Trees are not only a key to the natural ecosystem,
They are an essential part of our life experience. From majestic individual trees that have historical significance or are simply beautiful, to a quiet grove of greenery that we seek for solitude, trees enrich our experience of life simply by being there. They are also symbols of immortality.
Trees are not only a key to the natural ecosystem, they are an essential part of our life experience. From majestic individual trees that have historical significance or are simply beautiful, to a quiet grove of greenery that we seek for solitude, trees enrich our experience of life simply by being there. Trees are the tallest and largest plant form on Earth and throughout recorded history trees have been recognized as symbols of power, wisdom, fertility and life.
Trees are also symbols of immortality, being able 918 kisses to live to a considerable age. Pando, a trembling aspen in Utah, USA is considered the oldest living tree in the world. Pando is estimated to be over 800,000 years old. Pando is a clonal colony of a single male Quaking Aspen. This massive tree root system covers 107 hectares and is estimated to weigh more than 6,000 tons, making it the heaviest known living organism in the world.
All over the world many different types of trees live extremely long. The oldest verified measured ages are:
Norway spruce (Picea abies) 9550 years
Baobab (Digitata Adansonia) 6600 years
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) 4,844 years
Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) 3622 years
Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) 3266 years
Huon-Pine (Largarostrobos franklinii) 2500 years
Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata) 2435 years
Because of their potential for longevity, trees are often planted as living memorials. We become attached to the trees that we or those we love have planted and cared for.
Trees add beauty and grace to any locality.
Blooms in spring, green leaves in summer, and breath takes color in autumn; trees mark the seasons as they enhance the beauty of the world. They make life more pleasant, peaceful and relaxing. The majesty, stability and strength of trees lends a cathedral-like quality as they help us experience a primal connection to the land and our deepest cultural and spiritual values.
The tree has always been a cultural symbol. The tree is often used to represent nature or the environment itself. In South America, a tribe of Indians believe that the trees of the forest hold up the sky. According to ancient tribal legends, the fall of trees will hasten the destruction of Mother Earth.
Since ancient times, cultures around the world have honored trees with reverence and respect. Cultures in Australia and Asia regard trees as mythical ancestors. Trees were often worshiped as the living embodiment of their gods and believed to have sacred medicinal applications and wonderful healing qualities for the body, mind and spirit.
The Druids of Europe were particularly influenced by trees and believed that trees possessed great mysterious powers. The ancient Greeks are also known to have had a highly developed respect for the nobility and power of trees. Paintings and ceramics from the period display images of pleasure and reverence. Greek culture held the Bay Tree in particularly high esteem as the tree was dedicated to their god Apollo and his young son Aesculapius and was held in sacred reverence. Aesculapius was the God of Medicine and so the Bay Tree was believed to have healing powers and was used in many medicinal remedies.
Built in the mid-12th century as a tribute to the King’s Mother, Ta Prohm Temple in southern Cambodia is the undisputed capital of the Tree Kingdom. The mystical and mesmerizing beauty of the jungle temples is explored with pleasure and left with deep regret. It remains virtually untouched by archaeologists, apart from the clearing of a narrow path for visitors. Because of its natural and pristine state, you can experience the wonder and joy of early explorers when they discovered these magnificent ancient monuments in the mid-nineteenth century.
Shrouded in silver mist and covered by dense jungle, the temple of Ta Prohm is ethereal in every aspect and evokes a mysteriously romantic atmosphere. Banyan, kapok and sycamore trees spread their giant roots stretching over giant boulders, gable walls and tearing terraces while their branches and leaves intertwine to form a lush sheltering canopy over the structures. The trunks of these noble trees twist between stone pillars and over cobbled walls. The strange, haunting beauty of the temple trees weaves around you as you go, so inescapable that the roots are wound around the walls and towers. When visiting the awe-inspiring Kingdom of Trees, one quickly becomes aware of how powerfully present and fully alive trees are, and one cannot escape the all-encompassing connections trees provide in the intricate and fragile web of existence.
