Trees of Hope
Throughout the ages trees have been symbols of hope. From the Tree of Life to the humble Christmas tree, trees symbolize life, bounty and joy. We see this more often now with the natural disasters plaguing our planet due to climate change.
In 2011, the Japanese earthquake/tsunami took out 70,000 trees, an entire forest (!) leaving one single tree standing. This tree was dubbed “the miracle tree” and managed to last another year and a half before succumbing to the contaminated soils surrounding it. The tree was reassembled with a carbon based trunk and plastic leaves and branches as a memorial to the 19,000 victims of the natural disaster.
Now, in 2023 we have all eyes on the 150 year old Banyan tree that has been a symbol of community on the island of Maui. This amazing tree was gifted to the island on April 24, 1873 by missionaries from India to mark the 50th anniversary of the first American Protestants. The tree itself is amazing having one main trunk and 16 ancillary trunks stemming from it. It covers .66 of an acre with its canopy and is considered the largest Banyan in the United States of America.
On August 8th, 2023 an unprecedented wildfire tore through the town of Lahaina, home of the giant Banyan, destroying most structures and having the most human casualties from a wildfire in recent US history. But what of the cherished tree? At first people were not sure if the tree could live even with residents and officials doting on the badly burned banyan. But residents are looking toward the tree for hope, if it can survive the disaster, so could the people of the community. The latest updates are that the tree is still moving sap but at a much slower pace that a healthy banyan tree. The locals have been deep water irrigating and adding compost to encourage growth. The rest, they say, is up to the tree.
I, for one, will be following the health of this great tree and its community as they recover from the tragedy beset upon them. I will also be looking to my Ash tree, my personal tree of hope, as it continues to grow back bark from its bout with Emerald Ash Borer nearly a decade ago. Each year it, as I, grow from circumstances beyond our control and where there is growth there is always hope.
Many thanks to Wikipedia, Getty images, and CBS images for the info and pictures in this blog. Many thoughts and a heavy heart to the Lahaina residents in this time of struggle.