Trees are for the Young

I don’t think anybody will dispute the positive contribution of trees, especially now that we are facing an environmental crisis brought about by climate change. I am one of those people who strongly advocates the planting of trees, however I am sorry to say that the time for trees in my home has come to an end.

When I was Young

I grew up in a time when there were more open spaces and fewer people. The area we lived in was in the middle of nowhere. I remember seeing just one or two houses around us, with the rest of the horizon being cogon grass and various trees.

Despite the high grass, open fields were made for running; and that was what we did as children. In addition to this, we would play hide and seek around the large trees, climb the medium ones, and water the smaller ones.

[Don’t ask me what we used to water the smaller ones.]

Our garden was an extension of the fields around us. However, instead of trees that merely provided shade, my parents chose those that bore fruit as well. We had Mango, Kaimito, Duhat, Banana, Eucalyptus, to name a few. And since we didn’t have a wall surrounding our property, my parents extended the planting of fruit-bearing trees to the empty lots around us.

I remember our house being enveloped in non-poisonous ivy. It was so thick that the only thing one could see were the windows and doors. Crawling with the ivy was Sampaguita. Finally, at the foot of our wall, were various flowering plants. My mother had a Rose bed at the back of the house, Yellow Bells at the side, and Gumamela in the four corners of our property. Of all the flowers, my favorite had to be the small batch of Sunflowers near the entrance because they were huge.

Summers were especially wonderful when growing up. Apart from relatives and classmates coming over to play, all the trees would bear fruit. During those months, our house would be filled with baskets of fruit. Served cold and even in juice form, we had so much that we just had to give them away.

In addition to this, the Sampaguita and Sunflower would be in full bloom. They were so much that I’d actually get cramps just picking them. On the other hand, the Gumamela would bloom continuously with alternating rain and sunshine.

Looking back, I guess it would be safe to say that my childhood memories were dominated by so many plants.

When I Grew Up

When I got the opportunity to build a house for my fledgling family, I chose a suburban area that was in the middle of nowhere. And since it was a brand new development, the village was empty when our home was constructed. Only an unmanned guard house, empty concrete streets, and vacant lots were the sights. There were no trees the area, perhaps as a measure to lessen the complication of selling the lots.

Even before we broke ground, I began planting trees within the perimeter. A couple of Mango trees out back, two Duhat trees on the sides, and a Kaimito tree at the front. After the house was constructed, I started planting Sunflowers on the two sides that were under the burning sun all day.

Once the wall was constructed, I planted the Ivy followed by the Sampaguita. Beside them, were Bougainvillea of various colors. In between these were Malungay trees, with Mongo plants at their base.

It was at this point, that I finally completed my dream home; a home that resembled the one I grew up in decades earlier. A home that I envision to be the perfect place for kids to grow up in and for my wife and I to grow old in.

Over the years, everything flourished. The Mango trees began to tower over our roof. The Duhat trees blocked the burning sun during critical hours of the day. And the Kaimito Tree grew into a swing for the children.

I don’t know where the Banana and Camias trees came from but they were in spots that weren’t hindrances to anything, so we kept them. And much like the other trees, they began to bear fruit.

While fruits, flowers, and shade were the benefits of so many plants, the cost was so much leaves. Fortunately, it wasn’t a problem for us because there was an abundance of house and gardening staff to help keep our home clean.

Just like me, my children had the opportunity to grow up among greens. And just like my parents, I have had the chance to grow old while being surrounded by so much plant life.

When I got Old

The last of my children flew the coop a few years ago. Now with their own families and homes, most have opted to continue with the planting of trees and flowers. And as my grandchildren grow up, I am optimistic that they will continue this tradition.

As time has taken my children away, so has it done to our house staff. Everyone I had grown up with has since left. Several have had the opportunity to start their own families while others retired and returned to their respective provinces.

Instead of stay-in staff, my wife and I began to secure the services of stay-out cleaners and gardeners. Unfortunately, this too would not last.

