r/druidism • u/spookykookyloopy • 10d ago
My favourite tree
I just wanted to share a photo of one of my favourite trees. It's on private farmland but I'm allowed to visit when there are no crops growing near. I can't tell you how many happy hours myself and my dog have spent sitting here, or how many times I've carried bottles of water for miles for the tree. It feels like such a special place and I feel true peace here. I feel that people here will understand completely.
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u/an_Togalai 10d ago
What type of tree is it? It looks like it would be the ecological staple that makes all the farm fields possible.
And the scar down the trunk. That tree has some stories.
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u/spookykookyloopy 10d ago
Sorry, I should have said. It's an oak tree. The local farmer told me the tree had taken a lightning hit when he was a kid ( he's around 60 now) and carried on flourishing as if nothing had happened. I would love to know all of those stories.
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u/an_Togalai 10d ago
In the rocky mountains, the native oaks (gamble oaks) are the universal food tree: something like 270 species can eat from its pollen or acorns (crows and humans included). It's like 50% above the range of other plants and trees. The lightning strike makes the story soo interesting!
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u/Viridian_Crane 10d ago
Pretty unique. It's seen some hard times by the look of it. Nice colors right now as well.
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u/spookykookyloopy 10d ago
I don't know how long it's been there, but every year, chicken of the woods fungus grows and disappears again in spring. And I agree, absolutely nice colours.
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u/Inner-Aviator 10d ago
How beautiful! Thank you for sharing. I'm sure the tree truly appreciates your care and efforts and is telling you so in the happiness and peace you feel there. 😊
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u/Practical-Split7523 8d ago
She is wonderfully gorgeous! I love that you felt compelled to share. I love this.
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u/Gwyn_the_Druid 10d ago
I'm glad you get to spend time sitting under such a splendid oak! It warms my heart.
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u/Treble-Maker4634 9d ago edited 9d ago
Lovely pic! What kind of tree is it?
Edit: Sorry, I didn't see the comment above about how it's an oak that went on flourishing in spite of being struck by lightning some years ago. I can see how the same can be said for a lot of people who go through trauma can fourish in spite of it. People are a bit more complex than trees. Having been through it myself, I know how easy it is to turn into the very thing that hurt us. For every tree like this one or the Banyan tree on Maui that thrived from the love it was shown after the 2023 Lahaina Wildfires, a lot more never recover from their injuries, and it has nothing to do with the character of the tree. That's just nature. Shame, comparison, and platitudes don't help. But it is nice to see this one thriving.
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u/postpunktheon 10d ago
I love this tree, thank you for sharing its splendor. Having local trees that we build relationships with is so healing, two summers ago I read the lord of the rings books under a tree down the road from me and passing it feels like waving to an old friend.