The new restaurant owners, however, have assured us they will continue to care for the tree and reopen the gardens soon. On September 11, 2007, during a New Moon, the Bodhi Tree (Ficus religioso) was planted and a Peace Planting Ceremony was held. 250 community members attended and assisted by adding a shovel-full of soil along with their prayers for peace and harmony within our community. This particular Ficus religioso is a fifth generation descendant from the Bodhgaya grove in India, where the Buddha is said to have sat when he reached his enlightenment. This tree was rescued by staff of the Florida School of Holistic Living from University of Central Florida, where administration was removing its mother to pour a concrete courtyard. In 2012 the Bodhi Tree Garden became the first United Plant Saver's Botanical Sanctuary recognized in the state of Florida, only one in ninety recognized in the entire country at that time. Over the years, the garden was home to drum circles every new and full moon, numerous seasonal solstice and equinox observations, annual winter festivals and spring herb days, not to mention the countless classes, workshops, and meetings held around the tree. In September of 2017, the Bodhi Tree suffered a fall from the winds produced by hurricane Irma. Over four days of immense labor, dedicated volunteers, expensive equipment rental, hundreds of pounds of compost and mycorrhizae, gallons of chainsaw and backhoe fuel, and deep deep prayers from hundreds of visitors, the Bodhi was restored safely to the soil. What might have been a disaster turned into a gift for the many visitors who left with one of the tree's cuttings, spreading its branches even further through our community. In addition, thousands of plants were distributed from harvests in the form of propagated seeds and seedlings from all plants in the garden in the active years of the garden. We are deeply saddened to no longer be the caretakers of this historical and sacred space, but the new owners have assured us the intend to carry on in our stead. We bless them and thank them for the life they will bring back to the garden upon opening the doors to their new business.
