Tongues In Trees

I spied this tree from the road; it was hard to tell from the other trees around it, but it looked like it had been uprooted, yet it was blooming with white blossoms even though the rest of the trees in the area were merely green. After passing it several times in my routine drive I finally pulled over and stumbled through the piles of brush to get a better look. I still don't really understand it; the roots are completely exposed yet it lies on its side blooming with spring...