The Happy Guanacaste Tree

The majestic Guanacaste tree, also known as the Elephant Ear tree, is the national tree of Costa Rica. Guanacaste trees are grand flowering trees with sprawling branches and known for their spherical crown at the top. The Guanacaste tree provides much shade and many forest animals take shelter below and in the branches, seeking to hide away from the intensity of the sun. Guanacaste trees are generally about 82 feet to 164 feet in height with tree trunks that are about 6-7 feet in diameter.

At El Lugar we have approximately 2,188 trees that are between 50 and 150 years old, some of which are Guanacaste trees.

We take care of all living things here on the property and we check the trees regularly to make sure they are healthy and see if they require any additional tender loving care. Sometimes we do find trees that require some extra assistance.

Every week we take a look at our buddies to make sure they are ok.  We check their roots, their trunks, the leaves, and if we find anything that is stressing them, we do anything we can to assist them.

There is one old Guanacaste Tree that lives near the river’s edge. He has been there many years and over time the river’s flow has washed away the soil around his roots, leaving them exposed to more damage. 

The exposed roots of the Guanacaste Tree.

Our first action was to get the roots covered. As El Lugar is in progress and the roads are being built, we have extra soil from the excavation of the roads. Any soil that has had to be removed is being recycled to other areas of the land where it may be needed. The Guanacaste happened to be in need of some soil, so we were able to use the soil we already had to cover his roots.

We moved six truckloads of soil to secure the roots of the old Guanacaste, giving him greater grip to the Earth again so he may thrive for many more years to come at El Lugar. The Guanacaste tree is happy now that his roots are covered up and he is feeling healthy and strong. The workers were also careful to be sure that no extra soil made its way to polluting the river.

As El Lugar is being constructed, we are building in communion with nature. Not one single tree is being cut, they are being preserved and cared for. We are creating a different possibility with nature and the Earth.

This is such a unique way of treating the land that our environmentalist attorney documented the story of this great Guanacaste tree and submitted the files to the Costa Rican government so that they can have this information and let people know that there is a different way of being when developing with the land.

Pura Vida!

The Happy Guanacaste Tree with his roots covered.