EXPLORING NATURE: A BIG TREE

I am told there are some most interesting and lovely birds in Oaxaca, Mexico, including the slaty vireo, red warbler and ocellated thrasher.

That may well be, but I remember one thing above all others from my visit to this quaint city. A tree.

And not just any tree, but a giant of a tree some 3,000 years old, located on grounds near a church, not far from the town center.

The tree is a Montezuma cypress and it is some 137 feet in circumference, an astounding 46 feet in diameter. By way of comparison, the giant sequoia trees in California are about 29 feet in diameter.

It's called the Tule tree and local vendors do a brisk business under its cooling shade. I purchased a packet of fried worms and a shot of pulque, which is a sort of poor man's tequila. It was a winning combination and I was in a very mellow mood as our guide told us about the tree's history.

He said it was ancient even back when Cortez first came to Mexico in the 1500s and is some 116 feet tall. Today, it is a World Heritage Site.

Unfortunately, it is also a dying tree, partly because so many folks compacted the earth around the tree before it was fenced off, and partly because of pollution.

If you are a fan of majestic trees, and enjoy crispy snacks, get thee to Oaxaca and see this tree and try those fried worms.

It will be well worth the trip.