Death of a Tree

[Shoki]

We are snowed in enduring a major storm right now. I just saw that my beloved 52 year old Japanese maple tree has collapsed and crashed to the ground. As an avid gardener, this tree was the centerpiece of my garden. I nursed and cared for this tree through blizzards, disease, hurricanes and insect infestations. It brought happiness to lots of people and was a home for the birds. Now it's a pile of sticks. I know its only a tree and people are going through far worse, but I am really sad about this. I really loved that tree. I guess this is a tough lesson in impermanence. I guess.

Gassho
Sat Today LAH
James

[Mp]

Hey James,

All of life has impermanence ... we love and chairish them when they are here and thankful for the time they shared with us.

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Rich]

Sorry for your loss. All trees are worthy of our love and care [emoji268][emoji269][emoji267]

SAT today

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Kyonin]

Hi James.

Life, energy and matter are always in transit and in perpetual transformation. The tree hasn't gone anywhere. It's still here waiting for you to do something nice with the wood.

Who knows. Let creativity flow

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

[Jundo]

We are snowed in enduring a major storm right now. I just saw that my beloved 52 year old Japanese maple tree has collapsed and crashed to the ground. As an avid gardener, this tree was the centerpiece of my garden. I nursed and cared for this tree through blizzards, disease, hurricanes and insect infestations. It brought happiness to lots of people and was a home for the birds. Now it's a pile of sticks. I know its only a tree and people are going through far worse, but I am really sad about this. I really loved that tree. I guess this is a tough lesson in impermanence. I guess.

Gassho
Sat Today LAH
James

I recommend you very much to savor the beautiful words on Japanese gardens by Buddhist priests that Meitou posted for us.

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?16068-Zen-and-the-art-of-temple-garden-maintenance

We have lost several trees in our Garden, including to a blight that is taking most of the Japanese "Matsu" pines here (the pines that are shaped over decades, like big "bonsai"). Death and change is the very life of the Garden.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Shoki]

Thank you Shingen, Rich, Kyonin and Jundo. The video was great. I tend to a Japanese garden myself. Yes, Jundo; Death and change is the very life of the garden. Like Chauncey Gardener said; There will be growth in the spring.

Gassho
Say2day / LAH
James

[Jundo]

Let me mention that I replaced our lost "Matsu" pine with a stone Pagoda, and in the Pagoda is a leaf which comes from the Bodhi Tree in India. I brought it back from my Pilgrimage there.

The stone pagoda, unlike the infested "Matsu," cannot be eaten by insects. Nonetheless, it is impermanent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N5qsQGifX0

It collapsed in the big earthquake here, and we had to put it back up ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x-7dI4qHgw

(No need to play those, you can just see the image)

When I visited the Bodhi Tree in India, I found out that (no surprise) it is not the original "Bodhi Tree" ... It is something of a second cousin twice removed of the original tree, which was several times cut down over the millenia by desecrators of various kinds, then replanted using various related trees. It too is impermanent. But that does not matter, for different or same, all is the Same Tree!) ...



The people in the photo are impermanent too.

All one Timelessly Time Limited Tree!

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Eva]

"Love and death are the great gifts that are passed on to us that most of us leave unopened."
/Rainer Maria Rilke /

I guess your Tree has gifted you with both . Dare to open them .

Gassho,
Eva
isattoday and also LAH

[Kotei]

James,
I know how this feels.

If you're like me, maybe keeping some of the wood for making Oryoki chopsticks/spoon/cleaner or an incense stick holder from it might be worth a try.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Shinshi]

I don't have much to add except: Thank you James for being such a good caretaker or your charges.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Seishin]

James

It would seem you loved and cared for that tree with all your heart. When the weather settles I'd suggest you "cremate" the tree and spread the ashes to feed your other plants, shrubs and trees. The wheel of live keeps turning.

I'm sure you may know that wood ash aka potash is a great fertilizer. I have been saving the ash from our wood fire all winter and have just added some to a 50+ litre water tank where I have placed this years poplar cuttings to promote root growth. There are more of last years new shoots to trim from my existing trees, so I am aiming to promote roots in 120-150 cuttings, of which the successful ones will be planted out in April. The remainder of the ash will be dug into the veg plot once the soil dries out and I can rotovate. But thank you for caring for your trees.

[Meitou]

James, it's so heartwarming that you loved this tree so much. Those tough lessons about impermanence creep up on us in places where we least expect them.
There are some lovely ideas here for ways in which to honour your tree's memory, I hope you can do some, if not all, of them, and they will bring you peace. Thank you for caring.

Gassho
Meitou
satwithyoualltoday/lah

[Shoki]

Many thanks to all for your thoughtful advice. A large cherry tree in front of my house also took a beating but may be able to be saved. At the very least, as Seishin said I will "cremate" some of the tree and save the ashes. I've used ash in the past for fertilizer mixed with my compost. So new life will happen from this.

Gassho
Sat Today
James

[Souchi]

52 years might not be long considering the age of the universe but it surely is a long time for us humans. I, too, can see that you cared deeply for this tree. Thank you for sharing this experience

Gassho,
Souchi

SatToday

[FicklePanther]

James,

I know exactly how it feels to have put so much effort into something and then have it prove it is not permanent. I am sorry for your loss.

Everybody, thank you for all of the lessons in this thread.

Gassho,
Sat Today / Lent a Hand today

Sean