Two guardians standing at attention.
Willow Leaf Banyan. Botanical name: Ficus nerifolia, a top tier choice among masters of the craft.
Imagine five-years living in a shallow pot and still able to look flush and happy!
The roots tell their story of a lifetime of adaptation to limited conditions.
The shape is guided methodically by the Bonsai Sensei, using pliable copper wires on roots and limbs.
Close up of the leaf shape. Notice the small berries.
This is the Wax Leaf Banyan, Ficus microcarpa.
Such intelligence, to be able to create the root system below that will allow the branches above to spread and reach the Sun.
“Gnarly” is the word that comes to mind. How about “twisted,” “knotty,” “rugged,” “heroic”?
The PhD of Plant Cultivation
With the temple pool retiled recently, Tandu Sivanathan was inspired to bring two of his amazing bonsais to grace the rose granite pedestals. They are, he tells us, about 50 years under his cultivation. the one on the left is a Wax Leaf Ficus (banyan) and the gem on the left is a Willow Leaf Ficus, with unusually narrow leaves for a banyan tree. The Willow Leaf is a favorite of professionals, due to its general grace and beauty and unusual leaf structure, but also to its robust growing habits, it’s adaptability (it can endure severe root pruning better than most). Now the pool feels complete, its two stoic sentinels on duty.
Aum Sivaya Tandu, still going strong, every time I pilgrimage to the monastery I look for and enjoy your botanical friends as well as greeting you my fellow Saivite friend. And it will be auspicious to be able to deep the feet in the temple pool once again before meandering around Siva’s gardens and entering the temples.
The pool looks glorious since it’s been resurfaced! Especially dramatic with those gorgeous bonsai👏👏👏 how often do the monks use the pool there?