Trees are the oldest and the largest living things on earth. Some are weird, some extraordinary, some gorgeous, and some shaped by the human hand to fascinate and amuse. Please enjoy these images–or better yet, take a walk in the woods and greet them in person with appreciation.
As Patricia Hays suggested in the comments below, if you’re inclined, you can listen to Paul Robeson sing about trees while you meander through this post. Thanks to Tom Reiter for forwarding the link.
2000 years old tree in South Africa known as tree of life (Baobab)
The oldest tree on earth, great basin bristle cone pine, Oldest trees, over 5000 years old, in California
General Sherman tree, Sequoia Redwood, the largest living single-stem tree and largest living organism on earth in California
Costa Rica
Jabuticaba, a Brazilian grape tree The fruit grows directly from the trunk and branches of the tree.
eucalyptus
Coconut trees , Lombok, Bali, Indonesia
Banyan tree
Toborochi tree
by Hengki Koentjoro via pinterest
Mossy Roots, Sintra, Portugal
Boabab, Also known as the tree of life
Cypress
Cannonball tree, by Douglas Peebles Photography, Alamy, fruit grows directly on the trunk
Jennifer Long, Janus Photo Arts on Flickr
Olive tree
Madagascar’s ancient forest of baobab trees
Spanish moss
Jason Hehir photography
By Patrick Dougherty, made from willows
Moss on oak trees
Thanks to: 9Wows, and Dean.
Tule tree, S. Mexico
This post is a group effort. Here’s a lovely tree poem/prayer that has been going around the internet with these images. Thanks to George for forwarding it to me:
An Ancient Prayer of the Woods
I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights,
the friendly shade screening you from the summer sun,
and my fruits are refreshing
droughts quenching your thirst as you journey on.
I am the beam that holds your house,
the board of your table,
the bed on which you lie,
and the timber that builds your boat.
I am the handle of your hoe,
the door of your homestead,
the wood of your cradle,
and the shell of your coffin.
I am the bread of kindness and the flower of beauty.
‘Ye who pass by, listen to my prayer: Harm me not.’
(A prayer used in Portuguese forest preservation for more than 1,000 years)
Fantastic!!!!! I wish all of the photos were labeled.
What amazing photography!!! Enjoyed viewing them, immensely! Thanks!
classic photographs of living saints. Without the trees and flora the life would not have sustained .
Just when I think Dusky can’t possibly find another topic to amaze us, she does it! The trees are magnificent, beautiful, amusing and such original natural art. Thank you for these—now to think who to send this to. Lorie Brillinger, CNM
These are so amazing. Trees are beautiful, wonderful, gorgeous, every word used to describe something that leaves you in awe. These pictures are so very wonderful. Thank you so much for posting them, Dusky.
I do too. When the place I find the images labels things, I pass it on. Otherwise, I’m just like you, wondering and wishing I knew.
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It is no wonder that there are those who worship trees. Such determination to live and grow!
What wonderful trees
They want to live no matter what the conditions
These are the most amazing pictures I’ve ever seen in my life. And I’m 76 yrs. old. They are awesome and just show you how
creative God is, because only he could have created such
trees. Thanks so much for taking the pictures and sharing the
these incredible pictures. God’s created world just takes your breath. Thanks again.
really amazing trees. really wish there was credit to all the photographers
A n education in all its beauty. Thanks to whomever. Viewing is believing.
My heart is soaring. I am not necessarily a tree worshipper, but I feel euphoric when I look at these, especially the “cozy” ones that make a path.
One of my all time favorite photo series EVER!!!
Bless the photographer for taking and sharing these spell-binding pictures for all of us to marvel at!
Trees have always been my favorite part of nature! These photos have reinforced that LOVE: HOW BEAUTIFUL.
I{m from a large US city and relocated to Central America, where I can enjoy trees with leaves on them ALL YEAR ´ROUND.
and there are folks that say there is no god ….
Much enjoyed the great collection of interesting trees!
A worthy addition would be the fall leaf colors of the mixed hardwoods stands of Eastern Canada; the maples, oaks, birches, aspens and beeches.
We are so blessed to live on such a wonderful planet. we must do everything we canto protect it.
Most trees are wonderful. These are truly amazing and quite awesome in fact.
Great photography.
These are truly the most fabulous photos I can recall seeing! I cannot express how strongly I am impacted just looking at these pictures. I too wish they were all labeled as to location, because I think a world-wide expedition to see them is called for!
Nature whether animals or trees or flowers or the best, children, there is nothing as beautiful.
I fear Joyce Kilmer was mistaken. Nature does a mighty fantastic job. I’m awe-struck, and it happened repeatedly throughout the presentation. Thank you, thank you to the adventurers and photographers who produced it for us lucky viewers.
JUST BEAUTIFUL.
How can some people say there is no GOD. Just look at the natural beauty of these trees.
AMAZING!!
We are fighting Mother Natures wretched snow here in Indiana, but to look at her other work she gets a pat on the back!
Impressive photos, but more importantly, impressive trees!
One correction however – The General Sherman tree is not a Sequoia redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), but a Sequoia (Sequoiadendron gigantea).
Is there any possibility of a book? These are just spectacular, soul food! I would like a way to be able to look at these whenever. So very lovely — thank you for this gift!
Thank you for the amazing walk through mother nature’s forest. This chunk of rock we travel on is a truly wondrous organism.
I am with the poster who said this series is soul food. I never made it to the redwoods – but I will someday, and I will probably cry.
Gimme a break.
These are worse than cat pictures.
Labeling all would be ” fantastic “
I thought I recognized one of the later photos, but not sure–in any event, if you want to see another great tree, the Tule tree on southern Mexico is equally inspiring.
Thanks for the hint. Here’s a Tule tree.
The are truly amazing !!!!!!!!!! Beautiful !!!!!!!!
I would love to see these trees for myself. So awesome and some are quite surreal.
I love all the trees—and I have 2 in my yard that I think are beautiful, they are walking stick trees. Every branch is so crooked and bent…..Nature is beautiful!
I was amazed with the multiple variations and shapes of the wonderful trees that were shown. They must be preserved! Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos.
The wonders of Mother Nature and her glorious splendor in stunning color are truly awe inspiring.
Its all amazing!!
Magnificent, breathtaking, wonderful. Thank you.
i think that I shall never see————really inspiring.
our body is like a tree_ roots are rotting from stress and pollutions- the tree has symptoms and diseases….
My passion is find the sick roots and heal the roots.
I am so amazed beyond words as to what the photographers have been allowed to capture…God’s creation through these beautiful trees. Thanks for sharing…”Save Your Fork for the rest of what’s coming in the new creation…the best is yet to come!”
Wonderful photographs! So I’m not alone in my growing passion for trees. Beautiful and thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for sharing these splendors of the Earth.
Sooo beautiful! Labels on each would make it more enjoyable. Thank you for sharing God’s work.
Showed these to my dog.He left home in search of them.
A book called ” Bark” is spectacular also and would be a grand accompaniment to these.
I read the Best is yet to come. How do you top this the trees of the World, so Beautiful we must savour these Pictures. And not forget Global Warming and what it will do to the TREES in the future.