Rishi Valley 1988 and Today
This morning, while in Rishi Valley (just 100 feet East of Iraivan Temple for those unfamiliar) inspecting some minor pig damage from their nighttime foraging, we were struck by the beauty of the pond and the surrounding landscape. You know the experience: we see something day after day and then, suddenly, it reveals itself in a fresh and completely different way.
That happened today, and our minds drifted back through the many years of clearing land, making paths, creating waterfalls and ponds, reshaping the terrain, planting, planting and planting some more. We have come a long way.
Back at our computers, we found an old photograph taken during the valley’s early development. It looked so raw and rugged. We thought it would be fun to share a glimpse of what the valley looked like then and how it appears today.
Use the slider to move back and forth between past and present.
Love these time sequences! The first dimension of miracles we encounter in Rishi Valley and Siva’s Gardens in general is nature’s way when order prevails. Not a rigid lining up of flower beds and planters in perfect rows but a natural flowing from one area to the next. When each plant has a little free space to expand and live, flower and propagate in a loosely defined area.
Natures tangle for survival does have a certain beauty but it is raw and brutal and the more refined delicate plants will never thrive.
With a lot of muscle and energy and very little free time or hired help the monks have created the second dimension of miracles; a natural order. A botanical garden that from the first sight looks perfectly natural, not disciplined by man, but something that sprung up as nature intended.
I bring up this point because 10 years ago the monks and some of the family devotees were invited to British Columbia and a tour of the Butchart Gardens. It is a little over 50 acres (approximately the size of Siva’s Garden proper).
As we walked through the gardens I asked our Tour guide how many staff it takes to maintain the garden. She told me that the Gardens has on a core team of 50 to 70 full-time gardeners with seasonal volunteers and supporting staff of up to 600!!!!