SHSU Botanical Research- Austin Hall (Flowering Quince Tree & Bruce Fulenwider Hedge Marker) SELF-GUIDED TOUR #4



SELF-GUIDED TOUR MAP #4
FITNESS WALKING MAP - Between .05 & 1.0 Mile

 

 

 

AUSTIN HALL

 

Flowering Quince Tree that may be from the original root stock of the plants growing by the Houston's Woodland home on the Museum complex grounds.

Back Door of Austin Hall







Did you know we at Sam Houston State University have the bragging rights to claim our heritage of this building being the First Law School in Texas. Yes, that is right, the school was established by The Board of Trustees of Austin College, March 1855.  Is someone doubts you, just point them to this plaque by the back door.

If you look just across from the doorway and down into the hedges you can spot this marker.

 

Bruce Fullenwider is now retired as the Grounds Manager at SHSU.  He hired current Grounds Manager, Scott Dolezal 17+ years ago.

 



 Another school tradition, students and lovers carving their initials into the brick wall.



This statue of Sam Houston was part of the Centennial celebration, 1879-1979

Also if you look down at the ground slightly in front of  Sam's statue, you will see another plaque.

It is the plaque representing Pluto.  This is the end of a scaled representation of our Solar System.  The beginning plaque, our Sun, is at SELF-GUIDED TOUR #12 located next to the sidewalk in front of the Farrington Building.

Now would be a good time to visit the Jewel Garden.  Go to the left of this statue.  If you go right; back down the sidewalk, this path will lead to the Peabody Memorial Library.

Until Next Time.

SHSU Botanical Study- Flowering Quince Trees (Main Campus & Woodland Home)

 

I was working on my research in late December, when I spotted these beauties, which by the way bees seem to love.  Unfortunately, these blooms fall off by spring time.  So, if you are fortunate enough and happen to be walking either on the museum grounds at the Houston's Woodland home site or the campus in front of Austin Hall's entryway you may still be able to catch a fleeting glimpse of these brightly colored blooms of the flowering Quince tree. 

In front of Austin Hall

Close up of branches of trees lining sidewalk at the Woodland home

The Quince is often mistaken for the Camellia.  This variety is possibly the Orange Storm, which is an old-fashioned deciduous shrub that American farmers of the 1800's often grew on their homesteads.  These plants would be used sometimes for the little bit of fruit they produced, but mainly this tree's blooms are beautiful and can brighten any dreary day.  The blooms resemble and are often mistaken for the Camellia.

In speaking to Peter, the Museum Groundskeeper he told me of documentation about these plants.  I was able to get copies Mrs. W. A. Leigh's recollection of the grounds from her childhood and when the Houston's lived.  This is her words concerning these plants,  "On the west side of the walk, leading to garden, a short distance from the back porch there grew in a row extending almost to the garden fence, five quince trees."

So it appears these group of 5 Quince trees are still living in the same spot where Margaret Houston planted them sometime in the 1800's.  Also, one can reasonably speculate that the Quince tree growing at Austin Hall, another historically significant building in Texas history, is most likely from this same root stock.

I was able to find a internet site which had interesting ways Quince was used in England.  To read follow this link Historical Reference of the Quince Tree.

Until Next Time.