For twelve years , I watch carefully an orange seed, later an orange sampling, later a young orange tree growing beside a stream in my neighborhood.
I and sibblings used to visit it to partake of its succulent, nutritious and savoury fruits whenever it is in season!
But after a three year out sojourn, l cane home to behold a skeletal,lifeless bole, devoid of the usual bevy of green leaves!
But what happened to it??
It became dead because its source of nutrition, the nearby stream was dammed up its north causing a stop to the flow of acqeous nutrients.
Yes ! It died!
But I was told , it was gradual; first leaves becoming yellowish, then brownish, finally brownish falling off down to be swept away to be burnt!!
Yes! It died ; but in piece meal!
But Why?????
It STOPPED INCREASINGin height and in diameter as the intricate cells 'refuse' to divide to increase numerically!!
But how does this led to death? I asked the botanist!
"WHATEVER THAT IS NOT GROWING IS DYING, she said!!
Would you CONTROVERT Her??
Why ???