A boy left his bike chained to a tree when he went away to war in 1914. He never returned, leaving the tree no choice but to grow around the bike. This bike has been there for 98 years now.   By Todd Bates on Flickr

Tree grows around bike on Vashon Island, Washington state.   By Todd Bates on Flickr

Arbutus Tree and Bark by kirchypics on flickr

Arbutus Tree and Bark by kirchypics on flickr

Bamboo Trees. Sri Lanka

Bamboo Trees. Sri Lanka

A Corious Tree

A Corious Tree

Punta Arenas, Chile

Punta Arenas, Chile

1000+ year old tree on Greek island of Aegina

1000+ year old tree on Greek island of Aegina

144-year-old wisteria in Japan, by tungnam.com.hk

144-year-old wisteria in Japan, by tungnam.com.hk

 Japanese Maple in Portland, Oregon, USA by falcor88

Japanese Maple in Portland, Oregon, USA by falcor88

This huge 125-year-oldold rhododendron is technically not a tree – most are considered to be shrubs.

This huge 125-year-oldold rhododendron is technically not a tree – most are considered to be shrubs.

trees, 3

By Ian Sane

By Ian Sane

Ipe, Brazil

Ipe, Brazil

 Jacarandas in South Africa, by Elizabeth Kendall

Jacarandas in South Africa, by Elizabeth Kendall

The flamboyant tree, Madagascar.  By Salete T Silva

The flamboyant tree, Madagascar. By Salete T Silva

Sikura tunnel, Okera, Japan

Sikura tunnel, Okera, Japan

By tom Schwabel

By Tom Schwabel

At 1,990 square meters (about half an acre), this huge wisteria is the largest of its kind in Japan.  By Y-fu

At 1,990 square meters (about half an acre), this huge wisteria is the largest of its kind in Japan. By Y-fu

Birch trees in snow

Birch trees in snow

Parasite effect - Spiral tree at Coramba rainforest reserve, NSW, Australia. Photo by omnia on Flickr

Parasite effect – Spiral tree at Coramba rainforest reserve, NSW, Australia. Photo by omnia on Flickr

Rainforest undergrowth. Tangled lianas (woody vines) covered in moss, Peru

Rainforest undergrowth. Tangled lianas (woody vines) covered in moss, Peru

trees, 6

Angel Oak Tree in Angel Oak Park on Johns Island, Southern Carolina

Angel Oak Tree in Angel Oak Park on Johns Island, Southern Carolina

Strangler Fig Tree. Wrapping tendrils around the host tree.. By orenbrimer on Flickr

Strangler Fig Tree. Wrapping tendrils around the host tree.. By orenbrimer on Flickr

Quiver tree by Jason Webber on flickr

Quiver tree by Jason Webber on flickr

6 Sycamores were shaped, bent, and braided to form this tree

6 Sycamores were shaped, bent, and braided to form this tree

Baobob tree

Baobob tree

California's Sequoia national park.

California’s Sequoia national park.

Klamath, California

Klamath, California

nature, trees

 

Tree of Tule, over 2000 years old

Tree of Tule, over 2000 years old

Silk floss tree, South America  by alan_sailer on flickr

Silk floss tree, South America by alan_sailer on flickr

By Seabird in New Zealand.

Trees on Slope Point, the southern tip of New Zealand, grow at an angle because they’re constantly buffeted by extreme antarctic winds. By Seabird

The dragonblood tree named because of its crimson red sap, used as a dye  a violin varnish, an alchemical ingredient, and a folk remedy for various ailments. By Csilla Zelko)

The dragonblood tree named because of its crimson red sap, used as a dye a violin varnish, an alchemical ingredient, and a folk remedy for various ailments. By Csilla Zelko)

rainbow eucalyptus, by  jwilsonnorton

rainbow eucalyptus, by jwilsonnorton

The grove of 'candelabra' redwoods, known as the Enchanted Forest,  Shady Dell

The grove of ‘candelabra’ redwoods, known as the Enchanted Forest, Shady Dell

In Denmark

In Denmark

trees, 4

by miladyellow on flickr

by miladyellow on flickr

The Angel Oak in South Carolina stands 66.5 ft (20 m) tall and is estimated to be more than 1400 or 1500 years old. (By Daniela Duncan)

