So what kind of tree are you? And what did that say about your personality?

I'm an elm tree, which means I'm likely to blow over in a bad wind storm and I'll be cut down at the first sign of Dutch Elm disease. Oh, wait, that's not what the test said. But it's just about as accurate.

How about you?

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

Answers

I just read the most wonderful book, Meetings with Remarkable Trees, so despite this "quiz" being birthday-hence-astrology based I looked anyway:

ASH TREE(the Ambition) - uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be egotistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over the heart, but takes partnership very seriously.

Well. This works the same way as horoscopes: you see what you look for (as with the color quiz and the dog quiz and the Cheese Whiz quiz [if the last doesn't exist yet it's only a matter of time]). So vivacious, impulsive, demanding, egotistic, faithful, and especially "does not care for criticism" yes, but "uncommonly attractive," prudent, reliable, don't work at all.

So then I looked up the trees of all my core people and found the answers even less suitable. My take: for myself, I read what I wanted to see, but when I read for other people, whom I know intimately but can judge more objectively, I could more easily discount the "results."

When the Cheese Whiz quiz comes out, tell me.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

I'm a fir tree, apparently. that was silly -- like a cheesy horoscope column, only with trees instead of signs. About as accurate, too.

mary-ellen.diaryland.com

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

I came up with the Hornbeam Tree:

HORNBEAM TREE(the Good Taste) - of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgement in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

The "reasonable and disciplined life" and "mistrusts most people" are right on; everything else ranges from not really describing me correctly to describing my exact antithesis. The "not egoistic" comment in particular would amuse the hell out of anyone who knows me at all.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

It seems I'm a poplar.

"POPLAR TREE(the Uncertainty) - looks very decorative, not very self-confident, only courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously."

Decorative? I don't think so.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

CYPRESS TREE(the Faithfulness) - strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give, content, optimistic, craves money and acknowledgment, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered, unruly, pedantic, and careless.

Hmmm I'm not usually careless but a lot of these do fit ...

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

I am a walnut tree. Let's evaluate, shall we?

WALNUT TREE(the Passion) - Oh yeah!

unrelenting (uh, no), strange and full of contrasts (mais oui!), often egotistic (well...maybe), aggressive (ha!), noble (I'd like to think so), broad horizon (sounds good), unexpected reactions (not really), spontaneous (sometimes), unlimited ambition (yes, but no cojones to follow through), no flexibility (really? don't think so!), difficult and uncommon partner (*chuckle* I'm pretty easy going), not always liked but often admired (yikes! I'm fairly sure most people like me, and some people have said they admire me *shrug*), ingenious strategist (I wish), very jealous (only a little jealous) and passionate (got that right!), no compromise (compromise is my middle name, unless it's my principles, then forget it).

About 50%, I guess. Though I'm definitely in the nut family.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

I am a birch tree and my SO is an apple tree...

Well I am friendly and I do like nature, not much else applies. He is a little more accurate, but not much. I liked the dog test much better!

BIRCH TREE(the inspiration) - vivacious, attractive, elegant,friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

APPLE TREE(the Love) - of slight build, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant aura, flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive,always in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner,very generous, scientific talents, lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

I'm a fir tree:

FIR TREE(the Mysterious) - extraordinary taste, [of course!] dignity, [so-so] sophisticated, [so-so] loves anything beautiful, [well most things beautiful] moody, [yes] stubborn, [fairly] tends to egoism but cares for those close to them, [yes] rather modest, [no] very ambitious, [no] talented, [at what?] industrious, [no way] uncontented lover, [yes] many friends, [not really] many foes, [not really] very reliable [maybe]

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

I got this -

>>>ASH TREE(the Ambition) - uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be egotistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over the heart, but takes partnership very seriously.<<<

I'd say it's only about 50% accurate, and pretty vague with the semi- accurate parts, since most of those qualities would apply to *anyone* in some way or another.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

Being born on November 15 as I was, I wound up with:

CHESTNUT TREE (the Honesty) - of unusual beauty, does not want to impress, well-developed sense of justice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat, but irritates easily and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self confidence, acts sometimes superior, feels not understood loves only once, has difficulties in finding a partner.

"Unusual beauty"? Not bloody likely. "Does not want to impress"? Depends normally I don't care but if I'm applying for a job then I pretty much have to impress. "Well-developed sense of justice"? Only when something unjust happens to me. "Vivacious"? Not particularly. "Interested"? In certain things. "A born diplomat"? ME? That's the funniest thing I've heard all week. "Irritates easily and sensitive in company"? Sometimes. "Lack of self-confidence"? In certain situations. "Acts sometimes superior"? IS superior, thank you very much! :) "Feels not understood"? Often. "Loves only once"? No idea. "Difficulties finding a partner"? Only because I've never particularly looked.

Tonight We Sleep In Separate Ditchescome meet Undiplomatic and Irritable Mr Superior.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

APPLE TREE(the Love) - of slight build, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant aura, flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive,always in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner,very generous, scientific talents, lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination.

Oh, not bloody likely. About 1/3 of that is true.

I really like apples, though.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2000

I'm a Eucalyptus tree.

I grow kind of squirrely so I'm no good for construction, I burn too hot to use in any normal fireplace, I shed bark and leaves so much that I'm a fire hazard, and marsupials love to climb onto me and eat my leaves.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2000