Save the Trees

To the Editor:

It was with much distress that I read in the September 11 issue that the lovely crepe myrtle trees (besides the river bridge on the Colorado River) are slated to be removed. I am assuming this is a nice way of saying TxDOT is going to come in, dig, and chop them up. You do know that crepe myrtle trees move very nicely with a large Vermeer tree spade? There are companies in Houston and Austin that will come out and pick those trees up and plant them wherever you want them. When I worked at Texas A&M University, crepe myrtle trees were routinely moved or picked up, potted, and replanted after the work was finished.

Crepe myrtle branches also make wonderful broom handles and walking sticks. If a beautiful tree has to be sacrificed at least get something useful out of it. People will buy the wood for this purpose.

Crepe myrtles also propagate baby trees very easily from cuttings. These are old varieties so there should be no problems because the older types root like weeds. I have admired these lovely trees for many years and it would be terrible to lose them.

Cheryl Cook Columbus