Witness trees are trees that have witnessed one or more historical events. It could have been a battle, or a document being signed.
This 400-500 year old live oak tree is called the Angel Oak. It is located near Charleston, South Carolina, on an island called Johns Island. When I blogged about it in 2012, it was endangered, but apparently, nonprofits were able to save it. We visited it again in 2014, when I took this picture.
It's said that the "angels" are the souls of deceased enslaved people - I wonder, just what has this tree witnessed in its lifetime?
If you want to learn more about witness trees, this video was shown this past week on TV in the United States. Enjoy!
Join Parul Thakur and other bloggers the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month for #ThursdayTreeLove.
Day 12 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge #BlogBoost.
What a fascinating idea! To be a fly on the trunk of these trees would be very interesting. Thanks for sharing this information.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting concept - and a great way to recognize the age and grandeur of some of the trees around us - I think there should be more of it - Australia needs some reminding of it's history!
ReplyDeleteI know I've said this before, but I LOVE trees! I always look at the huge, ancient ones and wonder what they've seen.
ReplyDeleteWhen Husby and I visited Ephesus, Turkey, we took a tour up to the place where John, the Beloved was purported to have taken Mary, the mother of Jesus to live out her days. A small house has been erected that we were give a tour of. A four-room, gilded, chandeliered house that, to me, just couldn't have been right. But just outside the door was a 2000-plus year-old olive tree. Twisted and gnarled. Now THAT tree witnessed some things!
Wow, that tree must have seen a lot.
ReplyDeleteAngel tree has a lot of stories to tell.Lovely name and gorgeous picture as usual.
ReplyDeleteThat's fascinating. I've often wondered whether trees and our surroundings remember or record events. They can live for such a long time and can witness many events and changes, especially those in towns and cities.
ReplyDeleteI love trees ad it's amazing to think of the history that a tree witnessed. I've stood near some of those trees in Gettysburg and looked out across the field in which thousands of men marched and died.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of witness trees. Very interesting and looking forward to watching the video about them.
ReplyDeleteIf trees could talk...
ReplyDeleteWow! That is so old and so old and so beautiful. I love the name. Angel Oak. I am glad the non-profits were able to save it and you were able to click and share with us. This sure has witnessed so much.
ReplyDeleteFascinating! Its a wonderful idea to catergorise the trees so they get some 'protection' ! This is a wonderfully grand Oak! If only it could talk..
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty old tree and that name is so unique- Angel Oak! Thanks for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeleteNever heard of Angel Oak, looks quite huge and artistic...
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