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"Oh no! What are we going to do now" my daughter asked me with tear-filled eyes.
"Don't worry honey, we'll find some way to fix the garden" I assured her without knowing myself how we were supposed to revive our sweet little garden damaged in the storm.

Our garden was the best thing happened to us since we shifted to the new house. I still remember the excitement on the face of my daughter when we started to sow seeds in the small kitchen garden we fixed at the right side of the lawn. But it was all gone!

In the middle of the lawn, we laid the groundwork of yellow and red roses, planted alternatively along the periphery of the grass bed on which we moved barefoot in the morning, enjoying the mist on its blades. But they were no more!

On the left corner we plated the highlight of the garden- the cherry tree. During spring it used to blossom the white colored flowers followed by sweet and crunchy flavored cherries. During the blooming period my daughter loved collecting all the flowers or would play under the shade of the tree. It had become her favorite nook in the whole house. But it also seemed to be damaged beyond recognition!

One year the torrential rain brought flooded condition in our garden. We were at the lost to know as to how we were going to revive the garden back to its beauty. The storm inflicted much damage upon our vegetables, flowers, rose bushes and the cherry tree. As the water receded, and after accessing the damage, we geared up to revive our garden to its original glory.

We first stated with the vegetable garden. As it was risky to eat the produce, we cleared all the leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and mint plant. We could not believe that we actually cleared the vegetable patch whose seeds we sowed with our own hands. The flower bed was also ruined, so we got rid off it also. With help of a professional, we removed the grass too. Because of the sentiments attached with the garden, it was very hard on the family, especially on my daughter, to see all gone in just single day.

Next on the line was the cherry tree. The tree which once stood upright and was vigorous and heavy bearing, now bore the brunt of the storm and was wounded badly. Three- four branches were broken and there was a large gash on the trunk with some of the bark peeled away.

"Mama I won't let go my cherry tree" cried my daughter, thinking that the tree would wave her final goodbye."
"No we won't cut down the tree, honey"assured my husband to her.

We decided to take professional help and called an arborist. First he took care of the split branches. They were pruned back to the main trunk so that no stub was left. With help of his equipment he brought down safely the branches which were hanging loose. Then we pasted the loose bark back to the wounded surface so there are few jagged edges left. That would allow the tree to heal over the wound as it gained strength. The bark with time would grow over the wound.

Beyond this we could not do anything but to wait for the drier conditions to prevail. Though the leaves were ripped, we hoped that the branches should not be dead.

Next season we landscaped our whole garden with new flower-bearing plants, sowed the seeds for new vegetables, put new grass and were crossing fingers for our cherry tree. When the first leaf from the bud appeared, we heaved a sigh of relief. My daughter's joy knew no bound. From time to time we fertilized the tree and our patience finally bore fruits during the summer in the form of red cherries.

Though in a hard way, but the survival of our cherry tree taught us to be patient and made us believe in our will power.

Learn more about this author, Milan Singhal.
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