A walk on a trail in the Big Thicket. Southeast Texas. Piney woods. Village Creek State Park. A mile in, just past the cypress swamp, the Texas State Champion River Birch tree. Height 90 feet. Crown spread 60 feet. Trunk circumference 108”. A mighty Birch.
In 2005, Hurricane Rita came ashore at Beaumont, a few miles south. In the midst of the hurricane, three tornadoes touched down in the park. The storm created clearings. The sun shines on ground now where it never penetrated before. The Texas State Champion River Birch tree looks impressive, lying on its side like that.
