the urban balcony

To be back soon :)

2011-11-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

I will be back soon, after one and half years. I have so much to tell! See you soon.

When you feel like giving up on someone, there is a second chance.

2010-05-06T22:06:00.000-07:00

I have this jasmine shrub in my garden for over three years now, and it barely flowered. Despite regular care, manuring, putting it in a larger container, changing spots - it didn't seem to do well. It was blighted, the leaves would wilt and fall with no sign of recovery for good three years. We didn't know what we were dealing with. Disappointed, we decided to get rid of it last autumn to put the container to better use. We soaked the shrub to wrench it out of the pot but it didn't budge, troweled to scrape off the roots sticking to the sides and tried yanking it out again. Having failed, we brutally chopped off the shrub (about 3 inches is all that remained) and planted some cuttings into the same pot. Seven months since then, it shriveled and we were reasonably sure that it was finished until one morning in early April. The stem sprouted sending off shoots in all directions. I was amazed. In the middle of scorching summers (111 F), it grew sparkling waxy green large leaves, long branches and restored itself into a healthy bright shrub when the other plants begun to wilt in the heat. In blistering May, it started flowering profusely like never before. It's incredible.

Moral of the story: Don't give up on those who let you down. Don't stop hoping for a change.

"Don't give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying." -Nancye Sims

Last few flowers...

2010-04-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

It's blistering in Delhi (it went up to 111F). I wonder how these petunias lasted, but they did pull through. My next couple of posts will be about the burns and bruises in my garden this summer unless luck strikes and I find a rare bloom to beat the heat.

Happy weekend to all!

Garden Cottage - Meeting Mr. Conrad J Nunes in Old Goa

2010-03-27T21:16:00.000-07:00

If you happen to visit Goa and are a sucker for plants, Conrad's garden is worth a visit in Old Goa.

About Goa: Goa is mostly about the sun, sand and the sea and famous for its exotic beaches while Old Goa is a 15th century city, famed for its opulent buildings and churches. The remains of the city are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A week before last I made a trip to Goa with my husband, and we hired a bike to explore the place. Tropically nested, you cannot miss the palm, frangipani, hibiscus, gingers, banana and cashew trees along the coastal line.

Riding around Old Goa (off the coast), we chanced upon the 'His Creation Plant Nursery' cottage. The sprawling place is dotted with tall palm trees, and those of cashewnuts, avocado, love apple, jackfruit, italian lime and more. We felt at home as soon as we met Mr Conrad who enthusiastically took us around his garden and showing the treasures he owned. Mr Conrad is an avid plant collector, with species growing in his garden that were once considered incompatible with the tropical climate. A challenge keeps the gardener going!
The container water gardens along the pathway, flowering shrubs and trees teamed with rich foliage around it bring a colorful character to the garden. The striking feature is the assortment of unique plants he has. Mr Conrad left his job abroad to settle in Goa and follow his passion for gardening. We were glad to meet someone like him who followed his heart, and with such ease while the rest keep dreaming that some day they will. You cannot miss the feeling of excitement and pride in his voice as he spoke of his garden, very similar to that of a parent. He has a history of plant acquisitions, and interesting ones. I have rarely heard of italian and israeli limes growing in India but Mr Conrad has it all.
At the end of the visit, we got ourselves a few ferns, and free. In return, he has made us promise that we would visit him again and bring back some unique plants from the North. My memoir will not be complete if I do not mention the cashew fruits and love apples (fresh from his garden) he packed for us to carry home.
Taking a stroll around the garden, I snapped a few pictures that I leave you with. There are a couple of arrangements I loved especially around the water garden.

golden fern

dark pink hibiscus

I wish I had more time to spend at the garden cottage. Just in case you are in Goa, the address is given below.

Conrad J Nunes
His Creation Plant nursery
San Paula, Old Goa

Saving seeds to have the same colors in the next season

2010-03-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

To collect Petunia and Phlox seeds, I let a few of the blossoms die back naturally and did not deadhead them. When the flower dries and falls off, the calyx swells (this is the seedpod), turns brown and dry and splits open. The pod contains numerous tiny little dark seeds. Put these seeds in an airtight container or paper bag for storage.

