Saturday 16 May 2009

Iron Eating Trees - A Common Occurence?



Owen Phillips (Magic Lantern Show) has just posted an unusual photograph of a metal sign being subsumed by a tree. It is part of his description of a visit to a really strange wood with contradictory messages abounding. Having seen this great post, I thought I would do some quick research on eating trees!

The above photographs were taken by Sea Turtle who kindly licensed them under Creative Commons. He takes seriously colourful images, so do take a look! Click HERE to visit him.

The bicycle is on Vashon Island near Seattle, Washington. Apparently, a child chained his bike to the tree some thirty years ago and never came back. The tree grew around it. I am given to understand that a children's book by Berkeley Breathed - Red Ranger Came Calling - was inspired by this story.

There is another iron eating tree at Brig O'Turk in Scotland. For more on this remarkable event, click HERE and HERE

34 comments:

  1. Ah Laurie ! I can see that while I was up in my bed having my nice long 6 hour nightly nap, some people have been up early scouring the wide world for fascinating tidbits of lore...

    The bicycle on Vashon Island is phenomenal, for a rust loving guy like me... it's a fantasy born from the dream world of lost bicycles and childhood dreams !!!

    And the handlebars on the tree in Scotland are priceless too... but that first one is just too profoundly beautiful ! Better get my drool bucket! Can you imagine coming upon something like that unexpectedly in the woods somewhere???

    I wonder how common such object eating trees are ? In any case, you are to be commended for your amazing research instincts... and glad you liked the sign eater, after your other tree pictures with expressions on them, I thought you might like that one...

    Well, you'll have to ask Buskitten if she knows about that tree in Scotland... hey, maybe that was Tiddles' bicycle that he lost ???

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  2. Hey, it just occurred to me, if these things are really rare, maybe my next job could getting people to pay me to show them where the wonderful sign eating tree is??? Tour guide of the absurd and miraculous???

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  3. Now, you've got it! English-speaking tour guide for bloggers. If they have a pet, take them to the Dog Cemetery. If they like trees, take them to the mystery wood. Another sauce (or should I say source?) of income. Incidentally, I wouldn't mind knowing where it is so I can fly there courtesy of Google Earth. An email would suffice to prevent people trampling the scene with gun looking for the mysterious wild beast, Owenus Phillipsitus!!
    Laurie

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  4. Oh, and I notice you use the word tidbits, Owen. Is that an Americanism? In the UK, we use titbits - as in a titbit of information - without anyone tittering so to speak (no pun intended. Having done a bit of sub-editing, I always like to keep abreast of English usage.

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  5. I like the exchange of metal-eating trees between Owen and you! I find it interesting that in Chinese Medicine the element Metal controls the element Wood. This time it looks like Wood got the better of Metal!

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  6. Thank you for following my site, which led me to our site. I have enjoyed seeing your photos and reading your interesting tidbits, particularly your visit to Santa Fe, which I have visited several times. I have signed up to follow your site and look forward to your future posts.

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  7. You are revealing yourself to be quite terrible ! Glad to hear you like to keep abreast of things... In America we definitely speak of "tidbits", I don't know anything about "titbits", that would no doubt be considered uncouth and titillating in puritanical America. We Americans also all played a game when little called "Tiddlywinks", and it most certainly was not known as "Tittywinks", I assure you !
    LOL ! There was, however, a bird known as the "tufted titmouse", and we did not call him a "tidmouse", so there is an exception to every rule.

    As for Google Earth, the problem is, if you will look at Chantilly, it is surrounded by huge stretches of forest, so very hard for me to pinpoint for you exactly where said tree is located on Google Earth... you're just going to have to get over here for a guided tour... if you can track down the elusive Owenus Phillipsitus... jeez, that sounds like a disease. You know, I go my Mr Toad as well, and his latin name, for the American variety is : Bufo americana... so just call me Bufo for short ! :-D

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  8. How interesting! We have some wall eating bicycles in the place where I work. I'll have to take some photos for you. Actually, as you can probably surmise, they are pieces of outdoors art....but pretty interesting, nonetheless. Great photo! as always

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  9. Hi Laurie ! Je vois que Owen laisse peu de place pour les commentaires... J'arrive quand même à me faufiler pour te dire que ta prise de vue est surprenante... Un arbre-vélo !... J'aime bien l'idée que cet arbre ait grandi avec le vélo figé dans son tronc...!
    Au fait Laurie, je cherche un arbre-euros...? Si tu en trouve un, pourrais-tu, discrètement bien sûr, me dire le lieu avant de le photographier...

