Some days, I feel a little bit old.
Like today. Old.
But then I think about trees. They can be really old, and that will put things in perspective for anyone.
The Great Basin bristlecone pines are the oldest known individual trees on Earth. Mature trees of that species are often 1,000–2,000 years old. But some are even older. They are around 3,000–4,000 years old.
Then there is the grandmother of them all. Her name is Methuselah, and she is approximately 4,850 years old, making her the oldest confirmed living individual tree in the world. ( I really don’t know if Methuselah is a boy tree or a girl tree. But I’m saying she’s a she. )
Anyway, these trees are so old. Their exact locations are kept secret to protect them from vandalism.
If you are wondering why they live so long, it has to do with many key factors.
They grow at high elevations (9,500–11,500 feet). And that is where the climate is cold and dry. Also, they grow extremely slowly. As such, they produce a really dense, resin-rich wood. And that helps it to resist insects and decay.
Another thing about them? They can survive even after 90% or more of the tree has died. All they need is a narrow strip of living tissue beneath the bark. That allows them to get water and nutrients.
So. They are old. I think all of this is quite remarkable because Methuselah was already around 250 years old before Stonehenge’s main stones were erected. Also, she was roughly 300 years old when construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza began. She saw Jesus come and go. And so many more.
Yes. She has been alive for nearly 5,000 years. Not as old as some. Older than others
Scientists estimate that the Universe formed about 13.8 billion years ago, while the Earth itself came into existence approximately 4.54 billion years ago. Dinosaurs first appeared around 230 million years ago and dominated the planet until their extinction 66 million years ago.
In contrast, Homo sapiens (that is us) have existed for only about 300,000 years. And we didn’t find agriculture until roughly 12,000 years ago. It was agriculture that paved the way for permanent settlements and civilization.
But all the while, there have been trees.
Trees have been on Earth for an astonishingly long time. We are talking hundreds of millions of years before humans ever appeared.
About 385 million years ago is when the first true trees appeared. Way before dinosaurs.
So the next time you see a tree, remember its early beginnings. Its roots. No pun intended.
But one more thing. I love rocks, and they are older. The oldest thing we’ve ever found on Earth is a kind of rock. Sort of. It is a tiny zircon crystal discovered in Western Australia. That thing is 4.4 billion years old.
Now that is old.
And in the greater scheme of things? We, humans, are mere newborns on the timeline of Earth’s history. We are a blink. A blip. A tick of the tock.
I’m feeling younger already.
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“He that plants trees loves others besides himself.”
— Thomas Fuller
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“Time is the wisest counselor of all.”
— Pericles
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“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.”
— Frank Lloyd Wright
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