Why trees are amazing
Whenever I’m in the outdoors, I love to Hug a Tree. Sometimes the people that I’m hiking or camping with think that I’m crazy (and maybe you do too), but it doesn’t really matter, I know the trees appreciate it!
I’ve seen some pretty incredible trees that are absolutely gigantic. Hugging makes me realize how small and inconsequential I am in their long life.
Tree facts:
Trees do not die because they get old. They are usually killed by bugs, or disease or logging. They are the longest living organism on earth.
Prairie creek Redwoods State park in California is where the oldest tree on earth lives. They believe it is 7-12 Thousand years old, and even has a name: Eternal God!
Sequoia’s live 4 to 5 thousand years! However, the average lifespan of a tree living in the city is only 8 years.
Trees can communicate: Willow trees will produce more tannin (a bitter substance) if another tree is being affected by webworms and caterpillars.
Do not hug the Manchineel tree (found in the Caribbean and Central America) as it’s bark causes blisters if touched.
The term “Knock on wood” came from ancient tree worship, when they believed that this would beckon good spirits from the trees.
Some of the most incredible trees that I’ve hugged are on the west coast of Canada, on Vancouver Island at the nearby parks. I would love to visit more amazing trees of the world.
Two mature trees can provide enough oxygen for four people for a year. Maybe this is why we feel alive when we’re in the woods.
Two books about plants and trees that I’d recommend are:
The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed, and
The Secret Life of Plants