Phlox is my spring delight

2010-03-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

I wrote about growing phlox last year. See Phlox tips for more. This year, I had some blooms from the seeds I saved last year. I took some pictures from the garden my in-laws have. The last picture (seedlings) was taken about three weeks after I sowed the seeds.

Calendula

2010-03-04T01:31:00.000-08:00

My husband photographed this, and I think it is a brilliant one. What do you say?

Finding Peace in Nature

2010-03-02T19:11:00.000-08:00

These pictures are from my peace preserve :)
Looking at them I realize that Nature has no worries about the future, no stress, no fear or anger - it's about being in the present.

Re-telling...thoughts.

2010-02-24T19:10:00.000-08:00

It's hard to watch parents growing old. Trying to cope with the change is tougher. My parents are having trouble doing the things they used to handle effortlessly. They face memory glitches, repeat themselves, are tired easily and often sick. I am guilty of feeling impatient, and at times angry at them and finish feeling dim about it.

When they call while I am at work and repeat themselves, I promptly cut it off by saying "Yeah, you've told me that before", or promise to call back once I'm home. As we age we no longer wish to share our ordeals with parents sparing them the stress that we'd rather deal with on our own. There is a lack of things to talk about, and therefore a repeat conversation is likely to be some sort of a connection or interaction for them. I read that the point of talking to people isn't to receive information in the form of words; it's the pleasure of the interaction and expression of sharing and trusting.

So, I tell myself that listening over and over again, or simply receiving the interaction, is not really so hard to do. But I feel sorry for the way I act sometimes with my parents.

Sorry Ma. Sorry Dad. I hope you will understand.

PS: Pansies mean 'thoughts', so these ones in my garden just for my parents.

Gloom to cheer!

2010-02-23T21:14:00.000-08:00

Last couple of months were a bit of a roller coaster. I felt glad that I could still maintain my container garden despite the chaos. I was juggling relationships, health matters in the family that left me depleted to spend time on blogging. I don't think it was insufficient time, I think it's more about my mind and what goes on in it. I have never been good at compartmentalizing my life, and my head. Therefore, a problem in my personal life pretty much affects all facets of who I am. On a bad day I would typically end up staring at the screen wondering what to post. That's when the inertia set in, and I never managed to get over it for a while.

My husband usually says that when something goes wrong in life, it's an easy downward spiral from thereon. And during these times does one really gets to figure out the person one is. While one would like to hold out but personal questions are unsettling unless the mind develops enough skill to field them gracefully. It took me good 3-4 months to find answers or make peace with myself, and with people and situations around me.

I feel better, brighter and life is beautiful again. By the way, my pansies and petunias did their bit to dispel gloom and bring cheer. Thank you colorful buddies.

Homecoming...!

2010-02-22T22:24:00.000-08:00

It feels like a homecoming. Echoing a saying here: "Homecoming means coming home to what is in your heart. "

I have a lot to tell. While I organise my thoughts and make more sense, I'll leave you with some spring shots from my balcony garden.

I hope to be more active here though I have a whole lot to check out on all my favorite blogs. And a big thank you to each one of you who stopped by my blog and sent me messages.

Hello everyone!

2010-01-11T00:31:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the silence. it's been a long time...but am not finished yet. Hope to come back once a while to update you on my gardening expeditions. see you around.

A few from my foliage collection!

2009-10-26T04:58:00.000-07:00

These are my eternal garden companions. They never fail me, nor are they fair weather type. Hardy and resistant, they make pretty combinations when arranged with flowers and other plants.

Root-over-rock bonsai in making

2009-10-23T04:42:00.000-07:00

These are night shots (not great though!) with the peepal (ficus) tree lit up by the earthen lamps around it. I'll try get one of those blog befitting pictures one of these days.

