Arboreal Art in Nature

July 10, 2011 8:20 AM

"Magnificent and Weird Trees" Also see, Living, Growing Architecture.
posted by zarq (18 comments total)

So cool. The vine and root bridges are unbelievable. Thanks for posting this!
posted by fzx101 at 8:54 AM on July 10, 2011

I love the "hobbit-like" home. Very cool!
posted by garnetgirl at 9:04 AM on July 10, 2011

Root bridges previously and previously.
I love these photos and concepts.
posted by notashroom at 9:09 AM on July 10, 2011

Ah, so many of these are in Hawai'i -- many at Foster Gardens, a massive garden of exotic plants right in the middle of downtown (next to the freeway!). It even has a bodhi tree which is said to have been grafted from the one Buddha sat under. This is an amazing place that is often overlooked by visitors. Kids love it -- they play with the cannonballs, collect the silk blossoms, swing on the hanging banyan roots and nestle in the 'forts' made by huge roots. Great photos, brings back memories.
posted by Surfurrus at 11:26 AM on July 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm fond of Araucaria angustifolia of southern Brazil, with its large, upturned-umbrella canopies and delicious seeds.
posted by hydrophonic at 11:57 AM on July 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Beautiful.
posted by stoneegg21 at 1:40 PM on July 10, 2011

These fire the imagination, like a Dr. Seuss book. It's a good thing there are websites devoted to the nexus of weird and wonderful where some, if not most of us, would like to pass the majority of our time.
posted by gorgor_balabala at 1:47 PM on July 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

Lovely photos and narratives in both links--thanks so much for posting!
posted by aisle9nine at 3:22 PM on July 10, 2011

Beautiful. This helps reinforce the feeling I've always had, that this planet is an alien planet to me
posted by Redhush at 4:45 PM on July 10, 2011

Glad you're all enjoying it! And notashroom and hydrophonic, thanks for those links. :)
posted by zarq at 5:23 PM on July 10, 2011

Some of them make me think of Frank Frazetta (I think that's who I'm thinking of.) Others make me think of the Harry Potter movies. Beautiful!
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:20 PM on July 10, 2011

Some of the twisted-up man-made trees really freak me out. It seems deeply wrong somehow.

I like the root bridges though. I wonder how complicated they are to make?
posted by vogon_poet at 7:03 PM on July 10, 2011

This is awesome. Thanks so much for posting!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 7:05 PM on July 10, 2011

UK scary tree.
posted by Decani at 8:33 PM on July 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

oh jesus decani!
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 9:56 PM on July 10, 2011

Whenever I see the living architecture stuff, or even regular bonsai, I always find myself desperately hoping that plants don't feel pain. Irrational, I know.
posted by Ritchie at 4:50 AM on July 11, 2011

Beautiful pictures. This one totally looks like an angry Ent, though.
posted by Solomon at 7:03 AM on July 11, 2011

Some of them make me think of Frank Frazetta (I think that's who I'm thinking of.)

Sure it wasn't Roger Dean?
posted by FatherDagon at 1:39 PM on July 11, 2011