Mesquite: Artful Survivor

Craig Lagerstrom of Texas Mesquite Company in Bertram builds a Lone Star motif into his distinctive furniture. His wife, Janet, assists him in the finishing process. The Lagerstroms produce hand-rubbed home and office furniture, most of it made from mesquite.
Head west on US 90 from San Antonio on a blazing summer day, and you’ll begin to understand the mesquite tree’s reputation for tenacity. Just outside of San Antonio, scrubby, bush-like mesquites crowd each other on parched, undeveloped land, surviving where little else can. In quietly prosperous Castroville, large and gnarly mesquites sway gracefully over manicured lawns of homes and businesses. Farther west, through Hondo and Sabinal, mid-size mesquites that have escaped ranchers’ root-plows and bulldozers hug the fence line, offering precious shade to creatures large and small.

Drive all the way to Uvalde, and you’ll glimpse the tree’s promise for the future. A simple sign says it all: “Mesquite Furniture.” This sign belongs to Robert Hensarling, one of many artisans and entrepreneurs in Texas who create a livelihood from this distinctive wood.

See the full article in the July 2000 issue.

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