There are no short-cuts to a root over rock bonsai. It takes many years.
Typically, bare roots of an year old tree is draped over a large piece of rock. A fissure in the rock helps to settle the roots a little more easily. This arrangement is held securely with a plastic sheet with space to slip in some soil, and to be kept moist with an occasional water spray. While the tree with the bottom roots is put back into the container, half of the rock with the plastic sheet should be visible. The next one and a half or two years, the tree is allowed to grow freely for the root system and the trunk to thicken over time. In the rainy season, the tree is lifted out. Soil is washed away from the rootball. The tree with plastic covered rock is planted into a bonsai pot.Carefully, the plastic sheet is cut off and the roots are seen firmly matted around the rock. Excess shoot growth is pruned, and over the years with pruning and re-potting, the leaf size of the bonsai plant reduces.

Garden this Diwali

2009-10-21T04:28:00.000-07:00

I'm back. Missed blogging, and all my blogger friends. I spent this Diwali with my in-laws and I bring you some shots from their garden, and some random ones from our celebration.

The picture you see below is traditional design I made at home to celebrate Diwali. It's free hand drawing with a paste made from rice and fuller's earth. I made this one in less than 30 mins and lit it up with earthern lamps in the evening.

Happy Diwali!

2009-10-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break until Tuesday to be with family and friends, and celebrate Deepavali 'festival of lights'.
See you soon.

Gardening couple and their green yard!

2009-10-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

Mr. and Mrs. M are a typical, cute old couple. They have a charming old house in the camp area, back at Allahabad (my hometown) with a small patch of garden. Their children grew up and flew out of their nest to build their own in bigger cities. Though alone, both are rattling busy souls. A couple so passionate about gardening, there is hardly anything that would keep them away from it. Uncle is a gregarious old Sardar, while Aunty is always chipper. I actually don't think I've ever seen her not smiling. Infected, you just can't stop smiling back. Within minutes of arrival, Aunty dishes out sherbet or chai (tea) with home-made cookies and roasted snacks.

Coming back to gardening, Uncle steals the show since he's the flaunty talker while Aunty is the helpful assistant behind the scene. Though in practice, I think Aunty is more orderly between the two. Their lawn is currently under restoration, and all other plants are in containers. They have put a part of their terrace to use for rose beds and vegetable gardening. Every day, they deadhead and water plants, sweep and re-organize pots to de-clutter their green space.

Their energy and enthusiasm is contagious. When I am home, I make it a point to wheedle out some time to meet them, discover new plants and borrow some for my city balcony. Here's a look at their desert rose (adenium) collection - they have quite a number, but it's just a few that I photographed.

Up the hill - Photo-tag

2009-10-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

Joyful from Snap that prompted me to play the photo-tag game. Your first photo folder -> Tenth photo -> Share the story!

Some random arrangement led me to the one you see here, the rose.

This one, and the series of photographs that follow were shot at Shimla. Shimla is a hilly town in Northern India, popularly known as Queen of Hills and is draped in forests of pine, rhododendron and oak. It was a weekend trip to Shimla with my best friend about five months back to meet another friend we had not been in touch for nearly 12 years. For the three of us, it was a homecoming of sorts. It's amazing how childhood friends never feel toodistant or cut off from each other's lives no matter where they are. As soon as we met, we took off from where we had left. While we stayed up the night to babble relentlessly and catching up from where we left, her husband kept the house up and running. They took an off from work to be with us and show us around the town We binged on some amazing Tibetan food, travelled around and had a terrific time.

"We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere." -Tim McGraw

How true!

Do you know this pink-white flower - name?

Another place near Shimla

View of places around Shimla

Wayside flowers

Banana leaf special...Part II

2009-10-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

This is an extension of an earlier post: Banana leaf special Part I

Cooking in banana leaves is considered beneficial for health, besides tasting good. I'm an experiment freak and have had excellent results so far. When Ma called a couple of days back to share her recipe, I was eager to try. I got a banana leaf from my garden and started. The dish turned out delicious. I prepared it in my favorite steamer, handed down from my grandmother. My husband lent a hand with cooking so that made it extra special too.
Steamed fish in mustard sauce

Here's what you need and how you do it :
Ingredients
4 pieces hilsa /shad fish
1 large banana leaf (washed thoroughly and left to dry, and the central rib removed before use)
2 tbsp yellow mustard seeds (soaked in lukewarm water for half hour)
1 tbsp poppy seeds (soaked in lukewarm water for half hour)
5-6 cashew nuts (soaked in lukewarm water for half hour)
4-5 almonds (soaked in lukewarm water for half hour)
2 green chillies
1.5 tsp turmeric powder
2 tbsp mustard oil

