My friends, the bananas

[Gecko123]

 

Raising bananas is one of my most enjoyable pastimes. There's tons of videos on U-tube explaining how to grow bananas, so I won't get into all the detail, except to say that you need to look after them regularly, and growing them is very rewarding and a lot of fun.

 

Maybe I'm just getting in touch with my animist inner self, but lately I've come to think of my banana trees as my friends. I know it sounds a little crazy, but before you start rolling your eyes, think about it for a minute: banana trees are a lot like people. They shoot up in their formative years like people. They have a trunk like people. Their leaves spread like arms, and the focus of attention is at the top of their trunk. They also grow in families at varying stages of maturity, just like people. For me, it's easy to think of them as friends. Really tall friends, maybe, but friends, nonetheless.

 

I pat them on the trunk, talk, and sing, and listen to them. They have a way of brightening up when I do something they like.  They seem to be able to see me looking out at them through the kitchen window. After a long absence, they seem to crave attention. They seem glad to see me when I come out of the house to check up on them. Their leaves wag from side to side in greeting. They seem to enjoy me sitting beside them. Sometimes in the morning or after a rain shower they playfully shirk a droplet of water on my head. They always feign innocence, pretending not to have any idea how it could have happened, but afterwards, if I listen carefully, quiet giggling can be heard.

 

When they flower, they are so proud of themselves. 'And look at this, and look at this,' they seem to say, as each new hand of flowers unveils itself. The deep ruby red flower attracts birds, bees, wasps. The banana hands beseech heavenward; later twisted leathery petals litter the ground. The trunk steels itself for the weight it knows it must bare. 'I got this, I got this,' it seems to say. After the harvest and the tree is chopped down to make room for new growth, the dead tree is composted with an added measure of care and the cycle of life begins again.

 

Anybody else out have any animistic experiences or stories of communioning with nature they'd like to share? If you happened to be on drugs at the time, that's OK, too.

Edited February 4, 2020 by Gecko123

[worgeordie]

I think you are going Bananas ......

regards worgeordie

[canopy]

I have a strange banana tree story. In a far corner a grove of wild forest bananas on my land caused quite a stir. The hill tribe gardeners were in awe of it, wai'ed, and prayed to it. Having seen that grove for years I had no idea why. But they told me they had never seen a banana tree with a yellow flower and these were very bright yellow. Banana flowers are normally burgundy. I don't know why, but one took a photo, developed it, and permanently fixed it to his truck where it can still be seen today.

 

[Gecko123]

@worgeordie I appreciate that you may have just been making a play on words, but if anyone thinks having an imagination or having a sense of connection to the physical world is a symptom of mental illness, I feel sorry for them.

 

Edited February 5, 2020 by Gecko123

[nikmar]

Any sign of Nang Thani??

 

[Odysseus123]

32 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

@worgeordie I appreciate that you may have just been making a play on words, but if anyone thinks having an imagination or having a sense of connection to the physical world is a symptom of mental illness, I feel sorry for them.

 

I have a close friend (a talented horticulturalist) who sings to her trees..and I have always loved the idea of Thai "magic" trees (my concept)

My M-i-L sings to her orchids..

I once made a profound bow to a whole dell of orchids in Laos.Such a wonder to behold..

A magic tree in my town.

[nikmar]

6 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

My M-i-L sings to her orchids..

My MIL eats her plants ????

[Odysseus123]

4 minutes ago, nikmar said:

My MIL eats her plants ????

What a great thing to do...

 

I guess we all eat our plants.

 

 

[Gecko123]

 

[scubascuba3]

Unusual story for sure, first thought is are you spending too much time on your own?

[Blue Muton]

7 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Unusual story for sure, first thought is are you spending too much time on your own?

He doesn't spend any time on his own, you're never alone when there are banana trees about.

[IsaanAussie]

Belief in anamism is strong here in Isaan. Beware you don't invoke any nasty spirit boys. When we first bought land there was a very large old tree that had to go. Before it could be dropped we had to hold a ceremony and make offerings, and provide new spirit houses for all the tree residents to move into. 

Just the opposite of the Magic tree shown above. Old spirit houses that are no longer being attended to or have been replaced, end up being placed near very old trees, just in case! 

[Gecko123]

@nikmar

Really like that banana angel sketch. Thanks for sharing.

[nikmar]

11 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

@nikmar

Really like that banana angel sketch. Thanks for sharing.

from t'internet mate. there's a group of banana trees near my home, I have to admit to still be holding on to the hope that I may bump into her on my drunken meanderings. 

[Odysseus123]

I must admit I miss all this..

 

Back to dull prosaic Australia the home of the suburban brain dead-definitely no spirit houses for them!

 

I noticed years ago that I was becoming more animistic-and pantheistic-in my perceptions of the world and very much enjoyed the Asian and Indian sub-continent view of the world...that it was immensely porous..

 

I have a friendly magpie here "George" that always drops by for a chat..

 

I developed this thing about rivers..and their spirits and gods..

 

Thailand and Australia

 

 

[Gecko123]

Lot more of this going around than I ever realized.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 6, 2020 by Gecko123

[bermondburi]

Are you growing marijuana too? 

[talahtnut]

A growing body of research also points to the fact that trees and nature are good for our mental wellbeing. New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation, for example, recommends walking in forests to boost overall health, including for reducing stress, increasing energy levels and improving sleep. Trees also seem to help the body recover

Extract from Rachel Nuwer 12th Sept. 2019.

No trees-No humans.

[Gecko123]

I would love to watch Josephine Baker dance under my banana tree.

 

 

Edited February 9, 2020 by Gecko123

[Kadilo]

Ever thought of writing children’s books? You seem a natural. 

Edited February 9, 2020 by Kadilo

[UbonThani]

Banana trees are a lot of work for not much. Mango trees and herbs much better.

 

Plants are smarter than most humans so no drama talking to them.