Festival of the Trees – Edition 37

Welcome to the 37th Edition of the Festival of the Trees. When we think about the chestnut blight or sudden oak disease or the woolly adelgid, small organisms that fall great forests, we are reminded of the fragility of trees. Although that is important to remember, trees can also offer up great examples of resilience, of resolve, of determination and the will to live. This month’s issues focuses on those examples. The Survivor Trees.

FIRE

“Strength Through Fire” (Photo by brims1285)

Nigel Lendon at iconophilia.net shares photographs and memories of a mangled eucalyptus tree that survived a serious brush fire at Austalia’s Mount Ainslie. Even though the tree was little match for a recent chainsaw, Nigel notes, “…it’s a survivor. These trees have the capacity to re-grow from the most unlikely remnant parts.” The Apple Lady at the Daily Apple shares facts about the resilient Sequoia. Her photographs include impressive shots of trees that were hollowed out and scarred by fire, but continue to grow.

CYCLONES

Tree of Knowledge (Photo courtesy of lc-duplex)

This month, Vespa Nat from Time At The Top was struck by a banyan tree in Darwin, Australia. It was originally planted in 1898 and is known as the Tree of Knowledge. It’s weathered not only three separate cyclones, but the bombing of Darwin during World War 2 as well. Vespa Nat writes, “As I stand in front of these trees I think of the comfort they give me. Not just from the shade they throw where I can escape the hot tropical sun, but through the things they remind me of. Stability, flexibility and life.”

TORNADOS

Cipresso del Kashmir di Isola Madre (Photo courtesy of Luca Zappacosta)

On their travel blog Jon and Rich describe their visit to Northern Italy’s Isola Madre and seeing a 200 year old Kashmir Cypress tree. In 2005, the outlook did not look good for this tree. A rare tornado hit the island and uprooted more than 200 trees, this one included. An international team of specialists leapt into action. A helicopter carried a crane to the island and the tree was lifted back up. It survives today.

HURRICANES

Borden Oak (Photo by Mr. G) Glenwood Cemetary Live Oak (Photo courtesy of Hugetepic)

The Borden Oak is no stranger to natural disaster. It survived the Great Galvenston Storm of 1900 and more recently, Hurricane Ike. Many trees in Galvenston, Texas weren’t as lucky. This month the Houston Chronicle reports that thousands of dead and dying trees will need to be removed. Cindi Barker of Southern Exposures shares a happy ending in Houston– a beautiful live oak that made it through Ike. Concerned about your trees? Pam Brown at Planting Pinellas writes about how to protect trees during hurricane season.

DESERT

Tree in the Libyan Sahara (Photo by 10b travelling)

Mike Putnam of Pacific Coast Stock posted about a hike in the proposed Badlands Wilderness Area in Oregon. He shares stunning pictures of old growth juniper trees. Some of the trees have thrived in the desert climate for over 1000 years. When talking about deserts, Bahrain’s 400 year old Tree of Life warrants noting. It survives isolated in the desert with no known water source.

COLD

Mysore Fig Tree (Photo by leeleblanc)

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Life in Bonita Springs, writes about the 113 year Mysore Fig Tree. Living in Florida, the tree has endured multiple hurricanes and has the scars to show it. But cold weather was the tree’s real test. In the 1980s, the unusually low temperatures caused significant damage to the tree. It was believed to be dead, but revived. A few more hurricanes later, the tree is still going strong– 93′ tall, 130′ crown, 40′ circumference.

ANIMALS

Sapsucker in Action (Photo by jessicafm)

Sometimes a tree’s challenge comes in small packages. Utah Savage posts about a fond childhood tree that happens to be Salt Lake Valley’s largest green ash tree. It survives thanks to aggressive treatment for the green ash borer. Rock Paper Lizard shares a Western Hemlock Tree that has attracted the attention of sapsuckers. Meanwhile, A Birder’s Report contains lovely photos of woodpeckers and a hummingbird feeding off an oak tree. If you hope to help your own trees survive the affection of sapsuckers, Steve Nix at the About.com Forestry blog shares some tips.

MAN

Chandelier Tree in May 2009 (Photo by The Wata)

Some trees grow in hard to reach places and by the luck of their residence, they escaped mankind. Namely, the logging industry. Saratoga woods and waterways speculates that is the case with the old growth hemlocks in Mianus River Gorge outside Bedford, New York. On the other hand, some trees have to face mankind head on. Man and the Tree shares a collection of Drive-Thru Trees. His collection includes the 315 foot Chandelier Tree. Roughly seventy years ago it had a tunnel carved in it. It is very much alive today.

URBAN LIFE

“City Life” (Image by cathairstudios)

Next month’s host, Trees, Plants and More, shares the hardships of two city trees in India. First off, a queen’s crepe myrtle blooms between wires and cables. And then, an “urban banyan”, possibly with manicured roots, adjusts to life with neighbors. If you didn’t catch it in Festival #29, be sure to check out local ecologist‘s post on the urban trees restoration in Sarajevo.

ATOMIC BOMBS

A-Bomb Survivor Nagasaki (Photo courtesy ofof meggomyeggo)

The damage from the atomic bomb to Hiroshima and Nagasaki was extensive, but the very next spring, trees budded. This month on TGAW, I covered the stories of two A-bomb survivors– the Phoenix Trees in Hiroshima and the Sanno Shrine Camphor Trees in Nagasaki. Hiroshi Sunairi of Tree Project has organized a more extensive Slideshow of Hibaku (A-Bombed) Trees in Hiroshima. Today, progeny of the A-bomb survivors are planted all over the world. Hiroshi Sunairi’s Tree Project is a blog dedicated to following the stories and the progress of those seedlings (You can also request seeds of your own!).

SHARKS

Pine Sharks (Photo by Lorianne DiSabato)

Perhaps one of the least publicized threats to trees are sharks. That’s rights – sharks. I didn’t think there were many trees that would have to face a shark attack, but Lorianne at Hoarded Ordinaries shares some compelling evidence.

It is with great confidence I know these are not the only Survivor Trees out there. If you encounter such a tree, blog about it! And be sure to submit your post to a future Festival of the Trees. : )

Next month’s Festival of the Trees will appear at the India-based blog Trees, Plants and more. Send links to ringsofsilver09 [at] gmail [dot] com by the 28th of July. A special focus on summer fruit-bearing trees is planned, but all tree-related posts are welcome.