Crazy Trees

I often think that Asians are very lucky.  I spent a month in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines several years ago.  It was the opportunity of a lifetime but it forever made me jealous of their land.  They have an amazing diversity of interesting vegetation, gorgeous birds and butterflies, beautiful mountains, and your choice of white or black sandy beaches.  Oh – and they have a temperate climate throughout much of the region – what more could you ask for in terms of resources for fantasy environment inspiration?

While the tree in the picture appears to have grown in a western nation, I have to wonder whether or not it was originally indigenous to Asia – after all, it looks a little too cool and a little too fantasy-esque to be something that grows naturally in western countries … unless perhaps it was genetically mutated to match something drawn for a Dr. Seuss book.  Either way, it never ceases to amaze me how many wondrous and simply awe-inspiring things there are on this planet to draw inspiration from … even if we are looking for inspiration to create an entirely different world.

The featured image comes from National Geographic’s 2012 Photo Winners

Here is another honorable mention for coolest tree: