FAMILY TREES

Readers share their favorite trees

After a Houston Chronicle story about the Klein Kissing Tree’s new historical designation, readers share photos of beloved old trees.

A week ago I wrote about the Kissing Tree in Klein, recently designated by the Texas A&M Forest Service as one of its Famous Trees of Texas. The organization has a website dedicated to old, historical trees in Texas, many of which sit on public ground where they can be viewed by sightseers.

We also asked readers to send in photos of some of their favorite trees, which meant I woke up Monday morning to find my inbox in a most serene state: full of photographs of trees. Readers sent photos, ranging from trees they’d planted at their homes to trees they visit in state parks. This page includes just a few of them.

One tree story stuck with me in particular: that of the Smiling Oak, whose existence has grown parallel to the adult lives of Raymond and Gladys Haak.

Raymond had just been honorably discharged from the Air Force when he and Gladys bought a plot in Santa Fe and built a home for them and their first two daughters. He remembers specifically when he sank an acorn into some dirt in a Styrofoam cup, late November 1963, because of the Kennedy assassination.

The acorn sprouted and grew, and the family sank the seedling into the ground, where — like the family — it grew. The home underwent renovations, and the plot of land served different uses. To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Gladys bought two grapevine plants, which they planted in their garden.

In 1973, they harvested their first grapes grown in the shade of the oak tree. They took, and Raymond planted more.

Soon after, he tried making homemade wine.

Time passed, and 30 vines became 300. Little harvest parties that involved the community grew into Haak Vineyards and Winery, the first commercial winery in Galveston County. This year is the Haak Vineyards & Winery’s 20th anniversary.

“From our little acorn, a great old oak tree has grown up,” Raymond wrote, “and had the pleasure of experiencing all of our experiences in life.”

Raymond Haak Raymond and Gladys Haak planted an acorn in 1963. This oak has watched their grape vines grow into Haak Vineyards & Winery in Santa Fe.

Rusti Stover Rusti Stover sent a photo of an oak at the Palm Gardens Condominiums in southwest Houston. Originally an apartment complex in the 1960s, the new condos were constructed in 1980 with a courtyard built around the tree.

Helen McAda Left: Helen McAda sometimes calls her live oak “The Octopus.” It grows near the entrance to her ranch in Bay City. She says tree enthusiasts can view it from the road going west on Texas 35 across the river in Matagorda County without having to be on the property.

Terry Richter Terry Richter moved to the community of Oak Tree Place in northwest Harris County because of the trees. This one grows in a private park in the community. Its tilt was caused by the storm of 1900.

Robert Watts Above: Robert Watts sent this photo of two oaks thought to be more than 150 years old. They spring from the grounds of the Spring Creek County Historical Society in Tomball.

Lucille Armbrust Charles and Lucille Armbrust visit this tree on the White Oak Trail each time they stop at Brazos Bend State Park.

Ken Miller Ken Miller says his family property in Brenham hosts this oak his family calls “Michelle’s Tree.”

Olva Stewart Pharo Olva Stewart Pharo says this live oak was already quite large when she moved into the adjacent home 27 years ago. The rooster also appears to enjoy the shade.