A Horticultural Show

This afternoon I headed off to the National Horti-Expo.
The entire space has been converted into a huge garden,
a potted garden. Several hundreds of plants were in
plastic bags. It was like taking a walk through the
real thing (and not a make-shift one) replete with
bees and butterflies!


An eye-catching arrangement with potted flowers, marble
potatoes and maize. These potatoes are very popular here
but this is the first time I've seen them so artistically
displayed.

There were many azaleas on display. They looked spectacular!

As you go through the pictures you'll understand why I
didn't want to return home!:)








These were new to me! Darker (purple) ones are more abundant.
I hope you've enjoyed going through the displays. Despite
GBBD coming up, I simply couldn't wait to post this. It was
too good to be kept for a later date!

I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

French Zinnias

Last summer, on one of my seeds/implements/plant jaunts,
I came across this attractive packet of zinnia seeds.
I wondered whether they'd do well here. But the sales-
person assured me that they are very popular with many
local nurseries. The labels were all in French.

Visions of a vibrant zinnia patch flashed in my mind and I
bought it. But the summer flooding prevented any activity
in the garden and I forgot all about the seeds.

As I got my beds ready for winter sowing, I remembered the
seeds. I wasted no time in sowing them and was glad to see
them germinating and growing. On the label, the temperature
was given as 18-20 degrees C. If I'd sowed them in our summer,
all the seeds wouldn't have germinated. You can see in the
picture on top, one of the first blooms. Many more will
follow soon.......

All Gardening Is Landscape Painting

So said Alexander Pope. And how true! This little spot is
what you see the moment you walk into our gate. A cheerful,
colourful look was what I had in mind as I prepared the soil
for planting in November. Should I choose an assortment of
blooms or should I stick to just dianthus? Or phlox only?
I pondered... But later, I opted for a whole lot of colour
and I am quite happy with the outcome. The bees and the
butterflies seem to agree too!

The idea of the 'Tipsy Pots' on the left was taken from
Melissa, who has the most amazing pictures
and tips regarding garden junk/art. Many people have
asked me about this. I'm so thankful that bloggers share
so many wonderful ideas....

It also helps that I've got a new camera. Does it show?!
It's a new gift from hubby and I've been out in the sun
trying to shoot an elusive bee, after I was done with the
flowers! And then there was the moon in all its glory! Oh
wait, have I left the stars out????

Edited to add: Since the link above wasn't working, I've
added this. From my bloglist, please click on Empress of Dirt:
The Garden.to visit Melissa.

Wasp Moments

Please click on the pictures for a better view.

Regular winged visitors to my garden are small bees, common
grass yellow and cabbage white butterflies. But the other day
I was greeted by the sight of this magnificent yellow wasp
feeding on a bloom of the same colour!

A closer look revealed lovely dark brown markings on the back.
Although I wished it'd turn and show me its best angle--the
whole body captured in all its designer (for that's what it
looked like) detail, it was so engrossed in its ambrosian
pursuit that it didn't have the time to read my mind. Ah well,
there's always a next time!

Celebrating Coriander (And Tomatoes)

Seeing the title of this post one might well think, 'Why,
what's so special about coriander?' A herb that's been a
backyard staple for millions of households across the
world elevated to the league of some hallowed species?
Sacrilegious!

Ah, but there's reason to celebrate. Regular readers of
this blog have often 'heard' me whine about my lack of
space. A ribbony strip on the western part of our compound
has been the sole preserve for tomatoes. They're just too
precious NOT to be planted! A tomato-less garden, in my
opinion, is devoid of a soul!! And so, this space has
always been considered tomato-sacred. Tomatoes in winter
and no other crop except okra in summer, on this particular
strip of good mother earth.

Revelation came to me only this year (please don't laugh)
after I'd not only prepared the soil for planting but had
also planted the tomatoes. I had sown the seeds in a pot
earlier. With the soil in the gaps between the plants
staring back at me, the temptation to use the spaces was
a bit too much! I bought the coriander seeds, soaked them,
and in no time they sprouted and almost every brown space
had a green coriander cover.

I didn't have to wait long for the picking, and the generous
garnishing for almost anything that I cooked! And now that
the blooming tomato plants are about two feet high,it's
almost time to say goodbye to Coriandrum sativum L.
In previous years I've planted them in wooden containers but
the thought of a bed, on the ground, was something I'd always
wished for.Well, even a shared bed is good enough! Hence, the
celebration!

