#sycamore tree

May 2026

🌳The main symbol of the Kakheti region and the oldest tree in Georgia — the Plane Tree of Telavi.

According to dendrochronological research, the tree is a little over 900 years old. For centuries, it served as a natural gathering place: beneath its branches people discussed news, made deals, and celebrated holidays.

Today, the tree reaches 46 meters in height and 12 meters in diameter. It is carefully protected and maintained in order to preserve favorable conditions for its survival. The plane tree is fenced off and monitored by video surveillance due to increasing attempts by tourists to break off pieces of bark as souvenirs or carve their initials into it. So I was not able to hug the tree, but I did manage to gently touch the leaves above my head 🍁🫶😊

The Day Dream

Artist: Dante Gabriel Rossetti (English, 1828–1882)

Date: 1880

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom

Description

The sitter for this painting was Jane Morris, the wife of William Morris, who often posed for Rossetti. At the time this was painted Rossetti was involved in an illicit love affair with Jane. He shows her sitting in the branches of a sycamore tree and holding a sprig of honeysuckle. This sweet-smelling climbing plant symbolized the bonds of love for the Victorians, and Rossetti may have included it here as a subtle reference to the relationship between artist and model. Rossetti was also a poet, and the title relates to his poem of the same name which ends:

"shes laughing, who was she laughing about?

ilyyy, manifesting a great week for you gorgeous💗💗

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