Method:
Marinate the fish pieces in salt, turmeric powder and 1 tsp mustard oil and set aside for half an hour. Grind yellow mustard, poppy seeds, cashew, almonds, green chillies with little water into a thick paste. Add 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tbsp mustard oil and salt (to taste) and mix well. Coat the marinated fish pieces with the paste.
Lightly brush the washed and dry banana leaves with oil and warm it over the flame. This softens the leaves. Cutting them into pieces and folding becomes easier.
Each coated piece is transferred to a separate banana leaf piece, topped with a green chilly, wrapped carefully and secured with a thread. These folded pieces go into the steamer for about 15-20 minutes. Once done, the pieces are lifted out gently and served with steaming rice.

Do let me know how it turned out for you.

My flip flop with papaya

2009-10-06T22:55:00.001-07:00

Do you have fruits which you once detested as a child and turned around to love them when you grew up? I have many, but papaya leapfrogs the others. Often I reason that most of which I loathed back then happened to the ones excessively available or grown at home. The novelty fades and so does the taste.

We had almost ten papaya trees (with young ones growing around them) that would fruit profusely. Nearly every meal had papaya in it - salad, main course, desserts - in its raw or ripe avatar. No sooner did I smell the fruit at the dining table than I switched off and felt no hunger. I've been on hunger strikes to oppose papayas in my meals. Nonetheless, I was petrified of Ma. One grim look from Ma, and the food went right down my food pipe grudgingly. In some rare moments I would underhandedly sift through the serving on my plate, and dole out chunks to our dog under the table. I never got caught but I have a feeling she knew what I did. Mothers always know!

What is puzzling is that many years later, I have discovered a new found love for papayas. I don't quite remember how the U turn happened but raw or ripe, I find it both edible and tasty. now. During my trip back home, Ma stood stunned and amused when I told her I photographed the papaya tree and savored the fruit in my salad. Promptly, Ma conveyed her utter amazement to Dad who enthusiastically offered to pack a papaya plant for my balcony garden in Delhi.
Goodness, growing papayas in containers ! Now, that I call is far-fetched.

The fruit has high nutritional benefits and is a powerhouse of vitamins. A proteolytic enzyme called papain (highly concentrated in the skin of raw papaya) aids digestion and is highly recommended. The fruit has remarkable anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties besides being rich in dietary fiber, foliate, vitamin A, C, E, carotene, calcium and iron.

Papayas can be grown from seeds. They grow fast but needs care in its early stages. They love tropical climate and need lot of sunlight, water and good soil mix. Papaya plants can be either male, female or bisexual. The male does not produce fruit, so to be sure you'll have to plant extra ones. The plants/trees starts flowering when they are little over a meter tall. The flowers on the male plant can be recognized from the heavy blooms and slender stalks, while female plants have a single large bloom, and short stems. Papaya trees need nitrogen rich fertilizers and fruit all the year round except in peak winters. The trees grows weaker and yields less as they age so new plants every three years is ideal.

The fruit that connected 10 and 60

2009-10-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

I've grown up in a joint family, and my years spent with my grandparents are probably one of the most memorable ones. My life would have been incomplete without their love.

I was quite a mischievous kid and Daadi (my grandma) was my partner in crime. In times of potential smack sessions from Ma, I would run to Daadi for cover and hide behind her. As an adept negotiator, my Daadi would swing into action and wheedle Ma out of her rage. I re-appeared promptly after the storm passed and Daadi pushed a candy into my mouth. A modest battle won!

A ten-year old and a sixty-five year old had a lot in common. I went temple-hopping with her and catching up with peers. She would take me out to play and accompany me on errands. She was always the first one I hugged when I returned from school and the bond I shared with her was incredible. Among other things she liked, she devoured fruits - especially custard apples and so did I.