My Signature Plant: The Indian Blackberry

Tina of In the Garden started the 'Signature Plant' series.
Ever since I read that wonderful post it's been on my
mind. After much vacillation between this, that and the
other, I've settled for the Indian Blackberry. Also known
as the Java Plum, black plum, and jambul, it's botanical
name is Syzigium cumini or Eugenia jambolana. It's a common
tree in Asia and native to India, Indonesia and Pakistan. In
my region we call it jam (rhymes with 'calm'). It's commonly
known as jamun in many parts of India.

But before I go into why I've chosen this plant, let's take
a look at it. This is the oldest tree in my garden. All of 14!
Its height is roughly 16ft now but the tree can reach 30mtrs
and live to a hundred years. The wood is used for making
railway sleepers and furniture. The seeds, leaves and bark
have been attributed with many medicinal properties.

By March/April the tree is covered with cream-coloured feathery
blooms.

By June the berries begin to ripen. It's an attractive sight--
green and purple together. And the birds come in flocks...
By July end, and in some cases, till August, the berries remain.

By early November, the leaves turn yellow and start to fall.
A closer look reveals tiny red blotches and on that bright
yellow. In this photo, the fallen leaf has become a refuge
for a dying bee.

On a December morning...the tree never becomes totally bare. I've
read that in dry areas all the leaves fall but here on clayey,
wet ground, it doesn't get any chance!

This is a tree that does not need much care. Growing next to
the wall and the power line, I keep it severely pruned. That's
on the western side. Towards the east I keep no check on its
growth. Our area gets flooded every summer and the water remains
for days. Every year I hope and pray that it survives the rains
and our city's bad drainage. It's still going strong. (Touch wood!)
And when the leaves fall, they go into a bin that I keep next
to the tree. Then months later, the leaf mould goes back into
the soil. Just as I take care of my plants, I feel that in the
same way, the tree's connection to its immediate surroundings
is total. And for all these reasons I've chosen the Indian
Blackberry as my Signature Plant.

And since I recently got pictures of my tree's source, I
thought I'd include them as well. The old tree in my mother's
garden, the one with tree-ferns and other epiphytes. I got the
sapling under this tree when my younger son was a a month old.
I brought the plant to Guwahati in a milk carton!

Old trees have so much character. More tree embellishment here.
The same tree has quite a few ants' nests. They look as if the
leaves are stitched together into basket shapes. This picture
is a little blurry.

Thank you Tina for starting the series. I loved posting this.
Of course I had to keep a check on myself...the tendency to
go on and on.....!!

My Mother's Garden

From a distance, my parents' backyard (foreground only) looks like
this. It's there where the tallest betel nut trees grow. Because
of the trees, no fence can be seen. Beyond my mother's garden is
my aunt's, and beyond that, is the public area.

This is my childhood garden, where guavas, mangoes and passion-
fruit ruled. Or according to the season, plums and peaches,
Indian blackberry, grapes, pears, pomegranates and pomelos.
Somehow, the sweet scent of summer fruits waft into my memory.
Endearing images of my siblings, all five of them as children,
are intricately linked to my many garden-associated memories.

The bottom of the garden has this spring water on its tireless
journey to the lake. As children we would follow its path right
from the hilltop where it gurgled and rushed on its downhill
journey. In winter it's just a trickle.

I've always loved this view at the bottom of the garden. Although
the pond isn't ours, in photographs, it looks as if it's part of
the garden. But in reality, it's across the small road and belongs
to a neighbour.

When you think about the most useful plant it's the bamboo which
comes to mind. In our parts it's indispensable.

Bananas and betel nuts seem to be everywhere.

Another view. The backyard is roughly about half an acre. The
area has undergone some changes. Some fruit trees have been cut
and some have been severely pruned as the lush growth impeded
the growth of smaller plants.

Caught this common yellow butterfly on a mustard bloom.

The bean vine goes on and on and on.

A few tomatoes are ready for the picking.

There are just a few flowers blooming now. These roses added a
splash of colour to a drab front-yard.

I hope you've enjoyed going through these photos. My love and
respect for plants started here. I've always felt that my mother's
connection to soil went beyond a gardener's relationship. And
in my small plot, I carry on this legacy of love, for garden soil.