By Margaret Magnus

On the morning of March 10, 2020, the temporary seclusion fence that had been around Baba’s Tree for two years was taken down. Ironically, the next day, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus or COVID-19 a pandemic. That evening, the Meher Mount Board met in a previously scheduled conference call to determine whether to close Meher Mount (and have another kind of seclusion for Baba’s Tree).

All Group Activities on Hold

The Board’s first decision was to put all group activities on hold until a more appropriate time. The Family Nature and Bird Watching Day that had been set for Saturday, April 4, 2020, was cancelled, hopefully to be rescheduled later in the year.

Approximately 109 people had already RSVP’d that they would be attending, including a Girl Scout troop of 25 members. There was a sweet sadness – sweet the troop was planning to come, sad that it couldn’t happen as planned.

Thank you to Meher Mount’s partners the Ventura Audubon Society, the California Native Plant Society, Channel Islands Chapter, and the Ojai Raptor Center.

Meher Mount to Remain Open on a Limited Basis

The next decision was whether or not to close Meher Mount. The Board and the Manager/Caretakers felt it was important to keep the outdoor areas of Meher Mount open to individuals who want to visit, spend time in nature, and be in the atmosphere of Meher Mount.

Until further notice, Meher Mount is open Thursday through Sunday, from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Visitors can spend time by Baba’s Tree, at Avatar’s Point enjoying the views, and in the Darshan Courtyard area by Baba’s Fireplace.

Why the Seclusion Fence Was Installed

On December 4, 2017, the Thomas Fire, then the largest wildfire in California, struck Meher Mount. Baba’s Tree suffered the most damage.

The exposed, dry and lifeless supporting heartwood of the tree’s trunk was ignited and slowly consumed to ash, reducing the already hollow trunk interior to a relatively thin living shell which could no longer support the immense weight of the overlying branches.

At that time, no one knew if Baba’s Tree would survive. As we know two years later, Baba’s Tree has survived and continues to generate new growth.

Immediately after the 2017 fire, Meher Mount worked with ISA® Certified Arborist Michael Inaba to implement a care plan to create optimal conditions for the survival and regeneration of Baba’s Tree.

One action was the installation on January 17, 2018, (interestingly, the anniversary of co-founder and lifetime caretaker Agnes Baron’s birthday) of a temporary 300-foot seclusion fence around the perimeter of both the living and the fallen parts of Baba's Tree and about 15 feet from the drip line.

The seclusion fence protected the ground around Baba’s Tree so the mulch could do its work to support the tree without foot traffic compacting the soil. It also prevented the disruption of the irrigation system, maintained the sunburn protection covering on the exposed limbs, and protected the stability of the posts supporting the weakened tree limbs. The fence kept visitors safe from tree debris, roots, and branches. Baba’s Tree looked like a bandaged patient in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit).

The fence continued to protect curious and concerned visitors from the risk of falling limbs, as the tree was and is not completely structurally sound. Four steel props continue to support damaged and recovering limbs – including the badly burned limb that arches over the heart rock marking the area where Meher Baba sat.

During the two years of seclusion, Baba’s Tree delighted all with its resiliency and almost miraculous recovery and regeneration. Around the tree other new life sprang forward creating what is now Baba’s Tree Grove with Baba’s Tree as the centerpiece.

Baba’s Tree Still Needs Thoughtful Protection

On February 5, 2020, the Meher Mount Board – in consultation with Michael Inaba – agreed it was time to take down the seclusion fence.

Removing the seclusion fence is a cause for celebration, marking a milestone in the life of Baba’s Tree. Caring for Baba’s Tree has always been a balance – and sometimes a push/pull between what seemed best for Baba’s Tree recovery and regeneration and the desire for visitors to be near and to be up close and personal with Baba’s Tree. Visitors both give their love and prayers to the tree and come for their own personal connection with Baba’s Tree.

To continue to maintain some balance – and to continue to protect both the tree and visitors – parts of the area around Baba’s Tree are roped off. It is anticipated that visitors will respect the tree and honor those areas of no traffic while still having access to the heart rock which marks Meher Baba’s spot under the tree. See the orange/brown circle on the diagram below.

Meanwhile, the seedlings and saplings from Baba’s Tree are protected and marked with wire enclosures. Three of the volunteer Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) (see the circle of three saplings on the diagram) were transplanted on March 11, 2020, around the grove. Some smaller seedlings are marked with flags so that visitors do not step on them.

The next steps in the continuing care of Baba’s Tree include judicious watering – particularly as rains have been light this winter. The limbs of Baba’s Tree will be re-wrapped with Agribon® for sunburn protection; and the team will spray Surround® – a clay mixture – on the leaves to help protect them from the sun and pests.

Sources

• First Quote: Filis Frederick, “The Journey of the Heart,” The Awakener Magazine Online, accessed March 14, 2020, Volume 5, Number 2, page 8, Winter-Spring 1958.

• Second Quote: Bhau Kalchuri, Lord Meher: The Biography of the Avatar of the Age Meher Baba, Online Edition, pg. 1193, accessed March 14, 2020. (c) Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust.

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