March 09, 2007

The Hindus regard the banyan as sacred, for it is said that Buddha once meditated beneath one. Probably the most revered tree in the world is Ficus Religiosa, the sacred "Bo" tree of Burma, Ceylon and India. It is said that Buddha sat under its shade for six years while he developed his philosophy of the meaning of existence. The striking heart-shaped leaves of the "Bo" tree tremble in the slightest breeze like a cottonwood--a legendary tribute to the divine meditations of Buddha. The English name "banyan" comes from the "banians," or Hindu merchants who set up markets in the shade of these enormous trees.

If you ever come to Miami, you will be delighted to find that we have an entire 15 city blocks of these Ficus Religiosa trees, all lined up in the median of a main East-West road in the heart of Coral Gables, our City Beautiful. According to historical facts, these trees came from Ceylon around 1920 when the population in Miami was about 38,000 inhabitants and land went for about $60 an acre. This is the only place in the US that has this vast a collection of the same species of Ficus Religiosa in a long row, and we are proud of having them. There may be some isolated tress somewhere else such as Key West, but Miami is the place to see them.