Forest
Park is stretched along the south bank of the Trinity River (map
of park6), and
because periodic flooding has been common to the whole area, the woody plants
of Forest Park are very similar to those in the nearby Overton Park and Trinity
Park. Bur oaks, hackberries, cedar
elms, bumelias, green ash, pecans, and American elms are common and distinctive
trees. Forest Park and the Fort Worth
Zoo are essentially a single park, but the Zoo area is not covered here. At its western end, the park is across the
street the golf course of the Colonial Country Club and essentially continuous with
it.
It’s
interesting to see the old channel of the Trinity River, before it was
channelized, loop into and out of the park like a naturally occurring
oxbow. The inlet near the Miniature
Train Depot is crossed by a concrete bridge; the other inlet further down the
river is crossed by the Miniature RR Bridge.
A number of species in Forest Park are found only along the banks of the
oxbow. (Forest Park photos)
This
is the beautiful wooded area (with picnic tables scattered through) in front of
the Log Cabin Village (LCV map), bounded on the west and north by
Colonial Parkway (Rogers Ave.) and on the east by University Drive. About 90% of the trees are cedar elms --
with scattered large pecans, bur oaks, American elms, and bumelias. Near the road is a cluster of hackberries
(look at the great variation in the appearance of the trunks -- some are
densely warty, others much less so), and near the northwestern corner is a
cluster of green ashes. An usually tall
and straight-trunked red mulberry grows near the northwestern corner, as well
as a nearby white mulberry. A few
redbuds and chinkapin oaks have been planted in a small opening, and at least
one bur oak has been planted.
A
honey locust is easily the most unusual tree to be seen here. Look along the road facing the golf course,
near the turn to Log Cabin Village –– the branches slightly overhang the road,
and the tree is easy to see from a car if you drive along slowly. The compound leaves with small leaflets are
distinctive, but the trunk is crowded with clusters of long, thick, stiff
thorns (the branches also are thorny).
Honey locust trees are common inhabitants of bottomlands in this area,
but they are “dangerous-looking” (see photos) and I’m guessing that most of them
were removed during the establishment of Fort Worth parks along the Trinity
River. A young one can be seen along
the inlet banks near the RR Depot and it seems likely that a few might also be
found within the undeveloped woods (the “Thicket”) of Trinity Park,
Across
the double-laned Colonial Parkway from the Log Cabin Woods is a large open
field, bordered on the north by the Trinity River. All of the large trees (except two) scattered through the field
are pecans, surely the reflection of someone who liked that species when the
rest of the trees were cleared. The
other two are persimmons (see below).
Paralleling the river is a thicket of large pecans and American elms
with younger trees, with lots of Quihoui privet and vines at the edge. Hackberries and chinaberries are common
along here, a tall cottonwood grows from downslope, and ashes, soapberries,
ash-leaf maples, mimosas, and white mulberries also are scattered through. A thick-leaved redbud probably is native,
different from those with thinner leaves planted within the Log Cabin Woods.
A
group of smaller trees is conspicuous in a narrow band between the “Pecan
Field” and the road. These were planted
as Fort Worth’s All America City Legacy Forest –– a ground-level permanent
stone marker among the trees notes “To commemorate the dedication and commitment
by the citizens of Fort Worth and our local government for making our city an
All America City, 1993-1994.” Here is a
disparate collection of Chinese pistacios, Chinese elms, live oaks, Shumard
oaks, redbuds, and several bur oaks and cedar elms, all planted closely
together.
On
the same side of the road as the “Legacy Forest,” but separated and more toward
University Drive, is a tall persimmon tree.
This tree (in May 2009) had obvious health problems, as all of the
leaves were small and slightly yellowish -- in July 09 it looks nearly dead. Two other large persimmons in Pecan Field
are very close to this one and, in contrast, are healthy (see photos). All three trees
have blackish bark broken up into small squarish blocks, a distinction for of
species. Like the honey locust (above),
it’s curious why persimmons, beautiful native trees, are not more common in
Fort Worth’s naturally wooded parks.
The
broad sports field is bordered on the south side by a broad band of trees and
shrubs, with lots of diversity -- the zoo is on the other side, across the
densely wooded drainage. Both American
elm and slippery (red) elm grow along here -- the upper surfaces of the
slippery elm leaves are rough, compared to the very smooth surfaces of the
American elm leaves. Other common species
are bur oak, hackberry, pecan, ash-leaf maple, chinaberry, and cedar elm, with
a few redbud, white mulberry, red mulberry, and walnut. Quihoui privet is abundant and glossy privet
also is here. Lots of elderberry. An interesting group of invasive species is
in the deep drainage near the Zoo administration area -- a mimosa, Chinese
pistacio, and a parasol tree.
Out
in the field, in a cluster near the small bleachers, are pecans, a Shumard oak,
and several young live oaks.
Probably
the most interesting “tree walk” in Forest Park is from the RR Loop Area,
following the sidewalk to the Train Depot, and then on beside the train tracks
as far as the RR Bridge over the inlet.
