June 2010
Tales from the Green Dragon - Tale of the Tree
By Dr Hugh Glen

About this time each year my friends at the university just down the road celebrate the Day of the Tree. The original Tree is in a quadrangle at Howard College, still giving shade to students and (hopefully) shelter to wildlife. It was planted by Darroll Smith, sometime Chief Technician in the Biology Department of the then University of Natal, and its health has been in the care of two Custodians belonging to that department. When the biologists moved to Westville a few years ago, they clearly could not move the Tree, and so they planted a new one. And this one now receives the honour that formerly went to the original; until last year Darroll was there to see that the ceremonies were performed correctly, but sadly he passed away a few weeks ago. Nonetheless, the Custodians remain in office and the ceremonies continue to be performed.
Towards the end of the afternoon of the appointed day, everybody who can dons their full academic regalia and walks in procession from the School of Biological and Conservation Sciences to the Tree – shades of the wizards of Unseen University, and hence the link to the Green Dragon. When the procession forms up at the Tree, one of the VIPs gives an Oration and the company solemnly (?) toast the Health of the Tree – in liquids ranging from the innocuous to the intoxicating. A suitably important and honourable member of the audience is chosen “at random” to deliver a lecture on a topic of their choice, but in keeping with the theme of the day and the idea of biology and conservation (and, probably, motherhood, apple pie and all such virtues). The assembled company now proceeds to the lecture hall, via a table carefully placed nearby at which they can pick up refreshments suitable to sustain them through the arduous lecture and partying ahead. And yes, the really dedicated do stay after the lecture for a party.
That leaves me thinking … so often one hears of, sees, or even attends a function that involves the planting of a tree in commemoration of some great and good person or event. Sometimes somebody puts up a plaque to record the event; more rarely the plaque survives without being stolen for a few years. And then? The original purpose of planting the tree is quietly forgotten. Shouldn’t more public bodies that have organised tree plantings do the whole job and have an annual event to celebrate the reason why that tree is there? To be sure, it takes money and effort to arrange, and the idea of parading around a garden in academic regalia may seem faintly ridiculous. But it is also conceivable that playing at being serious, with a wink and a grin, is a good way of perpetuating the ceremony and hence the memory of what both tree and ceremony are there for.
And while we’re thinking about it, maybe the Dragon should have a go at convincing Tanya, our editor, that we need to plant a tree in a park somewhere near The Gardener’s offices in honour of the almost approaching tenth anniversary of the founding of our favourite magazine. Then each year, on the anniversary of the tree planting, both the tree and the reason for its planting would be celebrated by the conducting of a suitably off-the-wall ceremony.