01/14/2026
While carving yours and your significant others' initials into a tree is seen as a romantic gesture, trees and park interpreters everywhere ask that you refrain from continuing to do so.
Why?
Think of how tree structure and human anatomy can relate.
Bear with me.
The bark acts just like our skin, protecting the rest of the body from any external threat. Just like how when we get a cut or scrap, that wound on a tree sends out an invitation for disease, pests, bacteria and other threats to get into the trees structure.
If a cut is deep enough into a tree, it may disrupt the cells beneath the bark, the trees vascular system and what's called the phloem and xylem. These cells are responsible for transporting water, sugar, and other nutrients throughout the tree to give it growth and life. Think of these tree cells as human blood vessels or our nervous system. If one is cut or damaged in any way, it very well can lead to disastrous consequences.
Lastly, think of the lasting outward physical effects it has for the tree if it survives; and liken these effects as scars on the human body. Scars, whether on a human, a tree, or even a building, are permanent. Some may see the beauty in them, some may not. Some may have no issues after said scar-making event, some may have a myriad of problems. For trees, it leaves not only a lasting impact for everyone to see and potentially copy, but also a wound that they may not be able to survive. Now, I'm not saying don't use trees for paper or lumber, because they are necessary and we do benefit from having and using those things, but maybe this will make you pause a moment to think about and change what you're about to do.
