The realities in a garden!

The tree bed in a garden is worth noticing to understand, how the trees face some adverse situations due to different climatic conditions.  

The above trees got gradually got affected by soil erosion, from its bed that the roots remain exposed partly. This is a risk, when the ground is sloppy and the rain water in its force carries away the top soil, which when occurs, the roots are exposed. The rain water flows in its course in the direction where is no obstruction or resistance. 

The soil reclaiming by replacing the soil or managing the erosion by engineering the environment are regular activities in most gardens where tall trees grow. 

The pictures below show the different methods used, in the same garden to protect trees. There are some trees protected by erecting a bed around it which can also be used as a platform for other activities such as a picnic spot. 

I noticed terracing the ground, greening the ground with grass, and protecting the plant bed with erection of stone work around the plant as measures commonly used to protect the plant bed. 

These steps seem to protect the trees and keep the ground safe from erosion of soil rain water. I also noticed steps towards rain water harvesting which means, that the rain water flow is directed in one direction  sparing the tree bed from the direction its flow. 

The ant hill around this tree did not favour its growth as the ants would have created hollow in the ground. 

The fig tree below spreads wide its branches and foliage that it creates shade even in mid day, which does not allow anything to grow under its shade. The areas beyond the shade of the tree was protected by lawn grass which seemed to work well in this instance. Such plants which obstruct light ought to be planted in parts of the garden where such trees do not harm other  vegetation. 

A garden or developing a wooded area need planning and conditioning to the weather conditions of the area. 

I found visiting gardens giving indications of the considerable attention that is given to preserve plant life and protect from soil protection. Often re-engineering of the environment would be needed as one would not have envisaged all the possible scenarios of the future. 

One common feature I noticed in a hilly terrain is to grow pepper creepers around tall trees so that the pepper plant keeps the soil around  the tree protected from soil erosion. The terracing of the land in to different levels with walls and creating water pathways seem to work in most situations. 

The tiling of the ground that is practiced in the courtyard of the houses,  or outside the offices or residential high rise complexes is a good practice for water harvesting. In some places, water harvested, is what is used for watering the garden, which keeps the subsoil moist and keeps the ground water level stable. 

I felt amazed how so much efforts are put into conservation of soil and protection of tree bed. 

A verse from the Bible, in the book of Genesis (2:15) came to my mind as I was walking back after a stroll in the garden, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it". It was a garden with four rivers with trees of all sorts. 

The call to keep is full of scope and responsibility. In the parable of the Talents in Matthew's gospel, a man who was about to go on a journey 'entrusted his possession' to his own slaves ( 26:14-30). 

The message on both instances looked alike to me. While attending to some repair to the garage space yesterday, the painter said, 'it is too old'. That was when I became aware of the efforts that go into keeping what is entrusted ! To keep would mean using and guarding what is entrusted! 

Our life is given to us to live vicariously and altruistically! How do I live my life! Do I live mindfully as a keeper of what is given to me!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)