The “octopus” baobab tree is the second largest baobab tree on the farm, and the “bonsai” baobab tree is the smallest.
The bonsai baobab tree has had three television exposures over the recent past. It was only in probably the last 60 odd years that a dam was built it, but the tree originally started growing on the rock face with very little water to its disposal.
In a former Afrikaans television programme, known as “50/50”, the late professor Kristo Pienaar, a well-known botanist, environmentalist, and king of gardening, drew the attention of the viewers to this small tree. Tests to determine the age of this bonsai tree proved that the tree is of the same age as the surrounding “big” baobab trees. The tree’s size may have been influenced by its location (on a rock plate) and that when it produced leaves during summer, the game roaming in the region ate its growth and thereby also limiting its stature. The height of the bonsai baobab tree is around 30 centimetres.
In complete contrast to this bonsai baobab tree, is the “octopus” baobab tree, standing head and shoulders above most of the other “normal” baobab trees in the area. This tree also stands on the same rock as the bonsai tree but has its roots wandering off approximately one kilometre to find nutrition and water. [It is not uncommon for baobab trees to have their roots wandering as far off as three to four kilometres to find nutrition and water.] The octopus baobab tree measures around 20 metres in height.
The value of contrast between the two trees may also have a spiritual significance. The Trinity Almighty God, in their wisdom, have created man and gave them talents (mental and physical abilities) to live their lives. Some (those who see beyond the obvious) go ahead and use what they have and multiply their talents, whilst others (those seeing only their immediate circumstances) would cry foul to all and everyone of how they drew the short stick.