San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

Features

July 12, 2008

Sequoia seeds may not be best fit for San Marcos

By Jerry Hall

Bear with me as I work my way through a bits-and-pieces column. Nothing of earth-shaking importance, you understand, but I do have a nifty little bird poem to share and I will remark on two tragic deaths that recently came to my attention.

First, however, a short plea for information. A little girl named Samantha Hadler wrote to me and requested I send her some sequoia tree seeds — said her grandmother was going to help her plant them.

I sent the seeds to the address provided and the envelope was returned with a yellow sticker saying “Attempted – Not Known – Unable to Forward.”

So, if Samantha reads this, please write to me again and tell me again where to send your seeds. I’ll also send you some stamps along with the seeds so you won’t be out any money.

Several of you requested the sequoia seeds, by the way, and I hope some are sprouting by now. However, in all candor, I must share with you some cautionary information sent to me by Mark John West of San Marcos: “My preliminary research indicates the San Marcos/Austin area won’t work well because of calcium carbonate, which is found in limestone.

However, Bastrop, with its acid soils, pine trees (conifers just like sequoias) and more moist conditions with deep, well-drained soils, seems to be a better transplanting location. So I will try to transplant in that area.”

A giant sequoia would certainly add majestic beauty to our area, but it looks as if growing one might be a challenge. Good luck to all of you, especially you limestone losers. With all that carbonate, you’re going to need it.

As to the poem, it was written by Mary Goulden of Wimberley and it goes like this:



A Birder’s Lament

A bird trip’s to see something new.

Whether bellbird or yellow cuckoo.

The guide points and says, “There.”

I squint and say, “Where?”

He answers, “Oh, oops, it just flew.”



Ain’t that the truth?

Finally, about those tragic deaths. During my recent stay at Surfside Beach, my main contact with the outside world was via the Houston Chronicle and The Facts, a newspaper serving Brazoria County. I read both each morning with my cup of coffee.

Well, one grim news story told of a man who was found dead by an in-law, evidently done in by a barbecue grill that fell on him.

Seems the grill was a home-made steel affair that weighed over 300 pounds and the man somehow pulled it over on himself.

The very next day, I read of another unfortunate fellow who drowned while wade fishing off a Matagorda beach. A vicious rip tide caught him and pulled him under.

While I prefer to fish from a bank or boat and while my grill is a puny Weber kettle weighing very little, still and all I do enjoy grilling and fishing.

It pains me that one can be snatched from life partaking of such benign activities. What’s more, those sad stories reminded me anew of how extremely fragile our lives can be — one day you’re on the right side of the grass, the next you’re on the wrong side. I might well choke on a wine cork at my very next happy hour.

Of course, come to think about it, if it were a really good wine, that would ease the sting. Cheers.

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