The Philosophy of the Tree-Like Gardener

The Philosophy of the Gardener 4th Jan 11:50am (Written from my room with its view of the platanus orientalis).

Gardening is a philosophy, for gardeners practiced in the arts of seeing know that one has to think and do as a tree. One needs to spread their leaves equally so as to harness the best chances of engaging and utilizing the sunlight.

Like leaves, the gardener must learn what plants/trees need to be planted where. They need to learn like the leaves and spread of foliage, what plants are going to excel in relation to others, so as not to impede their growth but to encourage the growth of others.

Gardeners must also understand what they cannot see, and only feel. Intuitively, like the roots of trees, they must search deeply of themselves to know where and what sources of nourishment can best be located. They must also think laterally and vertically with roots that seek sources of nourishment where ever they may be found.

Like the tree the gardener knows that her/his trunk must be strong enough to carry the weight of his arms which in turn carry the weight of his growth and years and crown. And with feet deeply rooted in the soil of his community, s/he must know how deep to extend his searching and probing.

Then having acquired such things that a tree knows and does, a gardener can rest in his shade and provide protection and nourishment to those growing and searching around him.