As I turned onto Forest Road 217, I began to see them on the grassy shoulder.  Small groups of Rose Vervain dotted the roadside and made me think when I first saw them, a long time ago, and was surprised by their lovely odor as I sniffed their flowers.  It was overcast, rain seemed certain in the forecast.  But I thought, “What a wonderful Spring day to be in the woods.”

I pulled into the Big Creek Scenic Area parking lot and saw one car already parked.  Someone was down the closed portion of Forest Road 217 at Big Creek looking at the stream.  This part of Sam Houston National Forest is as much like the Big Thicket as you will find this far west.  In fact, a recent book I read by Dr. Pete Gunter, “Finding the Big Thicket:  A Cartographic Approach”, stated that past research about where the Big Thicket was named this area, and Dr. Gunter called it the “Western Big Thicket”.  That is why I never hesitate to use “Big Thicket Plant Ecology:  An Introduction”, by Geraldine Watson as my guidebook to explain the ecological workings of Big Creek Scenic Area.  But I digress.

I got out and began to unpack my car to prepare for the hike I was soon going to lead for the Houston Sierra Club.  Duc, my friend from Vietnam, appeared and we talked briefly before others began arriving.  It got a bit hectic, more and more people arrived, I said hello to each, and handed them the liability form to sign.  In all, there were 22 of us.  Quite a motley crew, but good folks all.

After a few words on safety, having fun, and watching out for each other, we began our hike.  For all of 20 yards!  I stopped at the spring-fed seepage creek at the beginning of the trail and talked about the importance of water in this “Big Thicket” area.  I began looking high and low for familiar green friends to introduce to folks.  There was blooming Spring Cress, Parsley Hawthorn, Cherry Laurel, and Dewberry, and the lovely Southern Cranefly Orchid, with the single leaf with a rich, deep, purple underneath.  There was American Beech, Southern Magnolia, American Holly, and White Oak.  A let’s not forget my returning friend, Swtichcane, coming back from being overgrazed for 150 years in the Piney Woods.  I was happy to see all of them and introduce them to my 21 hikers.

We were off again.  Periodically, I heard Northern Cardinals and American Crows call or caw nearby or in the distance.  We crossed Big Creek via a renovated footbridge that Ed, David, Darrell, and others had helped reconstruct a few years ago.  It was a wonderful time as we walked through the floodplain and enjoyed the clear, tannin-stained waters of Big Creek.  On our hike we marveled at the numerous ferns that were beginning their growth in the uplands and lowlands.  These ferns included Grape Fern, Lady Fern, Netted-Chain Fern, Bracken Fern, and Christmas Fern.  Many of these ancient plants were growing where groundwater seeped out of the slope.  “Seepage areas” are abundant in BCSA and provide an important source of water during the hot, summer days.

We hiked up the White Oak Trail and then down the Big Creek Trail, connected by the Lone Star Hiking Trail which is located on an old railroad tramway used to log this area in the early 1900’s.  The violets were miniature jewels blooming at our feet.

Then we saw the baby umbrellas, the Mayapples and Slender Wakerobins (Trillium gracile), scattered throughout the forest floor.  They were blooming or just about to bloom.  We passed wet areas, that you could not tell were wet, with Spider Lilies growing in profusion, waiting a bit longer before they bloomed.  The new green leaves of all the trees were unfurling and gave a bright appearance to the forest on this overcast day.

Soon, far too soon, we were through.  We had hiked and admired the secrets of the forest for three hours and three miles.  Big Creek had charmed us, we were happy, and I was a bit tired.  Spring is the season when there are new beginnings and fresh challenges.  I knew as I drove from Big Creek Scenic Area that I had been enriched, fulfilled, satisfied, and prepared for 2018, in a way that only a Spring forest can do.  Thank you my friends, both green and human.  I shall return for another drought of forest spirit soon.

Brandt Mannchen
March 12, 2018

photo by Amanda S.