WAYS TO SPOT A PIECE OF HISTREE

The next time you notice a bent tree, take a closer look. If it falls within Houser’s general guidelines, you might be rediscovering a piece of history.

1. Indian marker trees are generally species that are known to have lengthy life spans, such as pecan, red oak, bur oak, post oak and eastern red cedar. However, the Cottonwood species — while not especially known for longevity — is a sacred species, which could easily have been used for marker trees.

2. The Comanche tribe’s marker tree trunks were usually fashioned in a rainbow or half-moon shape, such as the Gateway Park marker tree, and touched the ground before growing upward. Another style, more often associated with the Cherokee tribe, is a trunk that grows upward in a 90-degree bend.

3. The basic assumption is that the tree needs to be at least 150 years old in order to have been in the area the same time the Indians were. It should be noted that, because of varying types of soil, bigger does not always equal older.

4. Occasionally, the tree will bear scars from being tied down as a sapling.

5. If the tree has a mound of soil or exposed roots opposite the bend, then it is most likely not a marker tree. Weather tends to account for trees with these features, such as the trees in Tietze Park on Skillman south of Mockingbird.

Steve Houser explains why he thinks the Moss Park tree is an Indian Marker Tree. Visit lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/video.

Assessing the needs of a person during the early stages of Alzheimer’s can be difficult. We’re here to help. Villages of Lake Highlands offers Alzheimer’s Support Groups and family nights where you can learn from other families coping with the effects of memory loss. We also offer several educational programs for family members as well as complimentary sitter service for your loved one while you are here.

SAVE $$$ WITH

Pet Cover Contest