These Trees Could Win An Oscar…

Starting off strong in the drama category is the Weeping Willow. What name could be more dramatic than that? The graceful branches hang down like a curtain around the trunk, gently swaying in a breeze.

The Weeping Willow is native to northern China but was traded along the Silk Road, highly sought after for its unique and beautiful shape. It grows well near lakes and ponds and thus is often associated with serenity and tranquility.

Salix babylonica  was given its scientific name by Carl Linnaeus. He incorrectly associated it with the Biblical tree named in the opening of Psalm 137 (the tree described is likely an Euphrates poplar, another member of the willow family, Salicaceae).

These win the award for their absurd height. Have you ever stood next to a redwood? You look up to the sky thinking a tree can’t get any taller, but they just go on and on.

The tallest tree in the world is a Coast Redwood at Redwood National Park in California, at 380 feet (116 meters). How tall is that? The Statue of Liberty, a colossal statue that marks a skyline, is only 305 feet (93 meters) from the bottom of the base to the tip of her lantern.

An oak tree may not seem dramatic on its own, but let’s paint a picture. You’re driving down a foggy, windy road at dusk, two lines of oak trees bending towards each other.

Moss hangs down from the branches like an old man’s beard. You feel as if you’re in a tunnel, and you know something could come out of the trees at any moment. You would be trapped. Spooky!

It’s in the name - Aspen trees quake! The slightest breeze makes their leaves shake as if they’re stuck in a permanent cartoon-like fear. This tremoring has even inspired their species name,  tremuloides.

The trees are noteworthy for another reason too: they are distinctive! These tall and slender trees grow in groups, their white bark and bright green leaves (that turn stunningly golden in the fall) standing out.

How about a happy scene for a change of pace? Award season isn’t complete without a sentimental, upbeat flick! Not many plants inspire quite as much joy as a cherry tree. The short but powerful blooms remind us that happiness can always be found, even if briefly.

The fleeting and ethereal beauty of cherry blossoms inspires global expeditions every year. An estimated 63 million people travel to and within Japan to see the blooms, while around 1.5 million people attend the National Cherry Blossom Festival annually in Washington D.C.