Down the Garden Path | Ep. 315

The spiritual leader known as the Dalai Lama said: “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.”

Helping others makes the world a better place; there’s no doubt about it. And as we’ll hear in today’s story, we can be helpers no matter who we are – or how big or small!

Our tale is called “Down the Garden Path.” It’s inspired by Buddhist tales from India in South Asia and Tibet in East Asia.

This episode was the second of two recorded live at Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts on Feb. 7. 2026. Joining host Rebecca Sheir on stage was a star-studded cast of actors: Michael Bobbitt, Michael Cerveris, Callie Crossley, and Faith Salie.

Michael Bobbitt is a theater director, choreographer, and playwright whose works include “Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds,” “Garfield: the Musical with Cattitude,” “Jumanji,” “Caps for Sale,” “Make Way for Ducklings,” and “Not Your Mother’s Goose.” He serves as president and CEO of OPERA America.

Michael Cerveris is a multiple Tony- and Grammy-Award-winning actor for “Fun Home,” “The Who’s Tommy,” and “Assassins,” with additional Tony nominations for “Evita,” “LoveMusik,” and John Doyle’s “Sweeney Todd.” He’s had memorable roles in such TV shows as “The Gilded Age,” “Billions,” “Tremé," “Blacklist,” “Madame Secretary,” "The Good Wife," and "Fringe.”

Callie Crossley is a Boston-based radio and TV journalist, commentator, and public speaker who hosts “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley” on GBH. Her many awards include the prestigious Gold Baton DuPont Columbia award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, an Emmy, and an Oscar nomination for her producer work on “Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years.”

Faith Salie is an Emmy-winning contributor to CBS News “Sunday Morning” and a regular panelist on NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” Faith hosted five seasons of the PBS show “Science Goes To The Movies” and co-created and hosted one of the first ever podcasts (way back in 2006!): “Fair Game with Faith Salie.” Faith is the author of “Approval Junkie, My Heartfelt (and Occasionally Inappropriate) Quest to Please Just About Everyone” and “Ultimately Myself.”

Providing musical accompaniment, under the direction of composer Eric Shimelonis, was a world-class ensemble from the Boston Symphony Orchestra: Cathy Basrak on viola, Rachel Childers on horn, Christopher Elchico on clarinet, Clint Foreman on flute, Ben Levy on double bass and Suzanne Nelsen on bassoon.

Special thanks to everyone at the BSO, including Chad Smith, Tony Fogg, Mark Rulison, Casimir Deronette, James Campbell, Dana Filloon, Jason Leonhard, Stephen Ponchak, Amy Aldrich, Jason Lyon, and Callie Carmosino.

​​This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Dean Russell. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

GROWN-UPS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so please share your picture on Facebook and Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRoundPodcast. To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE.

Now It’s Your Turn

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Script:

NARRATOR (host Rebecca Sheir): The blossom tree grew outside the royal palace, in a sprawling garden filled with so many flowers and plants you couldn’t begin to name them all.

The blossom tree had reddish-brown bark, and a trunk so tall and upright it looked like a pillar. Strong, leafy branches thrust up and out in every direction. Come spring, those branches exploded with white and pink blossoms, so tender and delicate they made your heart quiver.

The blossom tree was the jewel of the king’s garden, the apple of his eye. And every morning, before he dove into a long day of edict-writing, banquet-planning and other royal duties, he strolled down the garden path to pay his favorite tree a visit.

KING: Good morning, blossom tree! It’s wonderful to see you. Is it just me, or are your leaves particularly green today?

NARRATOR: The king loved sitting beneath the blossom tree, with the gentle breeze fluttering its leaves and the dappled light streaming through its branches.

KING: You know what, tree? When I’m here with you, it’s the only time I feel relaxed and at peace. What would I do without you? I hope I never have to find out!

NARRATOR: One day, the king was in his royal office, composing yet another royal edict, when something plopped onto his royal desk.

[music: PLOP!]

KING: (GASP!) It’s a little white clump! It’s kind of powdery… kind of flaky. What on earth could it – [music: PLOP!] Oh!

NARRATOR: Now another white clump fell – this time on the king’s head!

[music: PLOP!]

KING: What is happening? It’s as if these flaky white clumps are raining down from the ceiling!

NARRATOR: The king lifted his gaze, and that’s when he saw it. A long jagged crack across the plaster.

Immediately he summoned his head carpenter.

KING: Carpenter! The ceiling of this room is caving in! And now plaster is raining down everywhere! (beat) Look at that crack!

NARRATOR: The carpenter glanced up. As his eyes followed the crack’s zigzagging path, from the middle of the ceiling to the corner of the room, his mouth dropped into a frown.

CARPENTER: Your Majesty…? I’m afraid I have terrible news. Do you see that big wooden pillar in the corner?

KING: How can I not see it? It’s one of the pillars that holds up this entire palace!

