Garden Bloggers Bloom Day DEC 2007

I am glad its here again, another gardening blogger’s bloom day. With steadily dipping temperatures, a morning stroll amidst the flowers is warming enough to prepare for the day ahead. Present maximum temperatures are hovering around in the range of 16-18 degree C, while the minimum dips down to 6-9 degrees- Not bad for blooms yet. Coming days might see a frost cover which will spell doom for the bloom but as of now there is reason enough to be cheerful about. With these sentiments I enlist the blooms at Indiagarden: Plumeria Alba Plumeria rubra Mustard Buddha Belly Plant or Jatropha Podagrica Rose Chrysanthemum Squash Marigold Poinsettia Salvia Splendens or the Scarlet Sage The dull grey of winters is knocking at the doors but thankfully, as of now, there are colors in my garden. May be by the next GBBD I’ll have to be content with the colorful memories, snuggling up in front of the television, enjoying a hot cup of coffee.

Welcome Winters

November is about to end, and there is a wintry excitement in the air. Wintry-excitement might sound like an oxymoron to the western garden bloggers, considering the dull dreary winters there, but the North Indian summers are so exasperating that one doesn’t mind the chill of winter air-at least I don’t. Sun is not scorching anymore...though still shining brightly. Roses are enjoying the drop in temperature to the fullest, rewarding my garden with exuberant blooms. Ornamental Peppers are turning a fiery shade of red...as fiery as their taste. The Garlic vine or Cydista aequinoctialis ,a harbinger of winters, blooms, spraying its very mild, and if I may add, not-so-pleasant garlicky aroma to the surroundings; Marigold's blooming time is perfect.It forms an integral part of Indian festive decorations. Lady of the Night, or Cestrum Nocturnum spreads its intoxicating aroma as the night falls. Bougainvillea basks in the sunshine.... Poinsetttia gearing up my garden for Christmas. And how can I forget the 'Mums' of Garden, Chrysanthemums, blooming in myriad shades and colours. The green leafy veggies, like mustard, fenugreek, spinach, ready for harvest; All in all, my plants are very excited about the coming winters...and I am excited too!!

Festive Fever

It has been an awfully long time since my last post, the reason being my preoccupation with the festival season which had me on my toes, not allowing much time for anything other than sundry cleaning works, shopping, and other household chores. The good thing about all these festivals and accompanying festivities is that, although tedious, you have to get on with the onerous task of cleaning the house; something which I meticulously avoid till pushed to the wall. Autumn is almost fully booked with various rituals and festivals. Diwali is the most important festival in the Hindu calendar.The word Diwali is derived from the word Deepavali that means "a row of lights". Before Diwali the house is spring cleaned and white washed. On Diwali day itself, the house is adorned with marigold flowers, colourful rangoli patterns are made on the main entrance and sweets are exchanged among acquaintances and friends. As the night falls, preparations are made for LakshmiPooja or the worship of Goddess Lakshmi-Goddess of wealth and prosperity.It is believed that Goddess Laxmi will visit the cleanest house first. After the puja, rows of earthen lamps and candles are lit to usher in light on the dark no moon night. Then crackers are bursted without which Diwali festivities are incomplete. This part of the celebration is the main attraction for children for which they wait eagerly the whole day.With the bursting of crackers and fireworks Diwali celebrations come to an end. Diwali is a festival which is celebrated with equal fervour throughout the country and many parts of world, among all age groups irrespective of caste,creed and socio-economic background. Diwali date comes 20 days after the popular festival of Dussehra or Vijaya Dashmi and marks the return of mythological lord Rama from exile after defeating the ‘Demon king’ Ravana. The fall of Ravana is celebrated as Dussehra and on this day huge effigies of Ravana, filled with firecrackers, are burned all over the country. Over with the festivals of Dussehra and Diwali, and with Christmas and New Year to look forward to, I am back in routine to my garden in company of my ‘a little grown up’ little one, and Bruno.

Best Out Of Waste

Lately there was a lot of talk about environment conservation on the blogophere with many bloggers giving their thought provoking takes on eco-balancing and environment protection. Coincidentally about that time I had a chance to visit the ‘Rock Garden of Chandigarh’ It is a marvel of a common man’s imagination. The garden was conceptualized by an official of a transport office, Mr Nek Chand who wanted some space to pursue his deep passion for sculpting and gardening. He cleared a patch of jungle and started making sculptures with whatever he could lay his hands on, working mainly at night out of the fear of being detected in the day. When finally authorities came to know of the existence, initially they were appalled on the illegality of the creation, but then pragmatism prevailed and judging the artistic quality and potential of the thing, they gave him an official sanction and a grant to carry on with the job.

Click to enlarge

As it stands now, the garden has immortalized the creator and is a major tourist attraction of Chandigarh. Who would have thought of using condemned telephonic wires or electricity sockets to be made into something as artistic! The matted roots looked so real that I had to touch them to confirm that they are actually carved out rocks! Rows and columns of pots used to create partitions. Broken bangles, discarded pieces of broken china, house hold plumbing…almost anything, inanimate and existing, has been used to sculpt these cute figurines. Works like these are an inspiration. It’s not just the beauty that one appreciates; these places stimulate one to be creative, imaginative and loving towards Mother Nature.I hope my little one learned a thing or two from the visit. As of now she is infinitely more interested in breaking things than to create any thing worthwhile from broken objects:-)

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day Oct 2007

Time is flying! 15th October and it is time for posting one’s blooms, courtesy Carol at Maydreamsgardens. Although October is a wonderful month considering the wonderful cool weather with sunshine at just the right intensity- the blooms in my garden aren’t much different from last month. So here goes my bloom list: Hedychium Summer Poinsettia or Mexican Fire Plant or Euphorbia cyathophora Pink Oleander Gladiolus Dwarf Ixora Crinum Asiaticum Touch me not or Mimosa Pudica Hibiscus Rosa sinensis Lovely Peach coloured Hibiscus Bleeding Heart vine or Clerodendrum thomsoniae This is the flower of a purple bean whose name I don't know, the seeed was planted by my undergardener and he could not recollect the name of the bean.Can anybody help? P.S.-The bean was later identified by Annie in Austin as the Velvet bean or Mucuna Pruriens.Thanks Annie!