Puzzle of the Day

Here's a picture I took while walking around Oakland. Take a good look at the tree in the foreground. How did that happen?!

(Major impress-Dr.-Shapiro points if you can identify the kind of tree from this poor-quality photo.)

Check back tomorrow for the answer, a shoutout to all the solvers, and a new puzzle!

Previous puzzle:

What is special about the words ALMOST and SPONGED? (Perhaps Dhruv, Tom, or Zoe can tell us?)

Answer:

The letters of ALMOST are in alphabetic order; the letters of SPONGED are in reverse alphabetic order.

In case you're wondering, these aren't quite the longest words with this property, but the longer ones either repeat letters (SPOONFEED) or are obscure (AEGILOPS is a type of grass and BEGHOST is a splendid word that I encourage you to use at every opportunity).

Thanks to Anna J. for the puzzle, and huzzah to solvers Zane, Alex Z., Jessica, Anna K., Atticus, Peter 1000, Mr. Gregg, and Zachary + Martina S.!