Many Texans in December have a their own take on the classic Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” But this version would go: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

What we call “cedar trees” are a type of juniper tree -- specifically Ashe juniper -- named after William Willard Ashe (1872-1932), who was a pioneer forester for the United States Forest Service.

In Texas, what is known colloquially as mountain cedar is actually Ashe juniper, making cedar fever especially irritating in the Hill Country west of Interstate 35, where Ashe juniper trees are ...