From one end to the other is about 0.4 mile.
At the RR Loop Area, the little grove of trees along the parking area has cedar elms, pecans, and bumelias, and beside the parking lot at the sidewalk are a few large Chinese pistacios. Bur oak, hackberry, and soapberry are scattered in the area, and along the sidewalk toward to the RR Depot are pecans, green ash, soapberry American elm, and Shumard oak.
From
the bridge at the RR Depot, looking into the inlet, lots of interesting species
grow along the sides of the water -- catalpa, green ash, ash-leaf maple are the
most common and honey locust and cottonwood are scattered. A large individual of mesquite and one of
paloverde also can be easily seen here.
Rough dogwood, baccharis, and Eve’s necklace are common shrubs right in
this area.
A
diverse mixture of natives and non-natives grows in the thicket and woods along
the RR tracks between the two inlets.
Trees: young persimmons, pecan, hackberry, green ash, winged elm, bur
oak, chinaberry, white mulberry, and bumelia; several large sycamores can be
seen along the oxbow where it comes close to the tracks. Shrubs: smooth sumac, rough dogwood, quihoui
privet. Vines: Japanese honeysuckle,
Virginia creeper, poison ivy, fox grape, racoon grape, and Virginia
creeper. A beautiful population of
purple-flowered Western ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii) is in flower in
early July right along the tracks.
Looking into the inlet from the RR bridge, catalpa, green ash, ash-leaf maple are very common along the banks. A group of nutria apparently live in the area and can be seen around the wood and water just at the bridge.
A
ride on the Forest Park Miniature
Railroad is
wonderful –– the trip runs 5 miles in about 40 minutes, beginning at the FP
Depot, crossing three bridges and chugs along all the way to the Duck Pond in
Trinity Park before heading back. It’s
especially fun for a naturalist who already can identify some of the trees,
because the train passes right beside so many of the species.
Acer negundo Ash-leaf maple, box elder Native here, naturally occurring
Albizia
julibrissin Mimosa Non-native, naturalized
Bumelia lanuginosa Chittamwood, gum bumelia Native here, naturally occurring
Carya illinoiensis Pecan Native here, naturally occurring
Catalpa speciosa Northern catalpa Native mostly to n USA, naturalized here
Celtis laevigata Hackberry Native here, naturally occurring
Cercis canadensis Redbud Native here, naturally occurring
Diospyros virginiana Persimmon Native here, naturally occurring
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green ash Native here, naturally occurring
Firmiana simplex Parasol tree Non-native, naturalized
Gleditsia triacanthos Honey locust Native here, naturally occurring
Juglans nigra Black walnut Native here, naturally occurring
Melia azederach Chinaberry Non-native, naturalized
Morus alba White mulberry Non-native, naturalized
Morus rubra Red mulberry Native here, naturally occurring
Platanus occidentalis Sycamore Native here, naturally occurring
Populus deltoides Cottonwood Native here, naturally occurring
Prosopis glandulosa Mesquite Native here, naturally occurring
Prunus caroliniana Cherry laurel Native to south Texas, naturalized here
Quercus muehlenbergii Chestnut oak, chinkapin oak Native to Texas, planted here
Quercus macrocarpa Bur oak Native here, naturally occurring
Quercus
shumardii Shumard oak Native here, naturally occurring
Quercus
fusiformis Live oak Native to central Texas, planted, probably hybrids
Salix nigra Black willow Native here, naturally occurring
Sapindus drummondii Soapberry Native here, naturally occurring
Ulmus alata Winged elm Native here, naturally occurring
Ulmus americana American elm Native here, naturally occurring
Ulmus crassifolia Cedar elm Native here, naturally occurring
Ulmus parvifolia Chinese elm Non-native, planted
Baccharis neglecta Roosevelt weed Native here, naturally occurring
Cornus drummondii Rough dogwood Native here, naturally occurring
Ligustrum lucidum Glossy privet Non-native, naturalized
Ligustrum quihoui Quihoui privet Non-native, naturalized
Ligustrum
sinense Chinese privet Non-native, naturalized
Parkinsonia aculeata Palo verde Native to s Texas, naturalized here
Rhus glabra Smooth sumac Native here, naturally occurring
Sambucus canadensis Elderberry Native here, naturally occurring
Sophora affinis Eve’s necklace Native here, naturally occurring
Ampelopsis cordata Racoon grape Native here, naturally occurring
Campsis radicans Trumpet creeper Native here, naturally occurring
Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle Non-native, naturalized
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper Native here, naturally occurring
Smilax bona-nox Catbrier Native here, naturally occurring
Smilax rotundifolia Catbrier Native here, naturally occurring
Toxicodendron radicans Poison ivy Native here, naturally occurring
Vitis mustangensis Mustang grape Native here, naturally occurring
Vitis vulpina Fox grape Native here, naturally occurring
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Guy Nesom, www.guynesom.com
Last update 14 July 2009