Elbow Tree Folklore        

The “elbow tree” or bent tree story goes that whenever a tree is bent at a 90-degree angle, it can signal the direction of a nearby water source. It can also serve as a trail marker, a landmark, or a medicinal site, among other possible meanings. Ultimately, it is a valuable tool for navigating the wilderness highways. A near and dear friend of mine was the one who told me about the elbow tree folklore, which I found to be fascinating because I believe it to be true.