This visit, rambling in the garden back home I spotted a custard apple that sent me into flashback. I remembered days when Daadi would keep a watchful eye on the ripening custard apples and shoo off squirrels and parrots that nimbled away the fruit in no time. Disappointed with her failed attempts to rescue, she picked the remaining semi-ripe ones off the tree, wrapped them in newspapers and set them in our flour container in the kitchen. It took about two days to ripen, and ten minutes to eat. Besides, she used to make some great custard apple milk shake.

The custard apple (also known as bull's heart, sitaphal, shareefa, aata) tree we have at home is not too tall, about 10-12 feet. It prefers a warm and humid climate and needs good care during the oppressive summers of Northern India. The fruits have high nutritional value and considered useful in treating anaemia.

I dedicate this post to my Daadi I couldn't be with when she breathed her last.

Aparajita (butterfly pea flower) brings back memories

2009-10-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

Aparajita (butterfly pea) brings back many childhood memories.

Ma spends over an hour praying every morning. She's got a small classified room on the first floor of our house in Allahabad that has limited or no access for others. As a kid, I'd always wondered what's her fancy about. I tried sneaking around, mock-squalled, mock-fought with sibling hoping to interfere with her morning prayer. Today when I think back, I acted in defense of being ignored (ignoring me is so uncharacteristic of Ma except when she's praying).
When I cried as a peevish kid, she would scoop me up into her arms. She woke me up with a gentle hug and prepared the most toothsome meal when I claimed I was hungry and did thousands of other things to make me feel special and wanted in her life. Considering her shower of affection at all times, I hated this time of the morning when she ignored me and everyone else around at home. No matter what I did to assume a place of importance during her daily ritual, I failed. Fifteen minutes into her prayer time, she would climb down, chanting verses and head to the garden to gather flowers for worship. Whenever I've been exceptionally unruly and disobedient that hour, she'd signal me to quieten while on her way to the front garden and that is all the attention I could grab. She would get back to the prayer room in five minutes with a basketful of flowers. Her favorites are hibiscus, jasmine, marigold and to top it all is the butterfly pea flower. We call it Aparajita here.
There have been times when she has been into an elaborate ritual when she has asked me to bring her flowers but I had to qualify her conditions first. I had to change out of my night clothes, bathe clean, comb back my hair into a plait, wash my hands and reach the prayer room in time to kneel, mumble a short prayer and run to bring back flowers for Ma. I loved my part and would look forward to these errands. Besides, this was the reason I was allowed access to the prayer room and got a chance to sit beside Ma and observe her. As I grew up and became less boisterous and more understanding (urban green chuckles), picking flowers for Ma more or less became an everyday affair until I moved out of home.

About Butterfly pea flower: It's a perennial species here, a very fast growing climber with cobalt blue flowers. They are decently hardy and do well in full sun (light shade in summers) and likes being well-watered. They are available in colors like white, light blue and lilac. Pinching the plant is a must to make it bushy. The plant fares well in a container, and makes for a great plant in balconies.

Years later, Aparajita (butterfly pea) is still so special, a tug at the heart. I'm not unruly anymore and I know how important it is to say our daily prayers. Ma has an aching knee now, can't sprint around like in olden times so she asked me to bring her flowers this time but not without her qualifying requirements (Ah! Mums don't change). While I brought her a basket full of her favorite ones Aparajita, I was reminded of my childhood days.

And did I tell you that I did not sneak into the prayer room any more? I walked right behind Ma to the room and sat beside her in silence, praying.

Way into dad's garden

2009-10-01T03:46:00.000-07:00

I traveled last week with my husband to see my parents and was desperate for the train journey to end. Many months since I’d been home and met them. I had spotted my dad waving at me amidst the jostling crowd. Had I seen him earlier, I would have been ready to jump off much before the train came to a final halt. The sparkle that I saw in his eyes cannot be found any where else. We hugged, and soon he moved swiftly to lug my bag as if I were a school girl. It’s amazing how parents stay just the same for you.

Ordinarily, I never let my parents know when am going to be home because that would mean they would be up at an unearthly hour to arrange things and pick me up from the station. No matter what I age, they’d still treat me like a kid. Besides, arriving uninformed also meant that I’d take a 30-min rickshaw ride as against a 5-min car ride from station to home at 6.30 am. Therefore, those 30 mins allowed me to soak up on the new, old and the extinct sights of the town. When with my husband, I flaunt my town, its history and it’s green cover. It’s usually a monologue as I pass by familiar sights while he nods approvingly.

