Upon seeing trees or creatures of striking beauty, we are to say:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱ’לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁכָּכָה לוֹ בְּעוֹלָמוֹ

baruch atta adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam shekacha lo b’olamo.

Praised are You, Adonai our God, sovereign of eternity, that it can be so in God’s world.

Berakhot 58b:10 — The Sages taught: …One who saw beautiful or otherwise outstanding creatures or beautiful trees recites: “Praised…Who has such things in God’s (lit., His) world.”

One of the more striking metaphors in our sacred texts is that of Torah as an eyts chayyim, a living tree. Like nature’s trees, Torah gives us roots and sustenance, and it has many offshoots: commentaries, parables, poetry and many other expressions of Jewish spirituality. Yet, we do not recite this blessing over even the most beautifully scribed or adorned Torah scroll.

A reason for this is that what truly matters about Torah is the text.

As for trees or creatures (or so many other things in nature), particularly beautiful things can give us a pause of appreciation, making them worthy of a bracha. And, of course, since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it is appropriate to recite this bracha whenever we are moved to do so.

If nothing else, this bracha gives us language to be grateful for this wonderful world!