For over a century, this Buttonwood tree was a staple of the Treasure Beach community and inspired countless poets, prophets, painters, photographers, writers, sightseers, seekers and mystics from all around the world. Her beautiful body holds many stories and made me think of the tree of knowledge in the garden of eden... the main tap root winds along the bank like a serpent, splits into a double helix and then plunges deep into the ocean floor. She is literally fed and sustained by source.

The curvature of her boughs and the deep grooves in her bark shows that she has witnessed and survived many storms, but her body is rooted to the rock so her foundation cannot be moved. When I visited her, her branches bore leaves, but it is clear that she has persevered through many deaths and rebirths. She has been shaped by damage, but not absolute destruction. And even after all of that, she still nurtures life. Her body is inviting and nurturing and even the other life forms she stewards bear evidence of her maternal strength and resilience.

This tree stood for over 100 years before she was taken by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. Melissa was one hurricane too many and a body, no matter how strong, is still subject to Mother Nature's promise that all things born will die. I hold onto hope that her roots, deep inside the coral reef, are still living and preparing for rebirth. Nature holds many mysteries and energy is never destroyed, only transformed.