained a brand new reader. What would you suggest in regards to your post that you made some days ago? Any positive?
Wow! This can be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Magnificent. I am also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your effort.
I believe that avoiding ready-made foods could be the first step so that you can lose weight. They could taste fine, but processed foods have got very little nutritional value, making you try to eat more in order to have enough vigor to get over the day. When you are constantly ingesting these foods, converting to whole grains and other complex carbohydrates will let you have more vitality while ingesting less. Interesting blog post.
My brother recommended I might like this blog. He used to be entirely right. This post truly made my day. You can not consider just how so much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
I?e been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this information So i am happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make sure to don? forget this website and give it a glance regularly.
Just about all of what you say happens to be supprisingly accurate and that makes me ponder why I had not looked at this in this light previously. This piece really did switch the light on for me personally as far as this topic goes. But there is 1 point I am not too cozy with so while I attempt to reconcile that with the core idea of the position, permit me observe just what the rest of the readers have to point out.Nicely done.
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the long run and it is time to be happy. I have read this submit and if I could I wish to counsel you few interesting things or advice. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article. I desire to learn more things about it!
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this article and the rest of the site is also really good.
Does your website have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to send you an email. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
What i do not understood is actually how you’re not actually much more well-liked than you might be now. You’re very intelligent. You realize thus considerably relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from so many varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated unless it?s one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs nice. Always maintain it up!
At this time it sounds like BlogEngine is the preferred blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I believe that you need to publish more on this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but generally folks don’t discuss such topics. To the next! All the best!
The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!