I t’s a Sitka spruce and some people call it “the tree of life.” It’s a very unusual tree located at Kalaloch Beach in Washington State USA and it is another reminder of just how miraculous nature can be. If you ever get overwhelmed with life’s problems and feel like giving up, just think of this tree. The earth directly under its trunk has almost completely eroded away, exposing its roots, but it still hangs on, still breathing even thriving, refusing to give up. And how’s this for “social tree distancing”? Actually, it’s called “crown shyness” by those who study these kinds of things. In many thickly forested areas, trees have been observed to display the very best of good manners, taking care as they grow not to encroach into their neighbor’s space. You could say the above two examples are incidences where nature, through trees, displays the principles and courage we humans would well do to emulate. |
Trees can offer all kinds of surprises, some verging on unbelievable. Take the Dragon’s Blood tree for instance. Then there is How about the Baobab tree? It can be found in dry, arid countries such as Africa, Madagascar and Australia. It can survive in very harsh conditions by storing vast amounts of water in its trunk. It is also very hard to kill and is among the oldest living trees in the world. Some of the oldest are estimated to be near 5,000 years old! But, the prize for the most “artistic” tree goes to the “Rainbow Tree”. This beauty is a variety of eucalyptus and grows in the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. And these are just a few miracles in the tree world. Don’t get me started on insects! |
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