Post Oak  (Quercus stellata) 

       The most definitive feature of the Ancient Cross Timbers Forest, and the most loved tree of the area.

​90% of its root system is in the top few inches of soil, which means it cannot tolerate more than minimal grading and drainage changes, although it is resistant to many diseases and is one of the longest-lived trees.

​​Blackjack Oak  (Quercus marilandica)  

       Author Richard V. Francaviglia was guest speaker at 2 of the four Open Space Symposium's during the Lori DeLuca administration (1997-2002).  The following is information collected from his book:  The Cast Iron Forest: A Natural and Cultural History of the North American Cross Timbers - University of Texas Press, Austin, 2000. 

        The Cross Timbers Region is an area that was thickly wooded with Post Oaks and Blackjack Oaks and a mixture of prairies in Kansas, Oklahoma and north central Texas.  It also served as a north-south travel corridor for Native Americans so that they could remain hidden.  For settlers, the Cross Timbers Region was a landmark that signaled the beginnings of Indian Territories and the western frontier.  This Region is habitat for large populations of mammals and birds, due to the area’s combination of ecological characteristics provided by heavily forested areas and prairies.  (It is also winter shelter for a huge number of migratory bird species. )

Other tree species affiliated with the Cross Timbers Region include:

       Sassafras, Red oak, American holly, Red maple, Cedar elm, Bois d’arc, Locust, Chittimwood, Mesquite, Black hickory and Eastern red-cedar. Many of these trees thrive in areas that are not traditionally viewed as prime areas for urbanization, often growing on rugged terrain with sandy coarse textured soil or steep rocky terrain.