    Thankx ! See you !

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  10. I love it when nature reclaims traces of humanity, there is something deeply satisfying about seeing the peaceful strength of a slow growing tree crushing metal. Up the road from us here there is a tree that has grown over a massive old threshing machine. This is a lovely place by the way!.. cheers!

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  11. Hi Laurie, I take my position of honor as official translator of jeff34! "I see that Owen hasn't left much room for comments. I'm managing just the same to worm my way in to tell you that your point of view is astonishing . . . a tree-bike! . . . I really like the idea that this tree grew with the bike congealed in its trunk . . . ! To come to the point, Laurie, I am looking for a money-tree . . . ? If you find one, could you--discreetly of course--tell me the place before you photograph it . . "

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  12. Hey Laurie, I just stumbled by chance on a blog by someone who seems to have quite a fondness for Jack Russell Terriers... you better take a look....

    http://pawildwoman.blogspot.com/

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  13. Hi Linda, I'd be really interested to see the walls eating bicycles, sounds fascinating!
    Laurie

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  14. Jeff,
    I will let you know about the money tree, but out of loyalty will have to let some others know too - Margaret, Owen and Buskitten to name just a few!

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  15. Margaret,
    Thank you so much. I feel quite honoured to have two official translators!
    Sincerely
    Laurie

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  16. Thank you, Watercats, for visiting and the compliment. It's an honour to have you on board!
    Laurie

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  17. Owen,
    Thanks for the steer to the Jack Russell lady. Nice animal pics on her blog.
    Laurie

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  18. Wow--who knew?! I believe I've actually seen the one over on Vashon Island. It's a local spot of fame. (Grin)

    Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures.

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  19. I was out of town for a few days and am just catching up with blogs...love these posts and photos and great comments too

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  20. Hello,you. I see you are another crazy/mad person who has decided to follow me. But *dance* it has lead me here, to this place; your place.
    I am loving this scaringly good pic of yours.It's kinda haunting.

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  21. That's a awesome-fabulous photo and concept!

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  22. When I was a young slug, I found a knife imbedded in a very large Eucolyptus tree in my backyard. It looked like an old knife from WW2 as it had an image of a swastika on it. I left it in the tree, it was buried up to the handle. I never took a picture of it, and have not even thought about it until now.
    Mrs. Slug

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  23. Thanks a lot for your steps on my blog ! See you ! and thankx Laurie !

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  24. Brilliant, brilliant work! I must show you some of my 1950's tricycle - it looks a bit like that! Boat sailing to you as we speak Laurie!

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  25. May I be like the 25th to say. Cool post.

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  26. Hey Laurie! just wanted to let you know - I tagged you!

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  27. Wow...I mean I love bikes and trees, but together? Kinda like you got peanut butter on my chocolate...kinda. Great photo and story!

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  28. Beth, You have seen bicycle in the tree? Lucky you.

    Adrian, Thank you and welcome!

    Hi Terri, I wondered where you had got to. I am glad you are enjoying the posts and . . . the great people who comment.

    Sara, Crazy and Mad? Yep! That's me. Thanks for the compliments.

    Hi Joy, As you say - just exactly how many trees are out there eating thing? Remind me not to stand in one place for too long - Yipes!

    I am very pleased to welcome, Mrs Slug. Fancy you finding a knife embedded in a tree! A question I have always wanted to ask: If a year of a dog's life equates to seven human years, what is the equivalent for a fine person of your species?

    Jeff, Cheers - come back soon - watch out for the money tree. I thought I saw one the other day.

    Hi Sharon, Twenty-fifth! I have never had so many comments before and yours is very welcome.

    Joanna, Thanks for tagging me - I will find some others to tag in a day or so.

    LaurietoHolly, Peanut butter on your chocolate? Flipping heck! Glad you liked it.

    Laurie (starting to suffer from RSI!)

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  29. Of course, what I should have said to the Watercats was: It would be fascinating to see a photograph of the tree growing over the threshing machine!

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  30. 31 ) I settle the question suddenly to be known if this bike grew with the tree? I had not thought of it !
    Sorry for my english !
    Ciao !...

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  31. That is truly amazing, like childhood frozen in time. I wish I could see that in person, thank you for sharing.

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  32. Hi Leila, Thanks for taking the time to visit.

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  33. I love it - it`s wonderful! Awesome photos too!

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