The world's loneliest tree has roots in New Zealand
Although trees don't experience emotions as humans do, it's nevertheless difficult not to feel some pity for a specimen in New Zealand that's been nicknamed, "The World's Loneliest Tree."
The single Sitka spruce is located on Campbell Island, more than 170 miles from any other tree. It was planted by New Zealand governor Lord Ranfurly around the turn of the 20th century, although it's unknown why only one tree wound up there.
The lonely Sitka has another claim to fame: its rings include a clear radioactive trace from the A-bomb tests of the 1950s and 1960s, according to the BBC. Scientists are studying whether this could qualify as a marker to indicate the start of the Anthropocene Epoch, or "Age of Humans," a new time segment in the geological history of Earth.
That's pretty heavy stuff for one tree to carry. Meanwhile, all of the other trees get their due on the last Friday of April, when National Arbor Day is celebrated.
Interestingly, though National Arbor Day is always celebrated on that date, individual states will observe it on different dates that coincide with the best planting times in their area. In Florida, for example, Arbor Day is observed on the third Friday in January; in Texas, the first Friday in November; and Alaska, the third Monday in May.
