Ombu

Here's a sketch of a 150-year old creepy looking tree. The hotel, where it's at, was somewhat built around it to keep it. It's actually a NZ Registered Notable Tree although when it was listed the site was still a church property.

The Million dollar Ombu Tree.

A heritage protected Phytolacca dioica.We weren't sure if it was a million dollar tree because it cost a million dollars to preserve it while the hotel it is next to was being built, or because they would have been fined a million dollars if they cut it down. There are only three of these trees in New Zealand apparently. It is approximately 150 years old, 20 metres tall and 25 metres wide. You can't fit all of that tree onto one page!

 The challenge with this tree was it was so big and complicated you kept losing your place! And the rain...........of course.

Here are a few photos. Sepia seemed like a good idea.