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Old 12-20-2015, 10:03 PM
 
Location: A subtropical paradise
2,068 posts, read 2,922,124 times
Reputation: 1359

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In the Houston area, pine trees are usually associated with the northerly areas of the metro (Conroe, Woodlands, etc), so it was always quite interesting to me to see pockets of pine forest throughout the Galveston Bay Area. Said pine trees are also quite tall, and healthy, and obviously are well grown.

These coastal pine forest groves are quite prominent around the bayou in Dickinson:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4557...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4574...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4492...!7i3328!8i1664
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4607...7i13312!8i6656

La Porte also has significant amounts:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6213...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6200...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6305...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6275...7i13312!8i6656

Various other locations:
Pasedena:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6110...8i6656!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5989...7i13312!8i6656

Trees running down to the coast:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6449...7i13312!8i6656

Seabrook:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5747...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5689...7i13312!8i6656

League City:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4913...7i13312!8i6656

Alvin:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ca...067ae1bf972077

A lot of these pines have lots of climbing vines and lianas wrapped around their trunks; it is a key sign of an established ecosystem throughout the region, as well as evidence of just how well plants grow throughout the Houston area.

Any thoughts?
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Old 12-21-2015, 06:31 AM
 
Location: Clear Lake, Houston TX
8,376 posts, read 30,694,805 times
Reputation: 4720
Most of the patches there are the product of logging along the bayous during the mid 20th century, before they "sold the farm" to developers. They are smaller and have a much higher wood to needle ratio vs north of IAH. Still a lot of uncleared land here and the trees have had enough time to establish themselves.

The "Pasadena" examples you gave is actually part of Clear Lake, and the first photo is an old pine farm near Armand Bayou that extends south to Clear Lake City Blvd. (Part of it is a commercial lot that was for sale last year.) The south half of that neighborhood you show was built in the middle of another farm patch, which was somewhat preserved as it was developed:

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6049...7i13312!8i6656
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Old 12-21-2015, 06:49 AM
 
12,735 posts, read 21,770,448 times
Reputation: 3774
Quote:
Originally Posted by tstone View Post
Most of the patches there are the product of logging along the bayous during the mid 20th century, before they "sold the farm" to developers. They are smaller and have a much higher wood to needle ratio vs north of IAH. Still a lot of uncleared land here and the trees have had enough time to establish themselves.

The "Pasadena" examples you gave is actually part of Clear Lake, and the first photo is an old pine farm near Armand Bayou that extends south to Clear Lake City Blvd. (Part of it is a commercial lot that was for sale last year.) The south half of that neighborhood you show was built in the middle of another farm patch, which was somewhat preserved as it was developed:

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6049...7i13312!8i6656
Are you saying that the Gulf Coast pines are few due to them being cut down?
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Old 12-21-2015, 06:54 AM
 
12,735 posts, read 21,770,448 times
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I've always wondered why the pines here look differently from the pines in Alabama and Georgia. The pines in those states are more straight, while the ones here have a weird shape. IDK, it's hard to explain. LOL
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Old 12-21-2015, 07:06 AM
 
Location: Clear Lake, Houston TX
8,376 posts, read 30,694,805 times
Reputation: 4720
Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernBoy205 View Post
Are you saying that the Gulf Coast pines are few due to them being cut down?
No, loggers planted them in the Galveston Bay area to grow them for wood.
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Old 12-21-2015, 07:11 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tstone View Post
No, loggers planted them in the Galveston Bay area to grow them for wood.
Interesting!


Are the pines in West Houston like Memorial City, etc. natural? There are even some in Katy and Pearland.
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Old 12-21-2015, 08:31 AM
 
Location: San Antonio
5,287 posts, read 5,784,865 times
Reputation: 4474
Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernBoy205 View Post
I've always wondered why the pines here look differently from the pines in Alabama and Georgia. The pines in those states are more straight, while the ones here have a weird shape. IDK, it's hard to explain. LOL
The further up into East Texas you go, the more stately the pines become. The pines around Toledo Bend or up in Marshall look just the ones you'll see in the Piedmont.
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Old 12-21-2015, 08:41 AM
 
19,573 posts, read 8,515,336 times
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The Memorial/Spring Branch area along I-10 West was largely covered with these trees, too, and despite being pretty thoroughly developed, it still has a lot of them to this very day
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Old 12-21-2015, 01:34 PM
 
12,735 posts, read 21,770,448 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spartacus713 View Post
The Memorial/Spring Branch area along I-10 West was largely covered with these trees, too, and despite being pretty thoroughly developed, it still has a lot of them to this very day
The area is very dense with pine trees!
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Old 12-21-2015, 01:40 PM
 
12,735 posts, read 21,770,448 times
Reputation: 3774
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunion Powder View Post
The further up into East Texas you go, the more stately the pines become. The pines around Toledo Bend or up in Marshall look just the ones you'll see in the Piedmont.
Do you know why they are different? It's like the trees in the other part of the south have an organized and a more manicured look.
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