The White Pear Tree in Nature

A stately evergreen tree, the White Pear can grow with a long straight trunk to over twenty meters in height under forest conditions; rocky and exposed sites result in small, gnarled and compact specimens. Easily adapted, it is found from the Cape Province in southern Africa to Ethiopia in the north.

The White Pear bears a profusion of sweetly scented white flowers and their vanilla scent perfumes the warm summer months.

The flowers are followed by the fruit - an asymmetrical black drupe with a red, fleshy appendage. The bark is a pale gray on young trees and it is often covered by white and orange lichens at Platbos. The branches and trunks turn a darker gray as the tree ages.

The timber of the White Pear has been prized since the first days of colonization for its strong, elastic qualities. It was much sought after by wagon builders and as a result most of the country´s finest trees were logged out. It is a valued wood for furniture making and it has also been used for flooring, veneering, paneling, rifle stocks and engraving for printing.

Traditionally the root bark is used to treat intestinal parasites and the leaves are used as a remedy for ear infections. The White Pear is also revered for it protective powers and it is said to ward off evil spirits. The Department of Biology at the University of Kwazulu Natal has identified compounds found in its leaves as a potential molluscicide for the snails involved in the lifecycle of bilharzia.

The White Pear is a protected tree in South Africa. They make beautiful specimen, shade trees and they also prune well so can be grown as dense, screening hedges. The roots are non-invasive and they are fast growing trees.

The Milkwood Tree in Nature

Milkwoods are hardy, slow-growing trees with deep-green, leathery leaves and rough grayish-brown bark. Rarely are they found with a straight trunk. Instead their gnarled, sprawling branches create sheltering thickets that are home to a variety of wild life. By creating dense, low-crowing stands, Milkwoods are one of the few trees able to withstand the salt-laden winds that batter South Africa´s southern coastline. Although also occurring inland, Milkwoods are found mainly along the coast from the Cape Peninsula to northern Zululand. In days gone by, the site of a farmyard was often determined by the presence of a Milkwood. Their thick, umbrella-shaped crowns created a perfect ‘roof’ for the meat chests that pre-dated refrigerators. Amazingly, all the Milkwood trees at Platbos are genetically the same tree. Here they do not propagate themselves by seed dispersal - instead, when a Milkwood grows old and falls over, a "new" tree sprouts from the fallen trunk. It is as though one enormous, ancient tree is slowly walking through the forest!

The delicate, pale-golden flowers of the Milkwood are borne in clusters along the ends of the branches and they have an unusual sour-smell. The flowers are followed by juicy, dark magenta-coloured fruit that are enjoyed by birds and baboons. Once peeled of their outer skin, they have a grape-like taste. The milky latex, which gives the tree its common name, makes the leaves and the bark unpalatable to grazing animals. A superficial scratch to the bark reveals a bright red under surface - the colour of fresh blood. The wood is very hard, heavy and strong. In the past, it was used for ship building, bridges, mills and ploughs. It is very durable even when wet and it shrinks little with drying.

Traditionally the Milkwood has a number of medicinal uses: the roots have been used to aid the healing of fractured bones and an infusion of the bark is said to dispel nightmares.

The White Stinkwood

Tree of Light

The White Stinkwood tree has a very high vibration. This is an essence that may assist with aligning with your higher self, and for connecting with your soul purpose and inner knowing. The White Stinkwood essence may offer auric protection and may be useful for those wanting to develop their channeling abilities. White Stinkwood is an essence to use for when you are working with manifesting intentions into reality. White Stinkwood may assist with smoothly negotiating life changes and rites of passage.

The image of the White Stinkwood's energy is of the star tetrahedron - the three dimensional star of David - also known as the Merkabu: union of the light body with the physical body. White Stinkwood teaches that YOU are the pot of gold to be found at the end of the rainbow: all you require is found within. Shine your light!

This essence enlightens the crown chakrum.

The Cherry Wood

Tree of Serenity

The energy of the Cherry Wood tree is soothing and calming. This is an essence that may balance feelings of shock, fear, fright or trauma. Cherry Wood may unlock the sense of being "frozen" in the trauma and so create a safe and contained space for self-healing. Cherry Wood is a wonderfully comforting essence and may assist one with gently reintegrating back into life after the trauma has passed.

Use of Cherry Wood in Energetic Space Clearing: brings the different parts into harmony; provides a framework for containment; generates a feeling of safety; encourages connection with the Higher Self.

The Pock Ironwood

Tree of Intuition

The Pock Ironwood essence may enhance receptivity and intuition, and may bring focus, clarity and perspective. This essence may assist us with seeing the "bigger picture" and with gaining a new perspective of the status quo. The Pock Ironwood may aid in connecting with your inner wisdom and with opening the crown chakra so that the third eye is illuminated with cosmic consciousness.

This essence enlightens the third eye chakrum.

Use of Pock Ironwood in Energetic Space Clearing: use it to bring in a regenerative energy to the space; enhances the fire element. Protect the space from psychic attacks. For the containment of black spots; use to seal energetic/etheric holes/tears.

The Saffronwood

Tree of Tears

The Saffronwood essence may be helpful for tender-hearted souls who are easily bruised by life, and for those who feel their emotions very deeply. The energy of this tree offers comfort for hurt, loss, grief or tearfulness. Saffronwood may assist with voicing one's troubles or fears and may be beneficial for young children who suffer from home-sickness or who struggle to adjust to school. This essence may balance over-protective parents who are irrationally fearful for the safety of their children.

Use of Saffronwood in Energetic Space Clearing: brings joyfulness and an optimistic energy into the house. Use to infuse the home with positivity and to regenerate old patterns; use to enliven areas of stagnation.

The Wild Olive

Tree of Faith

The Wild Olive essence may be useful in times of need, despair or exhaustion - when fortitude, strength and protection are required. Wild Olive´s energy offers faith and perseverance for the darkest hour before the dawn. The image is of a rainbow of the clearest hues arching across an endless sea and sky of blue.

Wild Olive essence may encourage vocal self-expression and it holds a strength that may be experienced as deeply comforting and reassuring.

This essence enlightens the throat chakrum.

Use of Wild Olive in Energetic Space Clearing: brings a sparkle to the atmosphere; use to oxygenate a space, to bring more vitality into it; to infuse goals with positive energy; to assist occupants to function effortlessly and in harmony with the space.