Big Thicket National Preserve

After breakfast and a few quick chores around the Montana, we drove east about 40 miles to Big Thicket National Preserve.  I am having a little trouble getting my head wrapped around what the “big thicket” really is.  We watched the film at the Visitor Center and I have read the park service brochure.  I think what they are preserving are the diverse plant and animal ecosystems which exist in this area.  Apparently, as the glaciers receded from this area, plants and animals which would not have necessarily been found here except from the effect of the ice, have remained and are doing quite nicely together.  So, what we now have are Eastern Blue birds inhabiting and area along with Roadrunners and white birch growing next to bold cypress.  That, however, does little to explain the name “Big Thicket”.  The area is a thicket, there is no doubt about that with lots of shrubs and vines.  I got tangled up in what we in Tennessee would call “saw briers” today and didn’t think I would ever get loose.

We spent some time at the Visitor Center.  I guess not many folks come by, because the two rangers on duty gave us their undivided attention for about 45 minutes.  They walked around the little museum with us talking a mile a minute.  We tore ourselves away and drove down to the Kirby Nature Trail.  This two and a half mile walk was very pleasant.  We strolled along stopping at each numbered post to read the corresponding description from the small guidebook the good rangers had sent with us.  Besides the numbered posts, there were markers identifying trees, shrubs, and other natural features along the trail.  Apparently, the area is teeming with wildflowers and wild critters, but it is January, after all, and we only saw a few purple violets and a yellow butterfly.

Hurricane Ike topped many trees

We had our picnic, of course, and we really did enjoy the relaxing walk even if we didn’t see alligators, coral snakes, or pitcher plants.  Tomorrow we are heading south to Houston for a walking tour of the historic commercial district.