Oliva is one of the oldest trees on Earth.
This one is one of those born more than 2,000 years ago. I met her at the Monte Tropical Garden on Madeira Island. It grows surrounded by plants brought from all over the world. It has seen thousands of sunrises and sunsets, hundreds of tourists from dozens of countries, and seen a change of generations and civilizations.
Much has come up during its existence and has gone into nothingness again.
And her very fate will suffer the same fate.
But for now, she's alive. Her powerful ancient trunk is like a throbbing heart. It energizes the branches of the vessels, and spills blood and vitality.