what's the meaning of "cushioning cushioning the landscape in miniature green clouds"?

As far as the eye can see, emerald tea gardens cling to the hillsides,
mile upon mile of undulating curves, hugging the steep slopes like
moss on an aged stone, paths zigzagging through the low-slung
shrubs, cushioning the landscape in miniature green clouds, arid silver
trunks reaching gnarled tentacles down into the hardened ground.