L’Ulivo Pensieroso (the Thinking Olive Tree) is a (approximately 500 year old) tree with a human appearance. Located in Puglia, Apulia. Southern Italy.

The Stalwart Oak

Known as holm oak, false holly, horehound, elath, Quercus ilex (from the Celtic: quer > beautiful and cuez > tree) and in England as the “Monarch of the forest”, the majestic oak tree is venerated in many European cultures, and has been widely recognized among the most sacred of all trees since ancient times.
Its long life, along with its wonderful ability to grow new shoots from the roots of the old tree most certainly accounts for its special significance in European folklore and spirituality.
Particularly associated with Norse god Thor, and held in high regard by Druids, who cultivated their sacred Mistletoe, which grows on the branches of the mythical oak.
The pagan connection with the oak tree has not been fully extinguished by the church, and it is still widely associated with the Green Man.

Legend tells us that Merlin sometimes prepared his spells under the shelter of an oak tree to ensure their potency and effectiveness.

The Oak’s mighty presence reassured ancient Hyperboreans that with their gods, their leader, and their warriors, they could prevail against all odds.

As the Tree of the Dagda, the oak offers protection and hospitality without question, although its true rewards are apparent to the honest and brave, as the ancient Celts despised lies and cowardice.
The King of Trees was sacred and attested to numerous European gods, such as Zeus, Jupiter, Thor and Jumala.

Some more rather famous oaks are revered for their special historical or folklorish associations and still stand today.

In Britain the most famous include the:
Brimmon Oak, over 500 years old and located in Wales
the Holm Oak (200 years) in Northern Ireland
Hyperion (Redwood), the tallest living tree coming in at a massive 379 feet tall