There's probably not a 100% correct answer, but here's how I read that passage: Basically someone doesn't like the Traveler. Wasn't Rasputin the one who referred to the Traveler as a Gardener? I don't remember 100%, but I think it was him. Anyway... Tree - Guardians and those touched by the Traveler Garden - Basically what has been touched by the Traveler Disastrous Bark basically saying that the Traveler grants power, but those given the power create death and ruin. Every leaf forged into instruments of ruin - See above. "Gardener is hard to bother..." The Traveler doesn't do much regularly and from the author's perspective has no -blam!-s to give for anyone.