AS FRAGILE AS A DEVOTIONAL CREEPER

Oh Tulsi, as fragile as a devotional creeper…

I have never planted Tulsi Devi outdoors before. Indoors means protecting Her from houseplant insects and diseases. Even children can sometimes cause a problem. Small children sometimes uproot Tulsi. But outdoors is a whole 'nother thing. There are so many more threats to Tulsi's safety and serenity. The South Florida climate is ideal for Her to grow directly in the ground. The Tulsi plants are now over four feet high with no sign of slowing down. They are full, lush and very green. There are manjaris everyday.

First off I realized I would have to protect Her from the peacocks that wander in and around and on top of the houses. In their hunger and search for food Tulsi devi, I noticed, was very attractive to them. Especially the new little buds. The peacocks can easily destroy a Tulsi plant in a matter of a few minutes. Bird net attached to bamboo poles seems to have done the job. It is hardly noticeable as fencing and yet the birds won’t go near it because it tangles and sticks to things, like feathers.

Then there was the danger of flooding. There are some very intense downpours, what to speak hurricanes which I have yet to experience here. This property is at somewhat of a low point for the surrounding area. All the water coming off the roofs of nearby houses collects here. It is sandy soil so it drains away fairly quickly but it can collect up to 8" deep before it subsides. No money here to work with, trust me on that. Fortunately I found some dumped clay roof tiles…perfect for a circular wall 1' high around Tulsi's garden. There has been no flooding inside Her garden since the wall has gone up.

Then there are the home owner association’s “gardeners.” These people have never planted anything in their life. I'm sure of that. All they know how to do is cut everything down. Some lovely small flowering bushes have fallen victim to their weed eaters. Some simple signs “KEEP OUT - NO GARDENERS PLEASE” seems to keep that danger away.

Then there is the neighbor’s hyper dog. When I go out to attend to Tulsi, the dog comes up to the neighbor’s small fence (it is small dog) about 5 feet away and bark and bark and bark. Non stop. The neighbor comes out to get him after a while. But it is very disturbing. In another post we went over all the options, making friends with dog, making friends with the neighbor, spraying dog with a hose, reporting the neighbor to the home association, yada yada, yada...I’ve tried to make frineds with the dog, it’s not that kind of dog… The neighbor is not someone I can just talk with. But that is another story. When I posted about the barking problem a while ago I received a lot of very good and practical advice. The advice about the "Dog Silencer" seemed worth a try. I ordered one (not cheap) but it looks like it might work. It arrived today and I have placed in Tulsi’s garden. So when the dog barks in Tulsi’s direction the silencer will activate.

Oh Tulsi Maharani, Please forgive me if I am offending you or others. I don’t know what else to do. No fence… the peacocks will destroy you. No wall…the floods will wash the soil from around Your roots. No signs… the gardeners will do who knows what with their weedeaters. No dog silencer…and the dog will bark and bark and bark.

I am making so many mistakes all the time. Sometimes out of poor judgment and sometime out and out ignorance.

For example: When I first planted You in the ground I didn't see to it that Your flowers were collected and I allowed them go to seed. This completely exhausted You and You left after only a few months. Not only that the seeds from those flowers went everywhere, carried by the wind and hundreds of small Tulsi plants began springing up everywhere. I am not able to protect them. I am so slow to learn, slow even to learn the hard way. So now there is not really enough room to care for all Your plants nicely. What kind of servant am I? Very, very dull and stupid.

But I pray, Oh Vrnda Devi, that You allow me to always try to serve You. You are my teacher. Without You how will I learn anything about devotional service. About Krishna in Vrnadavan?