CARPENTER: Not for much longer, it won’t! The ceiling is cracking because the pillar is coming apart! I don’t know how we missed it, but the wood is rotting and growing soft. If we don’t replace that pillar soon, the palace will collapse! And all of us will be crushed!

NARRATOR: The king shuddered. He wasn’t the only one who called the palace home. Living under its roof were countless attendants, valets, handmaidens and other workers. He couldn't put them in danger – or leave them homeless!

KING: Alright, carpenter. Gather the royal woodcutters and scour the city for something, anything, to replace the rotting pillar! We have no time to lose!

NARRATOR: The carpenter and woodcutters spent all day journeying from park to park, square to square, garden to garden, carefully measuring every tall tree they came across.

But as the sun dropped below the horizon, they returned to the palace empty-handed.

KING: What’s going on? Why didn’t you bring back a tree to replace the pillar?

NARRATOR: The carpenter hung his head.

CARPENTER: We didn’t bring back a tree, Your Majesty… because it’s already here.

KING: What are you talking about?

NARRATOR: The carpenter hesitated.

CARPENTER: Well, sir… The only tree in the city strong enough for this job… is the blossom tree.

KING: The blossom tree?

NARRATOR: The king’s hand flew to his mouth.

KING: That can’t be true!

CARPENTER: You know how tall and mighty that tree is, sir! If you wish to save this palace, you must cut down the blossom tree. It’s our only hope.

NARRATOR: The king was torn between concern for the palace and its workers… and his everlasting love for the tree. But even though it pained his heart, he knew he had to choose.

KING: Very well then. We will cut down the blossom tree. (beat) It’s too late to get started now. So you and your team shall report to the royal garden first thing tomorrow, just before daybreak.

CARPENTER: Of course, Your Majesty.

NARRATOR: The king bid the carpenter farewell. Then he rose to his feet, exited the palace, and hurried to the blossom tree.

KING: Oh, blossom tree! Sweet blossom tree! The last thing I want is to chop you down! But what choice do I have? The palace isn’t just MY home; it’s home to countless others! Good, hardworking people! (beat) I’m so sorry, tree. So very sorry!

NARRATOR: He fell to his knees and wrapped the tree in an embrace. After a long, tearful squeeze, he rose to his feet, wiped his eyes, and went back to the palace.

…Now. Little did the king know, but his words had not fallen on deaf ears. For inside the blossom tree was a spirit. And the tree’s spirit could hear every word the king uttered. It always could! And after watching the distraught monarch hurry away, with his face in his hands, the spirit of the blossom tree…

BLOSSOM TREE: (ad-lib bursting into tears)

NARRATOR: …began to cry.

BLOSSOM TREE: I can’t believe the king is turning me into a pillar! My spirit has lived inside this tree for so very long! It’s the only home I’ve known! Whatever shall I do?

NARRATOR: The blossom tree wept and wept, until…

KUSHA GRASS: Pssst! Blossom tree!

BLOSSOM TREE: Huh? Who’s there?

KUSHA GRASS: It’s me! Your neighbor!

BLOSSOM TREE: My neighbor??? I can see all around me and no one is talking!

KUSHA GRASS: That’s because I’m NOT “around” you! I’m UNDER you!

NARRATOR: The spirit of the blossom tree looked down. And there, poking up near the base of its trunk, was a patch of the stiff, silvery-green plant known as kusha grass. 

BLOSSOM TREE: Well hello there! I’m surprised I’ve never noticed you before!

KUSHA GRASS: That’s alright. Not many do notice me, save for the bugs and insects who play hide-and-seek among my blades… and the camouflaging chameleons who lay in wait to gobble up those insects!

BLOSSOM TREE: They do?

KUSHA GRASS: Oh yes! Any patch of kusha grass you come across is bound to be crawling with chameleons! (beat) But look. We’re getting off track. The reason I spoke up… is because I know how to help you!

BLOSSOM TREE: How to help me NOT become a pillar in a palace?

KUSHA GRASS: That’s right!

BLOSSOM TREE: No offense, but what can a little patch of grass do to save a big mighty tree?

KUSHA GRASS: Listen, blossom tree. I may not be big in size, but I AM big in brains.

BLOSSOM TREE: Since when does grass have a brain…?

KUSHA GRASS: You know what I mean! I have a plan, blossom tree! A pretty darn good one. (beat) (dramatic) And if it works, I assure you: the king’s woodcutters won’t just realize they’re barking up the wrong tree… they’ll make like a tree… and leave!

NARRATOR: What is the kusha grass planning?

We’ll find out, after a quick break.

[BREAK]

NARRATOR: I’m Rebecca Sheir and welcome back to Circle Round Live at Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts!

Today our story is called “Down the Garden Path.”

Before the break, the king decided he would save his palace from collapse by cutting down his beloved blossom tree. The spirit of the tree was devastated… until the kusha grass that grew around its base offered to help!

Come daybreak, the king’s woodcutters marched into the garden. Sharp metal axes swung from their belts as they followed the head carpenter to the blossom tree.

