How long does an Olive tree live?
In Jerusalem there stands an ancient tree. Its wide and stubby trunk is gnarled with grooves and twisted ridges. slender branches with dainty leaves of silvery green grow near the top of the trunk. The old timer is an Olive tree and it has lived for at least 2,000 years. In ancient days Olive trees were grown in the Holy Land and in other warm, dry countries around the Mediterranean sea. The Spanish brought Olive tree shoots to the New World. In l769 they were planted in California and some of them are still growing. Though these olive trees will be 200 years old in three years, they are no more than teenagers. In the Old World many olive trees are l,000 years old and older. One of the oldest Olive trees grows in Jerusalem by the Golden Gate to the Garden of Gethsemane. It has been there 2,000 years. And many other Olive trees that were growing in the days of the New Testament are still there. Their ancient trunks are gnarled with knobby ridges, but their boughs are clothed with fresh
