Judi Dench plants a tree every time someone she loves dies — and the reason is beautiful

Dame Judi Dench, the iconic "James Bond" actress, has never shied away from speaking about her dear friendship with the late actress Dame Maggie Smith. When the "Downton Abbey" star passed away at the age of 89, she might have left Dench's side physically, but the "Skyfall" actor has surprisingly found an adorable way to feel closer to her. In an interview with Kenneth Branagh, she introduced her beloved tree and revealed how it kept bringing Smith's spirit to her backyard, overlooking her English home. The full episode of "Tea With Judi Dench" was aired on Sky Arts on December 22.

In her beautiful garden, Dench has planted various trees in memory of her friends who have passed away. In fact, it was Dench and her husband, Michael Williams, who together had planned a garden full of trees, some dedicated to their friends, including that of Geoffrey Palmer and Stephen Sondheim. The long stretch of land also had a crabapple tree that she planted for her close friend and longtime confidante, Maggie Smith. She explained how the tree, which is now full of fruit, hadn't borne any until the day of Smith's funeral. "And so I had it in my pocket at her funeral, which was a very nice thing to have," she had told the BBC in an interview. Moreover, when Kenneth Branagh pointed out how Dench had planted the crabapple tree at her front door, Dench immediately responded, "She is watching," as if she could feel her best friend's presence every day.  

Dench doesn't believe in discontinuing bonds with someone after their demise; rather, she keeps her bond with them intact through her trees. This not only helps in grief management but also in keeping your loved ones' memories alive. In other words, it's called "Continuing Bonds Theory." It challenged the outdated notion that says the death of a person means letting go of them completely. Instead, the theory insists on maintaining an emotional relationship with the deceased and sees it as a healthy way of dealing with grief. For example, "The Living Memorials Project" identified over 700 memorial sites across the United States and planted trees, built gardens, or forests to honor the victims of the tragic September 11, 2001, terror attacks. The initiative, executed by the USDA Forest Service, was born out of the notion that nature fosters healing by uniting people and creating lasting memorials for those who lost their lives, their families, communities, and the nation.

Meanwhile, Dench's wholesome gesture won millions of hearts on social media. Netizens loved how the actress found a unique way to keep her late best friend in her memories; for instance, @victoriajfrescura commented, "I love this, but must admit how heartbreaking it is to be losing these Great Dames. Aside from the great loss that came with Maggie’s passing, Judi’s eyesight is deteriorating, and in this you can hear her ask him if there are fruits on its branches because she can no longer see them. I wonder if we’ll ever be graced with another group of women such as them." @sadielou01 shared, "That is very Chinese. I had a college professor who taught Chinese culture, history, and language. He had a whole garden full of trees named for friends."

@simplicitermaria said, "They were not only 'sacred monsters' of acting but the emblem of a generation of artists and women. They will always remain in our hearts and in the characters they played." @jessie.kuhl.98 shared, "Beautiful tribute! The best kind. My son, Michael, gave me your book, 'Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent,' for my 90th birthday (December 17). I asked for it especially—I had a semester of the Bard in college and can never seem to get enough of it. Thank you for your body of work!" 

More on Scoop Upworthy

A loving mom planted two million trees in a desert to fulfill her late son’s last wish

Central Park's well-hidden holiday tree is people's precious way to remember their beloved pets

City forced him to cut the oak tree tied to his late wife, so he found a way to save it forever