A landscape developer, a consultant in designing gardens, and a Bonsai expert, Daniel D’Souza is popularly known as the ‘tree man’ in Goa for catering his dedicated services to the ‘Plant World’ for over three decades, as this botanist chooses to remain close to nature while earning his living
One must listen to what people have to say about Daniel D’Souza, a landscape designer in Goa with over 32 years of experience in consulting and designing gardens. A Bonsai expert, a garden consultant and landscape developer, Daniel rendered his professional service to the Corporation of City of Panaji and the Vasco Municipality. Goan playwright and former lecturer at Goa University Isabel de Santa Rita Vas finds the city of Panaji wearing many smiles as it was Daniel who was chiefly responsible for the beautification of gardens in the capital city. “With his expertise and imagination Daniel transformed unnoticed spaces in Panaji into miniature garden spaces. A few granite boulders, a few assorted plants, a sharp eye for aesthetics and constant care, and the city wore many smiles,” says Isabel.
Living true to such emotional responses, Daniel, the sole proprietor of ‘Plant World’ has pioneered the concept of Bonsai in Goa. He also does exclusive flower arrangement for 5-star resorts. A recipient of several awards for Plant shows in Goa, Daniel is popularly known as the ‘green man’ and ‘tree man’ of Goa. He is often invited as a judge on the subject of his authority – plants.
“My clients are scattered across Goa and I look after the maintenance of gardens. I offer after-sales/post-services too. Usually, I like to work in Goa as it’s easier for maintenance visits and regular up-keeping,” he explains. Daniel also takes training sessions for plant enthusiasts at his home in Assagao, North Goa. People of all ages come to him to learn about plants. “There is no age bar to enroll for the batches and learn about Mother Nature, as the learning is life-long,” says Daniel who enjoys welcoming people with a green thumb.
Academically, Daniel holds a masters degree in Botany through research from the Mumbai University, where he had uncommonly chosen to carry out research work on genus Anthurium. His pioneering contribution in this area has since become a landing research work for subsequent researchers. He is specialising in lush tropical gardens by coordinating plant material and the art of drawing attention to focal points in the garden. Besides a tropical landscape, Daniel pays a lot of attention to his avian friends by growing fruiting trees, plants and flowers that attract a lot of butterflies year round and activate the senses of smell and fragrance in his landscape.
Daniel also offers his voluntary services to replant, rejuvenate uprooted trees. He breathes life into those fallen or purposefully cut fully grown trees, when they are shifted from their original place to a newer, safer spot. Daniel has a green thumb. And he realised it too soon, when he was a kid of four. His love for plants was visible as a child, and encouraging it, his father bought him a book on Bonsai when he was eight. Daniel was so fascinated by this book that it made a lasting imprint on his mind, and as he grew up, he decided to learn more about plant life.
A Bonsai takes years to actually look like a bonsai – at least 15 to 18 years and sometimes even more. There are three types of Bonsai – fruiting, flowering, and foliage. It depends upon the taste of the collector. Some have a mix of all three. Mulberry and Bougainvillea are common but people love Bonsai Banyan. The species takes 15-30 years minimum to really mature into a beautiful Bonsai. The Bonsai plants are precious and rare. The older the plant is, the higher the price!
“I usually work on two sets of plants, one for commercial purposes and the other for my personal store bank. I use this personal set to display at the exhibitions. It’s hard to part with the plants you grow with such care and affection. Nurturing something for years, and then letting it go in exchange of currency, is a sad part of our business. The plants are like babies to me. Parting with them makes me emotional. But, I also want to see the love for plants growing among the hearts of others. People who love nature should outnumber those who harm it,” asserts Daniel, whose son Nash is also passionate about plants, and has a cacti collection. Daniel’s paternal aunt Babalia Washington Fernandes was the official florist in Goa in the 1960s and ‘70s and she ran a plant and flowers nursery at Miramar. “It runs in our DNA. We are plant people,” concludes Daniel.
