A Seed Takes Root

The lyrical text is paired with evocative original artwork by Oka Doner inspired by (and at times incorporating elements of) a much-loved banyan tree in Miami Beach that has been a presence in her life since childhood. A book and work of art that defies classification, A Seed Takes Root is simultaneously an art book, a poetic meditation, a memoir, a fable, and a tale suitable for children and for readers of all ages. A Seed Takes Root describes a decades-long relationship between the author and a banyan tree that begins when the author is a young girl. For her, the tree is a place for play, for refuge, and also a source of inspiration. While this is a true story of one tree and one girl/woman/artist that celebrates a particular banyan tree, it is also a testament to the quiet power shared by all trees. Further, this beautifully told story is not only of the relationship between an artist and a tree, but is a strong environmental statement made more effective by being non-polemical. The banyan tree featured in the book is in the process of being designated a City of Miami Beach heritage tree. In 2021, Michele Oka Doner was officially proclaimed guardian of the ninety-five-year-old banyan tree by the City of Miami Beach. As the proclamation aptly stated, 'Oka Doner calls on all of us to be lovers of the environment, not its masters.'