"One can only imagine what this grove might look like in 700 Years..."
Cassandra Bramucci
By Cassandra Bramucci
BABA’S TREE at Meher Mount two years after the December 2017 Thomas Fire and high winds toppled the canopy and destroyed much of the tree. In the foreground is the Baba’s Tree stone sign, which previously marked the edge of the canopy. The four seedlings waiting to be planted are from Baba’s Tree acorns that were harvested and germinated in September 2018. The hole to the right is where a seedling will be planted and protected by the wire mesh until it gets a strong foothold. (Photo: Sam Ervin, December 6, 2019)
No One Foresaw that a Grove Would Emerge
It’s safe to say that no one associated with Meher Mount foresaw that two years – almost to the day – after high winds and the 2017 Thomas Fire felled most of Baba’s Tree, that what was left of the tree would be recovering nicely and is now the centerpiece of what is emerging as Baba’s Tree Grove.
PLANTING A SEEDLING from an acorn of BABA’S TREE at Meher Mount. (Clockwise bottom left): Agnes Montano, Naresh Sharma, Duke Gribble (hidden), Michael Inaba and Kristina Somma. (Photo; Sam Ervin, December 7, 2019)
During those two years, after the initial shock and disbelief at the damage to Baba’s Tree, an all-out effort was made to give the tree the best possible chance to recover.
In the beginning, ISA®-certified arborist Michael Inaba commented, “No one tries to save a tree this badly burned.” However, the Meher Mount community and — and Baba’s Tree — persevered.
California’s Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) can live for several hundred years, and even after the kind of severe damage Baba’s Tree suffered, they have been known to rebound heartily from major canopy loss. Some trees that appeared completely dead have begun to regenerate after as long as three years.
Later in viewing the recovery of Baba’s Tree, Inaba remarked, “There’s nothing normal about this tree.”
Although Inaba was referencing the remarkable recovery of Baba’s Tree, it’s also true that there’s nothing “normal” about a tree where thousands of visitors and pilgrims have come from near and far for decades, in groups or in solitude, to experience peace, inspiration, and welcome respite.
Everyone got muddy, no one minded
ARBORIST MICHAEL INABA (center) explains how to gently handle the root ball of the seedlings while Sam Ervin, Robert Turnage and Naresh Sharma watch and learn. Agnes Montano (right) is live streaming the event on Meher Mount’s Facebook page. (Photo: Juan Mendez, December 7, 2019)
On December 7, 2019, under the expert guidance and devoted care of Michael Inaba, a group of inspired volunteers gathered in the rain to plant four seedlings that were sprouted from acorns gathered from Baba’s Tree. These seedlings would form part of the circle of Baba’s Tree Grove surrounding Baba’s Tree.
A SEEDLING FROM BABA’S TREE is gently planted in its new home in Baba’s Tree Grove at Meher Mount by Ellen Kwiatkowski and Jim Whedon. (Photo: Juan Mendez, December 7, 2019)
Inaba walked from seedling to seedling, instructing each small planting group to be gentle and thorough in handling the delicate young root balls and to use their hands to settle the soil, fingers working out any air gaps and removing rocks. Everyone got muddy, no one minded.
The volunteers were focused, even reverent as they placed the seedlings in a half circle at the perimeter where the former canopy periphery draped down toward the stone marker of Baba’s Tree, which greets visitors upon their approach.
These direct descendants of Baba’s Tree now join a patchwork of volunteer saplings and seedlings that have sprouted close to the mother tree. The emerging grove includes Baby Baba’s Tree – an offspring, or at least a relative, of Baba’s Tree that has been hiding in plain sight for years. Also, emerging from the fire is the New Life Tree which is sprouting from a long-dormant and seemingly dead tree stump. The new canopy of Baba’s Tree continues to grow and is now supported by its own offspring.
