Why Trees Deserve Respect

Who cares if Pluto is or is not a planet? There are no trees there. Trees are the reason nobody wants to relocate to anywhere else in the universe.

Ailanthus altissima is an ornamental tree grown mainly for shade and also for its leaves which the silkworm feeds on. Sounds prettier when it is called by its unscientific name: "tree of heaven".

The acacia thrives in the wilderness of Paran (the location of several historic events in the Bible). Because it can flourish in a barren desert, Semitic tribesmen call it: "tree of life".

Frankly, in my mind, every tree on the planet represents a heavenly gift from a Life-Giving Source. Trees are what make the earth inhabitable, and they should be shown respect. Not worship and adoration. Just respect.

The best ways to show appreciation for these marvelous creations is to plant, paint or photograph them. Being neither a talented photographer, artist or gardener, writing about them is my way of showing gratitude.

Having so many to choose from, the selection - the palm tree and the fig tree - was narrowed down based on two criteria: memories of my youth and/or trees or plants that grow in a place that would be nice to visit.

PALM TREES: Palmae Family

The Arabs say that "The palm tree has 360 uses". Sorry. I don't have the list to share with you. But I will share what I know.

In ancient times and perhaps even today, the branch from a palm tree symbolized peace and victory, success, or celebration. Palm trees are very easy to recognize. They are tall, slender, with no branches. Instead of branches, on top of the trunk is a crown of spreading plumes.

Most people associate palms swaying in the breeze with a tropical environment like Florida or The Bahamas.

While others think of the date palm tree that grows in the Middle East. Its fruit is part of the daily diet of millions of people. The date can be eaten fresh or dried; incorporated as a key ingredient in a myriad of recipes; and the tree sap can be made into syrup or wine. Jericho, which is in the Jordan Valley, has a tropical climate, and is known for its lush palm groves. Once it has reached maturity, this tree can yield fruit for 100 years.

Wherever they grow, if you see a palm tree, breeze or no breeze, it is hard not to be captivated by its striking beauty.

Learn more: How to Identify Species of Palm Trees

• DID YOU KNOW? Palm leaf manuscripts are produced from two main types of palms: palmyra and talipot. They originated in Southeast Asian countries; predominately in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos. Ancient Ramayana, Mahabharata And Buddhist documents are palm leaf manuscripts.

FIG TREES: Genus Ficus

The fig plant can be either a low-lying shrub or a tall tree. They grow wild; or domesticated in the Mediterranean region and in California. In Israel, the fig trees usually sprout buds in late spring; by the month of June (early summer) the tree is full of leaves; and in just a few more weeks, the figs are ready for picking.

My late father used to buy Nabisco Fig Newtons. Rather than enjoying this tasty treat with a glass of milk, they were viewed from the corner of my eye as "questionable". They didn't look like chocolate chip or oreo cookies (???). Children are so silly.

As an adult, realizing that the fruit of the fig tree is not only delicious but gorgeous (especially the purple ones), any delightful dish served up that includes this fruit will never again be refused.

You can learn more about the ficus plant at PlanetFig.com.

More About Trees

Throughout history trees have been used to represent kings and rulers, wealth and power. The chart below is a quick list of certain trees and their symbolic meaning for certain civilizations. Learning about trees really makes a person aware of how special the planet is that we live on.

NOTE: This is my original content which was first published online in 2013.

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