So, another question to consider is how big do the Trees get? Or more specifically, what shape do the Trees have at their oldest? Different types of trees, as they get older, have different shapes, different silhouettes.
I am assuming the Trees continue to grow after they are first planted.
I’ll admit that the first mental image I had of the Trees were both of them as huge towers with the leaves, flowers, and branches
way overhead.
Saying that, I think there is something very appealing about having at least one Tree closer to the ground. It would be more interesting visually; It would also easily differentiate each tree as a different species, not just different colors on the same type of tree. Telperion would be perfect for that. Telperion’s light is the light that will become the moon, it makes some sense that it would be closer to the ground.
First Telperion: If the base tree for Telperion is a Silver Linden tree, that means a specific shape. Linden trees, as far as I can tell, seem to become rounded as they age. The branches seem to stay closer to the ground, while the trunk becomes wider. As the tree becomes older, it does become taller, but also wider; as far as I can tell, Linden trees seem to grow upward and outward evenly, sorta. Not that Telperion has to follow that exactly, but looking at the general shape. Speaking of Telperion’s shape, definitely not spherical.
This is one of the few Linden trees I found, along with the one at the top, who’s lowest branches are not closer to the trunk but farthest away. As a tree like this grows, its trunk would become especially wide.
This is the oldest Linden Tree I could find a picture of. Note the round shape atop a wide yet short trunk.
This is technically a Cypress tree, but I’m mostly looking at the
scale (also somewhat the shape, though I think Telperion would be more evenly rounded, plus the trunk would probably still be visible). As I said, I am assuming the Trees continued to grow after they first bloom.
Now, Laurelin: The tree who’s light will become the Sun. If Telperion becomes the moon and is closer to the ground, it would make sense for Laurelin to be farther away, higher up. I think a tree that grows upward much more than any other direction would be appropriate. There is a certain symmetry in Laurelin being a technically taller tree, but no less or more grand than Telperion. I’ll admit I have no idea about the shape of its canopy.
Haakon mentioned that Laurelin is reminiscent of birch trees. I am definitely a fan of birch-type bark and coloration. However, MithLuin mentioned that we can create something new. I’ll admit I like the height, but especially the trunk girth of Sequoia Redwood trees, but I don’t like anything else about them for Laurelin. Mostly, I like the scale they offer as a visual aid.
Again, I’m looking at scale especially. I was unable to find a satisfactorily comparable image of a birch.
I just kept thinking about “how will the Trees look when Ungoliant eats their light?” With the elves there, scale becomes a legitimate question. It’s also a question of “how grand were the Trees at their peak?” I think the Trees by their end should be appropriately incomparable in size. (read: really big.)