Many bloggers are now writing about the change of season and
posting pictures of Fall decorations. It's fascinating to see
the photos of leaves changing colour and read about frost
that'll soon follow.
Here we do not have any pronounced difference in the landscape
except that it's soon going to look dry. The rain is now an
infrequent damper and the heat, in the evenings has come down
somewhat. With the festive season round the corner we know the
heat is about to say it's final, reluctant goodbye. And that
calls for a celebration. Hence, the candle--lit up in antici-
pation of cooler days, rather than joyous festive days!
Blooms that signify the end of summer in eastern India is the
"Seacharun spotaneum" . Locally known as "kohua" it blooms in
September. These are blooming not far from my house, in a plot
of land where construction is yet to begin. A massive gate, all
locked up, faced me, but I took the liberty to click away.
The night's drizzle has given the blooms a bedraggled look.
Otherwise they look like white fluffs in the landscape.
Most newspapers in the region make it a point to publish these
pictures. And every year the pictures stir up certain emotions--
This was published in "The Assam Tribune" one of Assam's oldest
newspapers.
Change is always welcome. It's the season, not of mists here
but mellow fruitfulness? Yes! And the candles are lit again,
this time in welcoming the start of the festive season!
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17 comments:
I agree with Nancy, the candles are a lovely way to welcome your change of season! Isn't it amazing how different parts of the world celebrate the seasons in their own unique ways. While we have the color changing of our leaves you have beautiful grasses who's white plumes show the end of one season & the beginning of another. :)
Your post is a timely reminder of the temporal nature we all share. Nothing on this earth (including administrations) lasts forever (thank heaven!). Thanks for lighting the candles for us!
It's so cosy when candles are lit - I hope you will enjoy the festive season!
Katarina
Those are very nice blooms. Looks like some kind of ornamental grass. The changing of the seasons, yes, full upon us. So now your weather gets dry? Ours gets wet in our winter.
Boy, was I dull when I visited you earlier. "Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness." Duh! Thanks for paying some well-deserved homage to Autumn and John Keats.
Nancy, thank you. And I'm so glad you dropped by.
That's right Racquel. And while trying to find a good pix to accompany my post, I ended up reading about the significance of grasslands in river valleys. Guwahati is on the banks of one of the biggest/longest rivers of India and in many parts of the valley different varieties of grass grow. These are also the habitat of several birds...Look what your leaves and decorations have led me to! And what a fun way to learn!!
Walk2write, happy to read your comments! Well, with autumn, one can't help referring to the Revered Greats, even if we do not share the same climatic conditions in a particular season. ButI did see mist this morning. On the city's outskirts where the hills of a neighbouring state rise above the landscape and the word which immediately came to mind was--cool!
Yes, that's the word---cosy. Thank you Katarina.
Thanks, Tina. I'm looking forward to the 'season' posts from your part of the world. Reading abot contrasts as well as similarities is always interesting!
hey sorry it has been so long. i love to light candles and have them burning at night and they make everything smell so nice.
happy fall to you and hope you enjoy your seasonal changes.
The kohua looks impressive as a clump, yet so pretty as individual blooms.
I've just been peering at Guwahati on a map. Although I've heard of Assam (because of the tea!) I know nothing about it - and was astonished to see where it is. I hadn't realised there was more India on the other side of Bangladesh!
(My education isn't very profound!)
Aren't blogs wonderful that even an interest in gardening can lead us to learn such important things about the world and confront us (in a good way) with our ignorance.
Lucy
Yes Lucy, I find that interesting too and am going to look it up as well. Thanks!
This is a gentle and lovely post. I love the fluffy white flowers; and the candles to welcome another season.
Marmee, thank you. It's been really pleasant today, weather-wise, so there's much to look forward to-- mainly, planting seasonal flowers and tomatoes! Happy fall to you too!
Very true Lucy. I've been looking at a lot of maps myself, trying to find out the exact location of bloggers I've interacted with, or blogs I've read. I'm glad you'll be finding out more about my state.
Because of the location, the eastern most region is generally referred to as the north-east. It's different from mainstream India in many ways. The language, customs, and although Hindi is widely spoken in north India as well as the western part, that is not the case in remote areas of the n.e.
Also, many of us (including me)have Mongoloid features. So unlike the image that one would have of an "Indian". But if you see the geographical location and the proximity to Myanmar and Thailand, Bhutan and China, it makes sense!!!
Btw, the world's largest river island, Majuli, is in Assam. On the mighty river, the Brahmaputra.
Thank you for mentioning 'more India on the other side of Bangladesh'. Loved the way you put it.
Tina, happy to read your comment!
Thank you Trudi. There was another picture of these blooms in the papers today.
You may not have the changing of colors like we do but you have wonderful plants such as "kohua". I love the delicate blooms and that silvery color.
Kanak, I finally got around to looking up Assam. It sounds like an awesome place and quite different from the 'rest' of India it seems and from America, yet still connected as we are thru the Internet. I find it all amazing. I was particularly interested in the fact Assam is an area of GREAT biodiversity, has the river as old as the Himalayans (pretty old), and is famous for the tea made from camelia sinensis. I also read development of your area goes back 2000 years! I am going to buy some Assam tea whenever I find it in a store to try it. It is supposed to be different from highland teas, though I could not tell the difference I am sure. Thanks for sharing all about your fascinating area.
Lucy, Thanks for giving me the impetus to look up Assam!
Sorry such a book. I do tend to talk a bit:)
Susie, thanks. Blotanical posts led me to write this. And your fall decoration was most inspirational, for me! Thanks once again!
Tina, I'm so happy you found out info on my state. The geographical location (which I mentioned in my comment to Lucy) makes not only Assam, but the entire n.e. different from the rest of India.
Talking about tea, I have never 'acquired' the taste for highland tea. Darjeeling tea is famous but I think I love strong Assam tea too much!
BTW I LOVE books!!!!!
Kanak it is such a joy to read your posts and your visitors' comments. I don't know what delights me more about your writing - discovering intriguing differences or learning how much we are all the same.
Regards
BTW I LOVE books, too!
WOW! You managed to capture the white blooms beautifully, and I love your candle grouping!
Very true, Shauna.And thanks... it does give you a feeling of oneness when the topic is about weeding, buying, pruning...it doesn't matter that I don't/can't grow that particular plant. The happiness or frustration is universal. But then some things---yes, intriguing IS the word, but then that's what makes it all the more interesting!
For instance, pumpkins now. Very enjoyable, highly readable, but so totally different from our treatment of pumpkins! Just compare the adjectives. For us---common, ubiquitous, even insipid, as most people will insist. For you--decorative, creative, artistic, magical....whew! Now I'm off to gawk at pumpkins. First stop? The Garden Brae!
Carla, lovely to read your comment. And thanks!
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