Oscar - The Tree Whisperer

While Oscar was checking out some local campsites on the internet he exclaimed "Pete! We've got to help those poor trees find their way back home . . . they're LOST!!!!!!" Yep, you guessed it, he was looking at the Lost Maples SNA, located only a couple hours west of here. I assured him the trees weren't really lost, but to make him feel better we packed up the Wonder Egg and went west . . . (so Oscar could talk to the trees)
What a beautiful, tranquil park. Located about 5 miles north of Vanderpool, TX.


Oscar enjoyed looking out the Wonder Egg's window at the lush green spring growth. He decided to go for a walk and 'talk to some trees' so he could help them find themselves again.


I caught up with the ever intrepid canine by the river's edge, sitting on a large stone. I told him the sign said to "Stay Off" but Oscar said it meant stay off the trail behind us ". . . the maple trees have very shallow root systems and if we tramped all over them it could do harm to the trees." I asked him what else he learned from 'talking to the trees' and he said "This area was once home to Apache, Lipan Apache, and Comanche Indians and today it has one of the few groves of bigtooth maple trees in Texas. When Texas was more humid and a bit cooler, the trees said they ranged over the hill country and down into San Antonio. They now hide out here, in one of the few local favorable microclimates of sheltered canyons and a moistness which is different from the rest of the area."
Oscar wanted to go out to the large rock in the middle of the Sabinal River. I told him the water was about 3 or 4 feet deep and he replied "No sweat, Pete, just carry me on over!" Sooooooooo . . . . we went to sun on the rock like a couple of turtles. Oscar thought it was cool. He LOVED the thought of our very own deserted island . . .

Well, it wasn't deserted for long because Cat and Joanna came on over with their dog, Nova, just to meet Oscar. Nova tried to tell Oscar all about swimming and how much fun it was. Oscar told Nova "That's what I have Pete for, silly dog!"

After a bit Oscar said "Hey, Pete! Why don't you go for a nice hike or something. I'm gonna hang out here with my new best friends." (Fickle foo-foo dog)


After that exciting day Oscar assumed his normal position on the bed in the Wonder Egg and as he dozed off he smiled and said "The maples weren't lost after all. They've been home all along."