05 April 2010

The Hollow Tree: Life + 297 years


This is Gorbio's famous elm tree planted in 1713. It's hollow as you can see and now, after a long cold winter, it's rushing back to life again. Not long and it will be in full leaf.

The reason it's such a happy and healthy tree is because an underground stream runs under the tree and the cobbles that surround it.

I imagine Gorbio will have a big celebration in three years time when the tree will be 300 years old.

14 comments:

  1. What a magnificent tree!
    And I'm already looking forward to your pictures from the big celebration in 2013........☺

    ReplyDelete
  2. il est magnifique et il pourrait nous raconter des histoires

    ReplyDelete
  3. Olive trees are such survivors. Aren't they wonderful!
    "Rushing back to life"--that's a great way to say it.
    I'd love to attend a tree's birthday party.

    ReplyDelete
  4. oh, the stories this tree could tell.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh the things this tree has witnessed while rooted to this spot.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This tree is truly amazing. If it could only talk, what a tale it could tell.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I seem to remember a gaggle of bloggers posed here! :)
    V

    ReplyDelete
  8. No, that was the 2,000 year old olive tree in Roquebrune, Virginia. This is an elm.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such a beauty deserves a big birthday party!

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's hard to believe that any tree could survive being hollow, no matter how much water was available. What a wonder.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's an amazement every year to see it bloom again!

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's an amazement every year to see it bloom again!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh yes Jilly I remember this old citizen of Gorbio !
    At this moment, I'd like to be in the little café in front of this helm drinking a coffee with you and Agnès.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, you've achieved an extra-large size photo for this extra-large size tree. Great memories of this place...

    ReplyDelete