By Brandt Mannchen
Recently, I visited Jesse Jones County Park (JJCP), in Harris County Commissioner Precinct 3. I hadn’t been to this incredible park for at least 10 years, perhaps even more. Boy, was I sorry I had waited so long to return.
JJCP, probably more than any other Harris County Park I have visited recently, is tied to water, namely Spring Creek. JJCP is just downstream from where Cypress Creek merges with Spring Creek. This makes for a wider, deeper, and bigger Spring Creek with more water.
As a result, one of the things that people like about this park is its extensive sandy beaches and sand bars - a great place to swim and or wade. You should always be careful in any stream or river because of the current, unexpected deep water, debris, and changing conditions from storm to storm.
Folks who love to fish know all about JJCP and how during spring, White Bass will migrate (run) from Lake Houston to the park to spawn. Other fish that people like to catch in JJCP include bluegill, channel catfish, and largemouth bass. Fishing is according to State of Texas laws. A lot of people bank or wade to fish in JJCP.
But the reason I like to visit JJCP is for wildlife, landscape vegetation, quiet, and solitude. When I visited, I found nice vistas near Spring Creek and signs of wildlife, White-tailed deer tracks, were numerous which the beach sand revealed. I saw a Brown Pelican floating in Spring Creek near some fishers, probably hoping for a free meal. Sounds so human. We are all connected!
Birds were all around including a pair of hawks, flying and swirling near each other, Mouring Dove, Northern Cardinal, Great Blue Heron, and Great Egret. Gray Squirrels were prominent and looked for acorns or other tasty morsels.
The Cypress pond and swamp was outstanding, with old-growth Bald Cypress trees standing stately and surrounded by a wooden boardwalk.
The forest, much of it is riparian or streamside, had many large trees including Bald Cypress, Southern Magnolia, Sweetgum, Water Oak, Loblolly Pine, Shortleaf Pine, American Sycamore, Water Hickory, Green Ash, Hackberry, American Elm, and Eastern Cottonwood.
Other interesting plants included Switch Cane, several types of greenbriar, Red Bay, Dwarf Palmetto. Post Oak, Red Mulberry, Boxelder (a type of maple), Turk’s Cap, Carolina Jessamine, White Oak, Yaupon Holly, American Hornbeam, American beautyberry, Resurrection Fern, and Cherry Laurel.
Unfortunately, exotic and invasive non-native plant species, including Chinese Tallow, Nandina, European/Chinese Privet, Waxy-leaf Ligustrum, Japanese Climbing Fern, and Japanese Honeysuckle were seen. These plants need to be removed to allow native vegetation to thrive.
Although similar to Mercer Arboretum, I think of JJCP as a wilder place, with trees that seem to be bigger and taller, whiter sandy soils, shorelines, and sandbars, and a more natural and relaxed feeling with greater quiet and solitude the closer you get to Spring Creek.
It’s a great place to visit and I encourage you to find out about the joys of JJCP soon.
Photo by Brandt Mannchen