Nurse-ing a tree

This is a tree growing on a nurse log. You can see the older, nurse log inside the growing tree, with the new roots growing down the sides. It is so interesting to see these growing - new growth out of old. Sometimes the nurse log will be a downed tree and new trees will be growing along its length, along with ferns, flowers, and nesting animals. Nothing is wasted, everything is used in the forest.

I almost expect to see elves or Ents in these forests, gnomes or hobbits amongst these tree roots.