CARPENTER: Listen up, folks! First we must find the best place to chop the tree down! I’m thinking we might want to do our first hack, right around… HERE.

NARRATOR: He laid his hand at the base of the trunk, just above the roots. But the moment he did…

CARPENTER: Ewwww!

NARRATOR: …he recoiled in disgust.

CARPENTER: The trunk! It’s…ROTTEN! It’s all soft and mushy, up and down!

NARRATOR: The woodcutters jostled forward to feel the tree themselves. And indeed! The trunk was spongy to the touch!

CARPENTER: I don’t know what happened, but there’s no way we can use this tree to build a new pillar. I’ll go tell the king!

NARRATOR: The carpenter found the king in the dining room, sipping his morning tea.

And crying into it, too.

KING: (crying)

CARPENTER: Your Majesty? I have news!

NARRATOR: The king looked up with red-rimmed eyes.

KING: (assuming) So it is done! The tree is gone! Woe is me!

CARPENTER: ACTUALLY, sir… the tree still stands!

NARRATOR: The king was so shocked, he nearly dropped his porcelain teacup.

KING: You mean… you didn’t chop it down?

CARPENTER: We couldn’t! Because the tree, sir… is dead.

KING: Dead???

NARRATOR: Now the king DID drop his teacup. It fell to the floor and shattered.

KING: This can’t  be possible! Just yesterday the tree was thriving! How could it be dead?

CARPENTER: That I do not know, sir. But when we went to cut it down, we discovered its trunk was all mushy, and squishy. The blossom tree had rotted! Overnight!

NARRATOR: Now it was the king’s heart that shattered. But, remembering his promise to protect his fellow palace residents, he squared his shoulders and put on a brave face.

KING: Alright then. If the blossom tree truly is dead, then we must find something else to replace the pillar.

CARPENTER: That’s easier said than done, sir! I told you: there’s not one tree in this city with enough sturdiness or stature!

KING: Not one?

CARPENTER: Not ONE!

NARRATOR: The king furrowed his brow. Then, slowly, he un-furrowed it.

KING: Hang on a minute, carpenter! If there is NOT ONE tree in this city that can replace the pillar… then don’t use ONE!

CARPENTER: Come again?

KING: Tell me. Would it be possible… to bind several trees together?

CARPENTER: Bind them together? I suppose so! We’d have to use something strong – like bands of brass!

KING: Excellent! I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. (beat) I want you to go out into the city, and bring back three of the strongest trees you can. They won’t be as strong as the blossom tree is – or WAS. But if you bind them together, you can use them to replace the pillar!

CARPENTER: A brilliant idea, sir! We’ll get to work right away!

NARRATOR: Once the carpenter left to summon his crew, the king rose to his feet and stepped outside. The early light of dawn cast a magical glow across the garden as he approached his dear, and dead, friend.

KING: Alright, blossom tree. I’m coming to say goodbye – for real, this time. I don’t know what happened last night. Perhaps you died of a broken heart? I know my heart is breaking now!

NARRATOR: As he approached the tree, he covered his face with his hands, fearful of the devastation he would find.

But when he put his hands down…

KING: WHAT???

NARRATOR: …it wasn’t “devastation” he found at all!

KING: Blossom tree! You look exactly as you did yesterday! There is not a soft spot to be seen!

NARRATOR: He ran his hand over the reddish-brown bark.

KING: Your bark feels as sturdy as ever! Your leaves are green and bright! All this talk of you being rotten is nonsense! Nonsense!

NARRATOR: He flung his arms around the tree and gave it a squeeze. If he didn’t know better, he would swear it squeezed back.

Now… I know what you’re wondering. You’re wondering, how did the blossom tree survive?

Well, do you remember what the kusha grass said? How it told the blossom tree it had a plan?

KUSHA GRASS: (echoing earlier line) And if it works, I assure you: the king’s woodcutters won’t just realize they’re barking up the wrong tree… they’ll make like a tree and leave!

NARRATOR: As we learned earlier, the kusha grass had long escaped the blossom tree’s notice. But it was well known among other creatures… including the bug-eyed reptiles known as chameleons.

Chameleons can camouflage, right? They can disguise themselves by changing colors? And these chameleons loved camouflaging in the silvery-green kusha grass, so they could stealthily hunt down bugs and insects.

So… on that perilous night when it seemed the blossom tree was done for… the kusha grass called on its pals, the chameleons, and requested a favor.

KUSHA GRASS: My dear, dear friends! The blossom tree is in danger and needs to be saved! I want you to climb up the tree’s trunk – covering every last inch – then I want you… to CAMOUFLAGE! Turn yourselves the EXACT same color as the tree! Then…? Just sit there! Silently! Until the woodcutters come and go! And believe me: once they feel your soft, mushy skin… they will most definitely GO!

NARRATOR: And as we now all know, they most definitely did!

As a result, a bunch of palace workers got to keep their home. A king got to keep his tree. And what’s more, that tree got to make a new friend: a clever, inconspicuous patch of grass who unexpectedly saved the day.