About Seabourne Lake Arboretum
Before the city of Rosenberg acquired the park in 1993 this land used to be a coastal prairie for thousands of years and then a cotton farm which resulted in very poor soil. There was no lake and no trees except along the creek beds and fence rows. A year later, in 1994, the lake and other infrastructure was funded by an Outdoor Recreation Grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department but the majority of this 164-acre park languished for 15 years. In 2009 the City decided to commit to a 20-year vision for the park and went into an agreement with the Coastal Prairie Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, all volunteers. The Chapter’s objective was the creation of a true nature park and named it Seabourne Creek Nature Park.
So starting in 2009 Texas Master Naturalists and other volunteers including Boy Scouts, LDS and other church and youth groups planted hundreds of native trees all around the paths and lake. There are now more than 50 species of trees all over the park. You’ll see a lot of live oaks and elms along the outer loop and a mixture of native trees around the Lake (red maple, river birch, green ash, American and cedar elm, American and Mexican sycamore, bald cypress and Montezuma cypress, black willow, black gum) and a large variety of native oaks. None are more than 10 years old.
There are many benefits to native trees. One of them is that they host protein-rich native insects that birds need to survive and raise their young. You’ll see a lot of mockingbirds who love to nest in the live oaks and elms.
We also planted aquatic plants to improve water quality, improve fish habitat and to help control erosion. You’ll see blue-flowering pickerel weed (prairie indicator plant), button bush, smartweed, pond sedge, spike rush, water primrose and hibiscus. There are also several viewing platforms and fishing rocks.
It is a much friendlier habitat than before and provides food, shelter and water for fish, birds (ducks, cormorants, egrets, herons, ibis, coots, whistling ducks), turtles (red-eared sliders – they like wet and warm) and snakes. Common ducks are Mallard and non-native domesticated Muscovy ducks. This 4-acre lake is stocked several times a year with lots of fish, for example, large-mouth bass, blue gill sunfish and channel cat fish. There is an annual fishing tournament for kids in February (Fishtastic).
We have created an Arboretum and named it Seabourne Arboretum – a botanical collection of trees: an area where trees and shrubs are grown for study and display and where visitors can relax in the shade and enjoy the park’s natural beauty. Also intended to inspire curiosity and build knowledge about plants and wooded landscapes.
It is in a continual state of change and improvements. We’ve recently provided some signage to identify the trees and an interpretive sign. Some people may find it more enjoyable if they know what they’re looking at. We assist the city in adding and maintaining trees and shrubs around the lake which is one of four habitat areas in the park (lake, forest, wetlands and prairie).
To the north of the lake is a picnicking and relaxing area. To the south is an uncluttered, open-space environment.
Please click on this link to see a map of the Arboretum and placement of each tree: Seabourne Lake Map
Click on this link to view a table that lists complete information about each tree planted: Trees and Shrubs Planted Along Seabourne Lake