There are three different tree species that I am standing by.  The two young ones are old year old primavera and pink cedar.  The big one is African mahogany.  They are all beautiful trees.

John Kunitake -Holualoa, Hawaii

George Darrell-  Illinois

This is my nursery site where I grow trees and plant them in my local area.  I grow walnut, oak, maple, linden, catalpa, and locust.

My earliest memory of trees is as a five or six year old boy, playing in and among the Live Oak trees growing on ranch land above the Almaden Valley of California.  Ever since, no matter where I am, my gaze always drifts skyward, in wonder and awe that the trees inspire in me.  

Presently I find myself in Hawaii, on the verdant slopes of Hualalai volcano.  I am the caretaker of this small grove of Cedrela odorata, commonly known as Spanish Cedar.  Something of a misnomer, since they are neither cedar nor Spanish.  You might know them as the "cigar box" tree.  The name gives it away, as the wood is very pungent.  I planted them from seedlings about two years ago, and it has been very satisfying watching them rocket up; playing host, first to insects, and now to birds and their nests.  How wonderful!

Bob Trubel-  Holualoa, Hawaii

This photo was taken in the Tantalus Rainforest high above Honolulu.

Elena Polevik, Oahu

I often run a 20 mile loop on the Tantulus Trail system in the rainforest above Honolulu.  It encompases Nuuanu, Makiki, and Manoa valleys.  I have many favorite trees that I encounter along the way.  Here are a few of them.

Perhaps my favorite of them all, is this tree that is located on Nuuanu ridge.  It stands in the center of the trail, with steep cliffs on either side saying, "I own this trail.  If you want to get by, you're going to have to go around me."

The Cooke Pine Forest located in Nuuanu Valley is wonderful to run through.  I love the lines that these trees create.  And its always cool and airy.  The needles create a carpet on the ground that is soft and cushiony to run on.

The Koa Tree is located on the Kalawahine Trail above Pahoa Flats, in the area between Nuuanu and Makiki Valleys.  It is not very large, but it is sure beautiful.  It is often very windy in this area, which is likely why it felt the need to stay low and spread out wide.

It rains a lot in Manoa Valley, creating lush, green moss covered forest. I just love running through this forest on the way to Manoa Falls.

David Carlsson, Oahu

The Phoenix Tree

Located adjacent the Great Alpine Road at the Wangaratta end of town, the Phoenix tree is a massive sculpture carved out of the truck and roots of a red gum by noted sculptor Hans Knorr.  A signboard explains its significance as a tribute to the town.  See http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/VICMyrtleford.shtml for details.

Australia

Dennis McKenna

This is the banyan tree in the main plaza in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina Island, Brazil, 2008.

Dennis McKenna

These are one year old mahogany trees growing on the Hamakua coast, Hawaii Island.  Dave Harbour has really mastered the methods for growing these trees.  They are very happy!

Dave Harbour, Hawaii

This is a Coast Live Oak growing in the Sunol Regional Preserve, Sunol, California.  The tree was probably growing in this location before the U.S. Constitution was penned to paper.  It grows at the confluence of two streams and is surrounded by ancient Ohlone Indian acorn grinding stones.  The Ohlone would collect Blue Oak Acorn from the surrounding hill then sit in this area grinding the acorns into meal.  The meal would be placed in fiber bags and hung in the rushing stream water to leach out the tannin.  Acorns were an important food source before the Spanish settlement of California.  

The Live Oak is about 20 miles inland from San Francisco Bay.  The area has about 400 frost free days per year with winter lows usually around 26 degrees Fahrenheit.  The climate is Mediterranean with about 25 inches of rain per year mostly falling between November and March.  This photo was taken January 1st, 2009 on my annual New Years pilgrimage to visit this spot.

Bill Merrill, California