Folks repeatedly used the same word as they viewed the commissioned tree carving Saturday at the Mineola Nature Preserve: amazing. Usually, it was a single word, ‘amazing’ followed a few minutes later by, “That is just amazing.”

And it is. The carving of a trunk of an old post oak tree by local chainsaw artist Jimmy Hobbs is that and more. Around the trunk is a host of local wildlife carved in relief with accuracy and astounding realism.

There are a dozen species carved into the massive trunk. From an alligator at the base to an eagle at the top, viewing the carving is a practical lesson in local wildlife.

As Heath Kinder of the Mineola Parks and Open Spaces Board remarked at the dedication, “In addition to being a true work of art, this also stands as a memorial to a tree which stood for over 200 years. It will be a calling card for the Nature Preserve and surely a destination in and of itself.”  

Kinder explained that the tree has a magnetic effect on visitors to the preserve. “People are just drawn to it…it has a bit of magic in it.” He anticipates that the site will become a go-to spot for folks visiting Mineola and is a natural location for photographs. 

The carving stands in a place of prominence, three-quarters of the way up the hill, just west of the main entrance off of CR 2724. The fortuitous placement of that old post oak simply could not have been better planned. 

Kinder explained that the idea for a tree carving came as a result of a decision to remove the totem pole which had been part of the park for years. It had become a hazard, and as it had no cultural connection to the Indian tribes of the area, was deconstructed. 

The Parks Board began to consider options to create a new attraction befitting the unique environment of the nature preserve. 

A veteran wood carver, Hobbs relishes having a canvass like that centuries old post oak. “Post oak is a slow-growing oak, is not inclined to crack, and rots very slowly,” he said. 

After trimming the dead branches – Hobbs had for years run a tree-trimming business – to shape the canvass, Hobbs went to work. Six days later the creation was complete.

He entertained recommendations as he worked. A comment about having seen a snake around the tree during construction led to Hobbs carving a rat snake into the tree. It is appropriately somewhat hard-to-see coming down from the big V on the western side of the trunk.

At the request of the Parks Board, Hobbs also incorporated the four-quadrant symbol of the nature preserve onto the southeastern face of the trunk.  

At the dedication, Hobbs shared a brief thought about the finished product, “It might even get kids interested in carving. This place (the Nature Preserve) does a lot, for a lot of people.”  

This was not the first large project undertaken by Hobbs. Among other works are large animal carvings from two big ash trees at the Abilene Zoo, a couple of bears on the campus at Baylor University and a recently-completed piece on private property on Hwy. 110 between Garden Valley and Van. 

That piece on Hwy. 110 features a dead armadillo, a hog and two vultures. It has become a bit of a roadside attraction.

“That carving was a lot of fun,” Hobbs advised, “as I did it for Mr. A.C. Musgraves – he is a real jokester.”

Fun is something which Hobbs certainly pursues through his work. Bill Bonnette, for who Hobbs has done several jobs at his Lake Quitman property, was at the dedication. Bonnette described Hobbs as a man who certainly enjoys his work and will often be singing country music in a strong voice while working. 

Hobbs naturally laughed it off. He explained that he was just happy to wake-up each morning and be given another day. He does acknowledge that he has a bit of a reputation as the ‘singing tree man.’ 

He also has built a reputation for leaving wooden crosses upon completion of a tree-cutting. “I suppose I have left somewhere between 50 to 100 wooden crosses on job sites around the area,” he admitted. He commented that it was nice to see that other tree-cutters are doing likewise. 

Now dedicated to his carving business, readers may learn more about Hobbs and his carving by reading from the July 7, 2022 edition of the Wood County Monitor, “Chainsaw Artist sees shapes in wood.”

Kinder took advantage of the dedication to mention some of the upcoming events to be hosted at the Nature Preserve including this Saturday’s bird of prey demonstration, the large Sabine Stomp ‘23 concert event on Sept. 2, and events related to next April’s eclipse viewing. 

In addition to the new bee colony viewer, and the recently installed bluebird boxes (50% full) and purple marlin gourds (at capacity), Kinder summarized the addition of the post oak carving as a true landmark.  

“We anticipate people will be coming from quite a ways to see this carving,” Kinder offered.