Deciduous Divas
Fabulous trees of the Lewisville, Texas Parks System
ILLUS - American Elm, 225+ years old, located in Raldon - Lake Cities Park. THE NAME: This tree is breathtakingly GIANT! In the magical animated series, Hilda, "Illus" is an ancient giantess. She and the other giants end up leaving the earth, as there are too many small beings and no longer enough room for them. DIRECTIONS: Located halfway between the parking lots off Wildfire Dr. and Foxwood Pl., she towers alone in a field near residential backyards. Imagine the changes she's witnessed here for over 2 centuries!
MIMI - Osage Orange / Bois D'arc, 40-50 years old, located in Leonard L. Woods Park. THE NAME: "Mimi" is a tribute to both the Osage and French languages. "Mi-Ho'n" means "Sun Woman" in Osage; "Mimi" is a French nickname. DIRECTIONS: From the parking lot along Arbour Way, take the walking trail West (right), with the creek on your left and Century Oaks Dr. on your right. At around the 6th house on your right, walk left towards the creek and you'll find Mimi. Her unusual shape makes her easy to spot.
THE THREE SISTERS - Post Oaks, 40-50 years old, located in Thrive Nature Park. THE NAME: Ever since I noticed this magestically symmetrical trio on my morning jog, they've struck me as three sisters. If you stand in a certain spot, they even appear attached by the branches. DIRECTIONS: Park at Thrive and cross Valley at the crosswalk. At the tree sculpture, continue straight (East) on the granite trail toward the bird blind. The Three Sisters will be on your right, just before the bridge.
ALMA - Post Oak, 100+ years old, located in Austin Kent Ellis Park. THE NAME: "Alma" means "nourishing/kind." As she stands near the picnic pavilion, I thought of the generations of lunches and kids' birthday parties she's watched over and sheltered with her branches. DIRECTIONS: Very easy to reach from the parking lot off old Orchard, she's just behind the picnic pavilion.
IZZY - Pecan, 50-75 years old, located in Central Park. THE NAME: Her sloped form is strikingly playful and graceful; "Izzy" is a nod to the famous dancer, Isadora Duncan. DIRECTIONS: You can see Izzy dancing at the corner of the big field at Central Park, right where the concrete trail bends to go under Edmonds Lane.
LIANA - Bur Oak, 75-100 years old, located near Central Park. THE NAME: "Liana" means "climbing vine," which perfectly fit the mature Virginia Creeper with which she's adorned. DIRECTIONS: From Central Park, take the concrete walking trail Westward under Edmonds. Continue across the Timber Creek footbridge, round another bend, and she'll soon be towering to your left.