Amazing character, and magical for the kids - like something out of another world.

Ours is bigger :-) Seriously, Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park has one that is probably at least 80 years older. The original trunk is gone, and the tree is about 5 new trunks where the weeping branches rooted in the ground.

If I could figure out how to steal it, I would. I guess the place to start is by inventing a shrink ray ....

That sounds amazing, mad_gallica! I wondered what would happen to the branches that had reached the ground. That’s awesome that they continue to grow after the main tree is gone.

You know, my first thought was how cool it must have been to grow up with a tree like that. But then, duh, of course the tree didn’t get big enough to climb and scamper about on until the original owners were well into their geriatric phase. It was nice that the tour guide for Chateau Sur Mer encouraged all the guests before they left to “part the branches of the weeping beech” and see the magic inside. She was right! They encouraged us to enjoy it.

I don't know how many visitors go inside our beech. Most don't bother with the grounds at all, which is really a shame, and it may not occur to those that make it that far that you can go inside. Then there are the Californians who freak out that you can walk on the grass.

Next year I may try to get a video of walking around and under the tree. I've considered photographs, but they don't begin to do justice to it. I've tried to take picture of The Gingko, which is about 100 yds north of the weeping beech, and they never turn out well.