Deep Roots

COLUMBUS IS HOME TO THE LARGEST QUERCUS VIRGINIA LIVE OAK TREE IN TEXAS

BY MICHELLE BANSE STOKES

It wasn’t your typical interview, as my subject wasn’t much of a conversationalist. Sitting under the big oak tree in Columbus, I wondered what she’d say if she could speak to me in my language. Would she tell of Stephen F. Austin’s colony settling around her? Or of the American Indian children of Montezuma village playing in her branches? Maybe she’d speak of hurricanes and fires or floods and tornadoes. While the world has changed around the old tree, she has remained quiet, still and familiar.

Currently classified as the largest Quercus Virginia Live Oak tree in Texas, visitors can visit the behemoth at 1218 Walnut Street. Property owner Lyzette Barfield, who grew up with the oak next door to her childhood home, spoke on the tree’s behalf.

“When I was growing up, the tree on Goose Island was the largest,” Lyzette said. “Ours was the second largest. That one in Rockport kept beating it. It was finally crowned state champ in 2016.”

The new record brought scores of visitors that continue to come today for their very own look at the sweeping branches.

“There are busloads of people that come out of Houston,” Lyzette shared. “It’s been picking up more and more. It’s also a spot where people meet on blind dates or come for a picnic. We don’t mind the visitors so long as they don’t drive up on the lawn and compact the roots. We’re trying to take care of the tree while we have it for this brief moment in time.”