By James Turner

In rural Mississippi, where I was born, one can still find, here and there, an old Chinaberry Tree standing alone or beside the remains of a small, “tarpaper-shack.”  These weak wooded, fast growing, deciduous trees, were covered with suckers and sprouts.  In fact, that was why “Poor Folks” planted these Asian imports close to their houses.  They provided excellent, ready kindling for cookstoves or to maintain a hearth against the winter’s chill.  For us chaps the berries were good ammunition for slingshots or popguns.  For the grownups, the dense, dark, summer shade was also welcome.  These telling trees can still be spotted across the backroads of the south recalling a different time.

Trees were used to mark special events such as the birth of a child.  For this occasion, a sturdy oak was preferred.  But other species were used such as Elm, Ash, Magnolia, Cypress, Maple and Live Oak to honor important people who had passed on, to recognize important events such as Holidays or to delineate special places like parks or historic trails.  I have come upon poignant scenes in east Texas where there stands only a burned-out chimney and standing nearby a pair of trees recognizing a set of twin babies long removed.  In the early part of the 20th century, here in Leesville, Louisiana, and throughout Vernon Parish, Sycamores were planted as Street Trees.  Street Trees were once very common for towns large and small.  With the coming of the private automobile, street trees and sidewalks began to disappear.  Scattered about town today are several Sycamore veterans planted over 100 years ago.  Two of my favorites are at the corner of North First Street and North Street.  These ancient trees are about 3 feet in diameter and the characteristic exfoliating bark has left the trunks a rich, clear white for springtime … good choice.  Then the uninterrupted line of ancient oaks along North First Street is especially remarkable. 

Another favorite up to modern times is the ubiquitous Catalpa Tree.  These trees were planted for an odd specialty — they attracted a particular caterpillar, good for fishing.  Thus, many yards were adorned with this useful native tree, Catalpa bignonioides or Catalpa for short.  Other “common names” included Southern Catalpa, Indian Bean, Cigar Tree, Catawba Tree and Caterpillar Tree.  There are two striking specimens just off Hwy 1211 in New Llano near Hwy 171.  They are giants.  They are presently in full bloom with thousands of big, handkerchief-size, flowering candlesticks with large, arrowhead-like leaves waving in the breeze.  We have one in fact, also about to bloom, behind the Smart Plantation house just east of the “Kitchen House” at 501 East Lula Street.  It is likely to be as old as the plantation itself (170 years).  As I say, trees tell stories.  Imagine youngsters harvesting caterpillars and taking their fishing poles down to Bayou Castor only a hop, skip, and jump away…all those years ago.