Age and, unfortunately, sickness has begun to take it’s toll and we began to lose staff over the years. The continuous growth of the economy has also made it very expensive to hire people on my pension. Then there are people who are very picky, not wanting to do this or that for even more money. How times have changed.

Sure, my children are always there to help out but my wife and I tell them to prioritize their young families instead. They need to pay for their own home staff and gardeners, something my wife and I don’t want to take away from.

This pandemic has not helped either as the gardeners we hire come from other places. With travel restrictions in place, they simply are unable to come over. In the mean time, our plants and trees continue to flourish with the onset of the rainy season.

When the Problems Began

With the absence of help, I have just begun to realize how much plant matter is shed by all our trees and flowering plants. They clog the down spouts and drainage systems. The fruits, specifically the Mangoes drop heavily on our roof during the summers.

Still on the topic of the Mango trees, they have now become hosts to several colonies of Weaver Ants. One cannot pick Mango or Duhat fruits anymore as they have infested the rest of the garden. Unfortunately, the trees are too high to spray, allowing them to multiply uncontrollably. As of today, I count 4 nests scattered between the two trees.

Huge branches of the Kaimito tree fall at the start of the each rainy season. Upon inspection, it is most likely due to their weight and the sudden shock of water coursing through the dry limbs. Fortunately for us, no injury or damage has taken place during this regular occurrence.

Incidentally, the trunks of all our trees have grown to a width that two adults can hide behind them. When I first planted them, I thought they were far enough from my walls. However, over 5 decades later and the trunks have begun to push my walls outwards. Even worse is that their roots are beginning to lift them up over the ground, threatening to great gaps underneath before finally toppling them.

Feral cats easily climb the Ivy on the walls to defecate on our pathways and urinate on the roof of my car. And if that isn’t enough, they have killed all the birds that have put up nests in our trees. Furthermore, the easy handhold provided by the thick Ivy vines also make it possible for burglars to climb our walls without difficulty.

Finally, time has seen our suburban village become absorbed by the city. This has seen the complete disappearance of empty lots as houses now occupy them. A neighbor decided to plant Bamboo along his wall. Given that Bamboo sheds leaves like there is no tomorrow, our driveway, eaves, and downspouts have become clogged regularly.

Final Thoughts

Scientists, news casters, friends, and even acquaintances have been urging people to plant more trees in an attempt to avert this crisis. Yet many of the people I know and see don’t do this. Why is that?

While I cannot answer for others, I would venture a guess that maintenance is the main problem. Sweeping leaves, pruning branches, and dealing with roots needs to be done continuously.

I enjoyed working in the garden, especially when all my trees and plants were at a manageable size when I was much younger and stronger. But now that I am older and weaker, it started as an inconvenience, turned into a chore, before becoming a heavy burden.

Thanks to this pandemic, my lawn hasn’t been mowed for over a month. The grass and weed have risen to my waist, making it painful to walk due to the cuts and scratches they inflict. Even my dog has become dismayed because his usual bathroom spot has become inaccessible due to the growth. Only the feral cats come over now as they are tripping all over themselves to pee and poop.

[I finally found someone willing to mow my lawn and trim the lower branches of my trees yesterday but is charging an arm and a leg for it because he knows I am desperate.]

And at this point, I just cannot maintain this garden anymore and am looking at 2 options – (1) sell the house and move to another abode devoid of plants, or (2) cut down everything before covering it with concrete.

Option 1 isn’t a good idea as this pandemic has depressed prices. I’ll need to get the best price for our house and lot if my wife and I are to transfer to a smaller house or a reasonably nice condominium. Besides this, I want to give all my kids a sizable share from the sale.

Option 2 appears to be the better, long-term solution as it would relieve me of the burden of maintaining our home. Unfortunately, there is a law against cutting down trees, even if they have become a liability.

Without a solution, the only action to take is to stay put. Sadly, I have given up on my garden as no matter how much work I put in, it just isn’t enough to make a dent. It has come to a point that I stopped walking around because I just cannot bear to see how my once-manicured garden has turned into an unruly forest.

This is a young man’s job, or at least two young men by the looks of things. I simply don’t fit the bill anymore.