2 friend requests pending from the BFG and the Lorax.

February 12, 2016 4:02 PM

In the deep stillness of a forest in winter, the sound of footsteps on a carpet of leaves died away. Peter Wohlleben had found what he was looking for: a pair of towering beeches. “These trees are friends,” he said, craning his neck to look at the leafless crowns, black against a gray sky. “You see how the thick branches point away from each other? That’s so they don’t block their buddy’s light."
posted by Hermione Granger (9 comments total)

This is so cool.
posted by selfmedicating at 6:34 PM on February 12, 2016

Really amazing.
posted by RainyJay at 7:04 PM on February 12, 2016

Lovely. Thanks for posting.
posted by oneirodynia at 8:20 PM on February 12, 2016

Wunderbar!
posted by Oyéah at 8:57 PM on February 12, 2016

This made me so happy-thank you for posting!
posted by PlantGoddess at 5:57 AM on February 13, 2016

for reasons unknown, keep the ancient stumps of long-felled companions alive for centuries by feeding them a sugar solution through their roots.

I cannot stop thinking about this. I want to know more!
posted by spacewaitress at 9:46 AM on February 13, 2016 [2 favorites]

For unknown reasons, humans keep shells of other humans alive with various feeding solutions.
posted by benzenedream at 10:16 AM on February 13, 2016

I'm wondering... you know how there are still American chestnut tree stumps in the eastern forests, that still sprout regrowth until the blight kills them back again? Is that how they've stayed alive so long?
posted by tavella at 12:47 PM on February 13, 2016

I like trees.
And Ents.
posted by BlueHorse at 4:08 PM on February 13, 2016 [1 favorite]