Wow! I Didn't Know This Existed Until Just A Few Minutes Ago

[JimGinPA]

Oaxaca tree in Mexico is the tree with the largest trunk diameter in the world. Its circumference reaches almost 197 feet (almost 60 meters) and has a height of almost 138 feet (42 meters). It's approximate age is 2,000 years. The Montezuma Cypress (Taxodium mucronatum), or Ahuehuete is Mexico's national tree.

[captain queeg]

1. Wow. I wonder if you can feel it's spirit

Many years ago my brother and I slept under the Grant tree (I think that’s the one, the biggest sequoia in the world) a couple thousand years old. We both felt a gentle spirit there.

[electric_blue68]

3. How wonderful!

One of my dreams is to take a nap under one of the Giant 💖 Sequoias.

It may never happen, and I'm pretty OK w that because I've 4 super major travel trips: two on my own dime, and two gifted about 9 years apart two different gifters. Lots of shorter trips too.

I've been to Muir Woods which has the tall skinnier Sequoias. And when I was in in Denver my cousin took me up into The Rockies on a motorcycle. When we were coming back down we over looked a steep valley that had thousands, ? tens of thousands of pine trees and no roads in it. Stunning!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

2. Trees are so cool

Did you know aspen trees are really 1 tree connected by underground tubers??

[electric_blue68]

4. Yeah!

That was startling to find that out way back when they discovered that!

[electric_blue68]

5. I love trees. I often draw them; different types.

[electric_blue68]

6. Almost positive there are photos of that...

tree from a bit of distance so you can see 💖 the whole thing!

[rateyes]

7. And to think it grew from one tiny seed!

[safeinOhio]

8. Taoist story about the Useless Tree.

- Chuang Tsu

Shih the carpenter was on his way to the state of Chi. When he got to Chu Yuan, he saw an oak tree by the village shrine. The tree was large enough to shade several thousand oxen and was a hundred spans around. It towered above the hilltops with its lowest branches eighty feet from the ground. More than ten of its branches were big enough to be made into boats. There were crowds of people as in a marketplace. The master carpenter did not even turn his head but walked on without stopping.

His apprentice took a long look then ran after Shih the carpenter and said, "Since I took up my ax and followed you, master, I have never seen timber as beautiful as this. But you do not even bother to look at it and walk on without stopping. Why is this?"

Shih the carpenter replied, "Stop! Say no more! That tree is useless. A boat made from it would sink, a coffin would soon rot, a tool would split, a door would ooze sap, and a beam would have termites. It is worthless timber and is of no use. That is why it has reached such a ripe old age."

After Shih the carpenter had returned home, the sacred oak appeared to him in a dream, saying, "What are you comparing me with? Are you comparing me with useful trees? There are cherry, apple, pear, orange, citron, pomelo, and other fruit trees. As soon as the fruit is ripe, the trees are stripped and abused. Their large branches are split, and the smaller ones torn off. Their life is bitter because of their usefulness. That is why they do not live out their natural lives but are cut off in their prime. They attract the attentions of the common world. This is so for all things. As for me, I have been trying for a long time to be useless. I was almost destroyed several times. Finally I am useless, and this is very useful to me."

[Marie Marie]

9. Proud Tree-Hugger here. Not afraid to admit it.