Baba’s Tree Will Continue to Embrace Pilgrims and Visitors
SAM ERVIN (center, gray jacket, tan hat) shares a few thoughts to dedicate the planting and emergence of Baba’s Tree Grove at Meher Mount. (Clockwise to the left): Perry Van Houten, journalist for the Ojai Valley News, Jim Whedon, Duke Gribble, Eric Turk, Eric Carlson, Naresh Sharma, Ian Newman, Agnes Montano, filming the live Facebook stream, Robert Turnage, Mark Bacin, Margaret Magnus and Kristina Somma. (Photo: Juan Mendez, December 7, 2019)
Board of Directors President Sam L. Ervin spoke during the dedication ceremony and described how the venerable Coast Live Oak got its name:
“When Avatar Meher Baba came to Meher Mount on August 2, 1956, Agnes Baron was the caretaker. [On that day], she brought Meher Baba out here to Avatar’s Point and said, ‘Baba, I have always thought of this tree as your tree.’
Meher Baba went inside the canopy and sat down on the dry leaves, gesturing in silence that no one else should enter. In that moment, He claimed this tree as Agnes suggested, and it has since been known as ‘Baba’s Tree.’”
Perhaps Meher Baba knew as He sat there that this one tree, as massive as it grew to be, would not be enough to shelter all the many pilgrims and visitors who will come to Meher Mount in the decades ahead.
These New Offspring Will Provide Comfort and Inspiration
Just as Meher Baba suffered two devastating car accidents and yet continued, in spite of intense physical pain, to embrace His lovers from all over the world until He dropped His physical body on January 31, 1969, so will His tree at Meher Mount continue to embrace visitors and pilgrims until its physical presence here is no longer sufficient.
Although the exact age of Baba’s Tree is not known, its reign will end eventually. The number of lives it has touched is incalculable, and these new offspring, much like Meher Baba’s own mandali (close circle of disciples), will continue to provide comfort, inspiration, and spiritual nourishment for many generations to come.
A HAPPY GROUP at Meher Mount after planting the four seedlings from acorns of Baba’s Tree to finish the circle creating Baba’s Tree Grove. (Clockwise): Michael Inaba (yellow hat), Robert Turnage, Kristina Somma, Duke Gribble, Ellen Kwiatkowski, Eric Carlson, Eric Turk, Sam Ervin, Naresh Sharma, Margaret Magnus, Jim Whedon, Ian Newman, and Cassandra Bramucci. Not pictured are: Agnes Montano, Mark Bacin, Holly Meadors, and Juan Mendez. (Photo: Perry Van Houten, December 7, 2019)
Meher Baba Says that All Things Are Expressions of Consciousness
Sam’s words of dedication continued:
“Today, we inaugurate a new era in this punctuation moment between Baba’s Tree past and future. Many pilgrims and visitors will come here in the future, and this grove will expand the presence of Baba’s Tree, providing shade and beauty to many.
Meher Baba says that all things are expressions of consciousness, and therefore Baba’s Tree and all trees have consciousness. I feel this amazing growth of green life on [such a] severely damaged tree expresses its responsiveness to the tender loving care that has been lavished on it since the Thomas Fire, to its protection during its regeneration, and to all the prayers and good wishes from around the world.”
A NEW HEART STONE marks the spot where Avatar Meher Baba sat under Baba’s Tree at Meher Mount in 1956. The previous stone cracked and split open after the 2017 Thomas Fire. The new stone was put in place by Marta Flores several weeks earlier. (Photo: Juan Mendez, December 7, 2019)
All signs appear to point out that fire is no match for the spirit engendered on that wonderful day in 1956 when Meher Baba visited. In concluding his dedication speech, Sam Ervin put it this way:
“One can only imagine what this grove might look like in 700 years if it still exists. But the spot where He sat and indeed, this whole property is imbued with His presence. It has been said that He left ‘an invisible fountain of spiritual energy.’ One of Meher Baba’s close disciples or mandali [has said] that Meher Baba left ‘the treasure’ under that tree.
Today you are all here to participate in completing the circle of Baba’s Tree Grove. As the trees grow they will create a new canopy that shelters the spot where Meher Baba sat in 1956.”
All Trees Are Storytellers
All trees are storytellers. And these sweet offspring of the magnificent Baba’s Tree that sheltered so many will grow up and continue telling the stories of Meher Baba’s loving presence in a way that only trees can do: in silence.
A RAINY DAY IN THE FOG did not deter the inspired volunteers who came to plant the four seedlings from acorns of Baba’s Tree and complete the circle of Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) around Baba’s Tree creating Baba’s Tree Grove. Pictured are Kristina Somma and Agnes Montano. (Photo: Juan Mendez, December 7, 2019)