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Don’t use pesticides on me!


Bargad tree
From my office window

A few weeks ago, I was walking past the Bargad, and I saw some soil collected on one of its leaves. Without thinking I brushed it away. Immediately, my friend was very angry. He asked, “Why did you do that?


I replied, “It was dirt, I was cleaning up.


He said, “You are so silly. You just broke a cocoon. I bent down to salvage it, and the Bargad said, “Drop it, now what’s done is done. Don’t do anything for me again before checking with me.”


A few days later, I noticed that a few leaves were wilting and were drying out. And some sort of an insect had made home on the leaves. Again, he said, “Do not touch any of my leaves and you will not spray anything.”

Birds on Bargad


I felt rather chastised. Though to be honest the thought of finding an organic pesticide had crossed my mind. I just said, “Of course I won’t, but what are these insects.”


He asked, "What makes you think you can go about spraying stuff on me? I replied, “I was worried about all the leaves turning yellow."

The wilting leaves

And the Bargad explains, rather testily,

"Don't try to control me. I welcome all creatures who need me to survive. Leaves don't need to be perfect."

He asked, "What makes you think you can go about spraying stuff on me? I replied, “I was worried about all the leaves turning yellow."


So, there's my lesson. I have to stop looking for perfection and see the beauty in imperfections.


But of course, one does want, ah no, crave validation every once in a while.

I used Google Lens on the image of the leaf. And it's called Fall Webworm, a white moth emerges from these webs. As I looked up, a beautiful white butterfly flew right past me. She fluttered for a bit and settled on the palms. I don't know if it's the same or similar species. I just know that the Bargad is her home.










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