Invisible Bark

This discovery has been a secret for at least the last five years.  None of the staff here at AcMo have a clue that I've been holding this information.  I wouldn't be shocked to learn that everything I'm about to share is listed in a classified file in a forgotten cabinet inside one of the government's secret bunkers.  I have been debating the best way to share this amazing news with the general public, and I think I finally found the proper medium.

I spent the last two years studying this phenomenon.  I have come to the only logical conclusion available:  evolution has produced trees that are capable of growing camouflaged bark which can completely hide them from detection.  The trees are only visible when they want to be.  My research indicates that the trees were only doing what was in their best interest.  They hid so they wouldn't be cut down or built on.  I'm not sure they thought it through though since most real estate developers would see the open land and start salivating.  The plan would go sideways the moment a backhoe ran into one of the hidden trees.  They would then need  to engage their fight or flight response, and as far as I know, trees can't do that.  However, I didn't know they could modify their bark.

I know that this sounds insane.  I wouldn't believe it either, except for the fact I ran into one of these trees.  That was one of those rare moments in which the tree did come out of nowhere.  While it didn't move, I was knocked off my feet.  I made a semi-soft landing on the grass, rolled, and then stopped in a crouched pose.  I was ready for combat, but I couldn't see my attacker.  It was too fast or invisible because no other explanation made sense.  The tree had materialized out of nowhere the way the schooner materializes in the 3D picture.  I was flabbergasted.  It was as improbable as the Minnesota Wild taking the Colorado Avalanche to a game seven series final.  Yet both events have happened.  I think I uttered the word, "inconceivable" when I figured out what I had uncovered.

Nothing to see here. Move along in a calm and orderly fashion, please. 

I already told you, there's nothing to see here.  Move along.  I won't tell you again.

Wait, what's that?

Oh, hello!

How did you do that, tree?

There's more!

They are EVERYWHERE!

Now that I have shared this astonishing news, take a few moments to collect yourselves.  This is a lot to process, and it disturbs the accepted understanding of the natural order of things.  I was a mess for weeks when I discovered this.  Are you collected now?  Good, because I am handing out a homework assignment.  I need all of you to find more hidden trees.  We need to bring them to light before they disappear forever, or another hapless soul runs into one like I did.  Not everyone is as stout as I am, so someone could get hurt, and we don't want that.