The Angel Oak in South Carolina stands 66.5 ft (20 m) tall and is estimated to be more than 1400 or 1500 years old. (By Daniela Duncan)

trees, 2

 

Abruzo, Italy by Vicenzo Mazza

Abruzo, Italy by Vicenzo Mazza

The antarctic beech is native to Chile and Argentina, though this specimen is from the U.S.’ North Pacific region. By Drew Hopper

The antarctic beech is native to Chile and Argentina, though this specimen is from the U.S.’ North Pacific region. By Drew Hopper

Wax palms in Salento, Colombia

Wax palms in Salento, Colombia

White cedar

White cedar

Tunnel of cherry blossoms, Bonn, Germany in April. Image by Adas Meliauskas

Tunnel of cherry blossoms, Bonn, Germany in April. Image by Adas Meliauskas

Oak trees, South Carolina by  Lee Sosby

Oak trees, South Carolina by Lee Sosby

treestrees, 5trees, handFor more trees go here.

Thanks to:  BoredPanda, Dean, Tim L. and James C.

Trees

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)

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

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

General Sherman tree, Sequoia Redwood, the largest living single-stem tree and largest living organism on earth in California

trees, 5 (2)

trees, 10

nature, tree from bricks

 

Costa Rica

Costa Rica

ng, 1trees, 17trees, 19

 

 Jabuticaba, a Brazilian grape tree The fruit grows directly from the trunk and branches of the tree.

Jabuticaba, a Brazilian grape tree The fruit grows directly from the trunk and branches of the tree.

trees, 20

eucalyptus

trees, 21trees, 4trees, 12trees, 14Adaptive roots in concrete jungle, c.e.trees, baobob and kidstrees, 23trees, unusual, funzug, 2trees, unusual, funzug

Coconut trees , Lombok,  Bali, Indonesia

Coconut trees , Lombok, Bali, Indonesia

trees,17trees, unusualtrees, unusual, 3trees, sycamore

Banyan tree

Banyan tree

c9cb30fbdda8e21497ec44e782bce730

Toborochi tree

Toborochi tree

by Hengki Koentjoro via pinterest

by Hengki Koentjoro via pinterest

 Mossy Roots, Sintra, Portugal

Mossy Roots, Sintra, Portugal

 

 Boabab,  Also known as the tree of life

Boabab, Also known as the tree of life

 

Cypress

Cypress

trees, aspenstreet art, 17

Cannonball tree, by Douglas Peebles Photography, Alamy, fruit grows directly on the trunk

Cannonball tree, by Douglas Peebles Photography, Alamy, fruit grows directly on the trunk

nature, green tree

Jennifer Long, Janus Photo Arts on Flickr

Jennifer Long, Janus Photo Arts on Flickr

Olive tree

Olive tree

 

Madagascar's ancient forest of baobab trees

Madagascar’s ancient forest of baobab trees

Spanish moss

Spanish moss

trees, 9 wows, gary

trees, 3

 

trees, 22

Jason Hehir photography

Jason Hehir photography

trees, 8trees, 5trees, 9 wows via gary wtrees, 9 (2)trees, 9 wows 2trees, 9 wows, 3trees, 9 wows, 5trees, 9, 6trees, 9 wowstrees, 9 wows, 4

By Patrick Dougherty, made from willows

By Patrick Dougherty, made from willows

trees, pat dougherty, 2trees, Patrick Dougherty’s Mind-Blowing Nest Houses Made of Living Treestrees, pooktre 2trees, pooktre, 3trees, pooktre, 4trees, 9trees, carvingstrees, 15trees, 16trees, Angkor-Wattrees, baugaarten, dk

Moss on oak trees

Moss on oak trees

trees, whiteThanks to:  9Wows, and Dean.

 

Tule tree, S. Mexico

Tule tree, S. Mexico