Texas trees and summer are the quintessential duo
- jjvanm
- Jun 28
- 3 min read
Published June 28, 2025, in the McAllen Monitor.
Story and photos by Anita Westervelt
It has been a banner year for local native trees and their spectacular panoramas of color. The show began in late winter with fragrant golden blooms of huisache, Acacia farnesiana, followed by bright yellow flowers draping branches of retama, Parkinsonia aculeata, and anacua, Ehretia anacua, showy white blooms.
Reference books note that Texas Ebony, Ebenopsis ebano, blooms in June. True to the texts, the first day of June saw the beginning of the ebony tree performance: laden branches changed from a greenish-white cast to brilliant white as the blooms first opened, turning yellow and finally fading to a rusty copper haze. The rain in late May this year no doubt promoted the recent stunning performance of the blooming ebony trees from Edinburg and Misson to Brownsville.
Hearty displays of white spiky Tenaza tree blooms, Havardia Pallens, intermingled with the ebonies while honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa, had another burst of blooming catkins.
All prominent and important trees in our native Tamaulipan thorn scrub habitat, an ecological system that occurs throughout much of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. The habitat is home to numerous species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, beneficial insects and birds.
Many of our native trees flower, offering a nearly year-round supply of nectar and pollen for insects; blooms are followed by fruit and seeds, further feeding local wildlife.
Thorn scrub is a unique vegetation. It is characterized by thorny shrubs and small trees with small leaves for conserving moisture and deep taproots, adapted to surviving hot, dry summers. The forests offer food and shelter to prey and predators alike. The plants attract beneficial bugs that support an array of wildlife.
Our native thorn forests harbor several species of wildlife that are not found elsewhere in the United States, including the ocelot, javelina, Texas tortoise, green jay, plain chachalaca, great kiskadee, Altamira oriole, common pauraque and buff-bellied hummingbird. Other interesting local species include horned lizards, jackrabbits, Rio Grande ground squirrels, nine-banded armadillos, numerous butterflies, dragonflies and moths.
A comprehensive picture gallery of critters observed in the Rio Grande Valley is at this link: https://www.inaturalist.org/places/texas-tamaulipan-thornscrub
Trees are important to humans as well as to critters and not just for shade for picnics, or to relieve the dullness of the pavement as we travel, or to delight us with fun creatures to watch.
Trees improve our air quality, reduce air pollution along roadways, cool streets and cities, provide oxygen and help prevent water pollution and soil erosion. Trees aid in positive mental health and promote creativity.
Trees are even noted to bring diverse groups of people together, such as membership in organizations, like Texas Master Naturalist whose membership is made up of people with varied professional and cultural backgrounds and interests.
The South Texas Border Chapter celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year. Meetings are the third Monday each month; social at 6 p.m., guest speaker at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are free and open to the public. The chapter meets at St. George Orthodox Church Hall, at 704 W. Sam Houston Avenue, in Pharr.
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