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| Rock-Dweller Molave Bonsai Tree |
In the morning, July 26, 2014, I checked on my small “Tugas Bato” (Rock-Dweller) Molave tree bonsai which dropped from our terrace as a result of the strong winds during the fury of typhoon Glenda. This has been permanently kept at our veranda. Because of its very small size it has fallen several times into the ground during strong winds. I have this planted more than twelve years ago from a match-stick size specimen on a crevice over a 4”diameter dead coral rock. For the rock to stand, I flattened the base with cement with a single drain hole. For about five years this tiny tree had been solely dependent on the water and fertilizer that I poured into the rock. I sensed then that there were tiny fissures and slits inside the rock which held the water and fertilizer which made the tree to survive.
One day I discovered that tiny roots are formed from the base of the trunk and slowly grew over the rock. Other tiny roots also penetrated inside until it reached the base through the drain. As the tip of these roots reached the base of the rock, I thought that these might shrivel and die so I decided to plant it in a 6” square plastic pot. The style of the living art then became a combination of a root-on/over-rock bonsai. Since then as the roots touched the soil it has grown to match in size the trunk of the tree on top of the rock which is now ¾” in diameter. Recently I discovered that there are already roots that had gone out from the inside of the rock down into the soil and growing. I could not imagine how difficult for these roots to follow the tiny fracture inside until they found their way out and into the soil and helped the tree to survive. I do not understand and I wondered where they get the direction to follow those tiny crevices inside the rock on through the soil. They have neither heart nor brain. Perhaps the providence of God provided these little trees with instinctive powers to freely move and reach their destination---the soil.
One day I discovered that tiny roots are formed from the base of the trunk and slowly grew over the rock. Other tiny roots also penetrated inside until it reached the base through the drain. As the tip of these roots reached the base of the rock, I thought that these might shrivel and die so I decided to plant it in a 6” square plastic pot. The style of the living art then became a combination of a root-on/over-rock bonsai. Since then as the roots touched the soil it has grown to match in size the trunk of the tree on top of the rock which is now ¾” in diameter. Recently I discovered that there are already roots that had gone out from the inside of the rock down into the soil and growing. I could not imagine how difficult for these roots to follow the tiny fracture inside until they found their way out and into the soil and helped the tree to survive. I do not understand and I wondered where they get the direction to follow those tiny crevices inside the rock on through the soil. They have neither heart nor brain. Perhaps the providence of God provided these little trees with instinctive powers to freely move and reach their destination---the soil.
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| Roots over and inside crevices of the rock |
As I reflected on this observation I think of the many difficulties and adversities that we face daily in life and how quick for some of us to surrender. Yet while the tree has only the little rock and a small amount of soil, we have every possible resource that could help us resolve all our problems and difficulties. We are blessed with a brain and heart to think and decide on what to do. We have the world and the many opportunities that it provides. We have families, relatives, friends and neighbors who are ready to assist. And above all we have God to call upon when all else fail. Therefore I thought that if the tiny tree survived, we have no reason to flop and weaken. We have to learn the lesson that while this small rock-dweller-bonsai tree succeeded, we can all succeed even under the pressure of adversities.
Many lesson of life are learned as we observed the wonders of God’s creations around us. These experiences motivate us to even endure our own trials and adversities especially considering that we are the greatest of God’s creations.
Many lesson of life are learned as we observed the wonders of God’s creations around us. These experiences motivate us to even endure our own trials and adversities especially considering that we are the greatest of God’s creations.
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