TEMBUSU TREE
Ink and pencil on A3 paper

This 180 years old Tembusu Tree in Singapore Botanic Gardens is also called the 5 dollars tree as it was featured in our $5 green note. Its crown of leaves is a reflection of its accumulated glory of growth of almost 2 centuries. The 2 added supporting poles for the extended trunk paused me in my thoughts about aging graciously. This ONE tree looks as though it is 3 trees but it is actually one. I can’t imagine living this long and the countless battles to emerge victorious like this. I am inspired. ❤️

While drawing this tree, I was meditating on Reve 22:2 “In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” As I looked at the sketch upon completion, Matthew 13:32 kept popping up in my head:

“but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” – Matthew 13:32

This verse refers to the mustard seed but it is making comparison from the size of the seed to the size of the full grown tree. This Tembusu tree is so iconic because of the years of growth, weathering all sorts of conditions. This is aging gracefully!

Art Print available at https://www.phoonies.com/product/fort-canning-tunnel-tree-art-print/