Monthly Progress #92 - 8th Year Anniversary

As an arrow, time can fly, fast, very fast, and unlike arrows, never stopping. Today marks the 8th anniversary of that fateful day of December 17th, 2010. My hair has greyed here and there and everywhere. This faithful Ficus religiosa is standing here today, taking advantage of the passing of time to grow taller, greener, seemingly unstoppable. Only time can tell of its fate... while the seasons glide past our daily routine. Ficus religiosa are reputed to outlive the ephemeral 100-year of the human species, ten fold and beyond. With some luck, this ficus will still be here in 2,000, 3,000 years. Eight years eye blink seems to be just yesterday!

Monthly Progress #91

The ficus looks unchanged from last month, but in close inspection, it has many new growths on various locations on the trunk that hopefully will become new branches yet. I can't wait to see how it will fare in the incoming colder months of January and February of the year 2019... Already?

Monthly Progress #90

Look at the ficus now. Does it look good? I think it does... 7 and a half year after planting. The growth seems to decide to proceed upwards and less concentrated in the lower part of the trunk. Very handsome tree indeed. The weed has been cleared as well. Things are looking up!

Monthly Progress #89

As can be seen, the weed is again king here. They grow just fantastically in the summer months and it is hard to keep this unfair fight because labor is intensive and there is too much work in this botanical center. But they will be trimmed down certainly in the near future. The hurricane season is at its peak in September and we hope none will come our way. Just last Thursday, the Carolinas were battered by hurricane Florence, a category 2 storm. I know what a cat 2 can do because we had a cat 1 last year, and it was not nice. The ficus is still taking its time to grow. A closer look will reveal new leaves pushing out on the branches. Take your time... Tic toc...

Monthly Progress #88

The weed is again growing wild in this area... The ficus is essentially unchanged but it has new growths and mostly bottom heavy. It is really hot and this tree is enjoying a copious amount of water today so it must be happy.

Monthly Progress #87

Summertime... and it is hot today. The ficus tree looks unchanged from last month, but in closer inspection, the branches are denser in the bottom part of the tree. This tree is really sloooowwww... growing. But it is growing...

Monthly Progress #86

It has been wet in Miami during the past few weeks from much rain, and the grass are growing strong everywhere. The ficus is growing vigorously. Curiously, the growth is concentrated in the lower part of its trunk, and it is not growing much taller. To each its own, I guess. I am happy it does look very healthy.

Monthly Progress #85

Here comes the rain... But the ficus tree needs time to soak up the new water. We need to be patient with this very slowly growing tree. But... what's the rush? It has been raining more often, and more copious as the hurricane season is fast approaching. New cycads are being planted around this area as can be seen in this photo. They will rapidly change the view from this vantage.

Monthly Progress #84

Here is the Ficus religiosa, exactly 7 years from the date of its planting on April 17th, 2011. It's incredible how time flows through one's life. 100 years is nothing at all... This area is finally liberated from the weeds that aggressively took over since hurricane Irma. This ficus tree is really taking its time to grow big. It looks like the growth wants to concentrate on the bottom. Trees can do that, taking time to grow, especially this species. It can outlive many of us, mere humans. My goal is to see this tree 10 years from now... Let's plan on that.

Monthly Progress #83

Weeds are still king here. It is simply just too much work and not enough manpower... eventually though... The ficus tree is putting out many new growths that hopefully will be able to take advantage of the new spring coming next month... when rain is expected...

Monthly Progress Report #82

The ficus is still in its dormant state, looking quite lethargic, but at closeup, new growths are trying to emerge from the trunk and smaller branches. One got to be patient for growth to take its sweet time... Spring is coming in a few months and rain will come in due time. For the first time in months, some cleaning up are beginning in this area, but it is still "a jungle out there!"

Monthly Progress #81

Here is a photo of the Ficus religiosa taken today. This area is still immersed in the aftermath of hurricane Irma. The work to clean up this botanical center is overwhelming and it is progressing very slowly and very expensively. It will be a while before the workers can clear weeds away from this area. The ficus looks bare again at this time and is expected to resume its slow growth (at least for now) in the early spring.