Central Texas Olive Ranch / Wedding Venue

   / Central Texas Olive Ranch / Wedding Venue #41  
Brandi, My FIL just sold 40 acres, fenced but otherwise unimproved, but has asphalt county road access, for 6K an acre + buyer pays closing costs. Limited or no oil rights.

That sounds about what I have been seeing. Super easy access and rolling trees cost more, but I'm looking for limited access.
hugs, Brandi
 
   / Central Texas Olive Ranch / Wedding Venue
  • Thread Starter
#42  
Some progress done this week! We managed to put in a new gate, constructed from 10-12" telephone posts. I just needed something to last 3-5 years until we put in a nice wooden fence and entrance. The posts are sunk 36" with concrete ... Prob overkill for a 60 pound gate... Better safe than sorry!

Still waiting on well, maybe another month. One side of fence (1750') is going in soon. Will be constructed from 2-7/8" pipe, tight lock hog panel and top/bottom strand of barbed wire. Unfortunately we have the occasional feral hogs to deal with. More pics to follow soon!

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   / Central Texas Olive Ranch / Wedding Venue
  • Thread Starter
#43  
A few more random photos. My neighbor behind me is clearing his side out to run cattle. Then a couple of another oak grove cleared out. Man the underbrush gets thick. I'm seeing a bulldozer rental in my future....

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   / Central Texas Olive Ranch / Wedding Venue #44  
Are those cottonwood trees?
 
   / Central Texas Olive Ranch / Wedding Venue
  • Thread Starter
#45  
Some sort of oak.... My neighbor refers to them as black jack oaks. I thought they were Spanish oak.
 
   / Central Texas Olive Ranch / Wedding Venue #46  
Some sort of oak.... My neighbor refers to them as black jack oaks. I thought they were Spanish oak.
From looking at the bottom photo, I'll have to agree with your neighbor. Black Jack's are bigger up around Madisonville and make good climbing (and deer stand) trees with it curving trunk. My Uncle's huge Black Jacks had knotted bumps that made great hand holds climbing up.
hugs, Brandi
 
   / Central Texas Olive Ranch / Wedding Venue #47  
cjm005, If the olive trees don't work out you should have a plan B. Maybe a tea garden/wedding venue. The youpon is the only North American native plant that has caffeine, grows locally, and requires little if any maintenance. The tea is a bit darker than green tea with a kick. The native Indians loved it. It gave them that caffeine high before going into battle. You could promote it as what is needed for going into a new marriage.:thumbsup:
 
   / Central Texas Olive Ranch / Wedding Venue #49  
Growing up in Corpus Christi we had lemon, orange, and tangelo as well as one olive tree. The olive tree was funny because my dad trained it as it grew into a snakey shaped trunk. It was a beautiful tree when in bloomed and covered the ground with light green olives that made quite a mess. We were told they were poisonous so we never tried one. Some winters were quite cold and would damage the trees but we didn't lose any and some years we had bumper crops from all of them. Being inland you don't enjoy the thermal protection the coast enjoys. I think the olives will certainly beautify the property but wonder if the occasional cold winter will interfere with producing a reliable crop.

When I attended Texas A&I the oak trees scattered around campus were referred to as Spanish oaks. They were beautiful with narrow trunks when compared with Live oaks but they were still good sized trees. You could collect some acorns and check with your local A&M extension office to help you identify them. Oaks and yaupon can be beautifully incorporated into your landscaping for a wedding venue too. Don't think I'd want to clear all of them off. Wouldn't surprise me if you discover pyracantha and chili petin growing around there too.

You picked a beautiful part of the state to retire to.
 
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   / Central Texas Olive Ranch / Wedding Venue #50  
Clay45, Olives, as in Olea europa (the one that produces olive oil and table olives) do not drop their fruit when light green. Are you sure it was the same species that the OP is talking about having? The blooms are nothing spectacular, many tiny off.white to yellow flowers.

I know nothing about Spanish oaks except what I found when identifying a type of oak I have growing here. It seems that you folks cal several different species the same thing - Spanish oak. The leaves will identify the species, no need to wait for the acorns, although they are also a very good guide if you have them.
 

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