Look at that, the tree has grown so much! I love this palm. Damn! The tree has been felled. I can’t spot the teak. Look, he’s added so many plants. This creeper has been there forever. I never get this kind of a bloom. How long does a gulmohar tree last?

I belong to a sleepy, rusty, chaotic and religious town ‘Allahabad’ that means ‘God’s creation’. Natives had large houses until sometime back when the real estate scenario changed, people moved and so did the density pattern change dramatically. Nevertheless, it’s still a green city compared to many I have visited so far.

On my way home, I pass by the 19^th century Gothic style All Saint’s Cathedral standing tall with its lush green cover.

Company garden (I have no idea on the history behind the name) follows soon after and is a popular walker’s paradise and usually a beautifully landscaped garden with orchards and flower belts.

Hidden in the green cover, is the public state library built in

1864 that is a treasure house of old manuscripts and journals.

As the road turns towards my house, the University of Allahabad can be seen. The buildings are known for its classical architectural designs and have strong Victorian and Islamic style architectural influences.

Closer home, the residential areas have large patches of green, sprawling lawns and a wide variety of plants. This time around since we drove back home in a car and were busy talking to each other, I did not get a chance to see much.

Once I reached home, I stood for a minute at the gate to look at the house, my home for 20 odd years before I left to chase my dreams and build my nest. At the gate, I was welcomed by a robust large multi stemmed shrub blooming with flowers. They are popularly known as Land-lotus (Sthal Padam) or Confederate Rose, Cotton rosemallow or Hibiscus mutabilis. The plant is about 14 feet tall with large, bright green leaves. It is in full bloom starting late summer until end of fall. The flowers open pure white and change colour during the course of the day to pink and dark pink by evening. It is propagated by cuttings during fall or spring. While I stood watching the flower in admiration, Ma appeared at the door and I rushed to hug her and forgot about everything else.

There is more to come.

Pictures: All from the web except the flowers.

I'm back from my home town

2009-09-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

For those of you who had been wondering where I am, am just back from a holiday. I visited my parents, and it was a walk down memory lane. I've often mentioned that my dad is an avid gardener and this holiday was an occasion to sit with him and learn more.

I'll leave you with a picture of our lemon tree while I settle down and get back to writing more.

Seed that takes about an year to sprout.

2009-09-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

Do you know of any seed that takes about an year to sprout?

Let me tell you about Rudraksh.

The seed of the Rudraksh tree (Elaeocarpus granitrus, Utrasum-bead tree) is of great significance in Hinduism, and is recognized to possess mystical properties. Rudraksh beads are considered auspicious as well as powerful, and are supposed to have profound health benefits. There is a explanation in Vedic scriptures but I'll skip it for the moment. The Rudraksh trees grow tall and bear tiny white colored fragrant flowers that bloom in the rainy season. These flowers turn into black berry like fruits, that mature into brown-red colored Rudraksh seeds. When dried, the Rudraksh seed/bead is about the size of a marble with brainlike configurations which are commonly referred to as its “faces.” A bead’s value is determined not only by its size but by the number of faces nature has endowed it with. It may have one to twenty-one faces. Each of the different Rudraksh beads have distinct powers and properties. It has been shown that Rudraksh beads are considered to have electromagnetic properties and that they affect the human body when worn.

These beads are used to make rosaries and necklaces for prayer and meditation mainly used by Hindus and Buddhists, especially by saints and monks that gave them tremendous amount of tranquility, control over mind and concentration to meditate for a long period. The rudraksh necklaces are treasured by Indians who wear them to regulate the blood pressure and to tranquilize the mind against nervous disorders. Considered a major stress reliever, Elaeocarpus fruits are used in Ayurveda for mental diseases, epilepsy, asthma, hypertension, arthritis and liver diseases. Rudraksh is found in Nepal and India and only a trained eye examining the beads for years can distinguish between a fake and a genuine one. Fakes are thriving due to the rising demand of rudraksh and the lack of knowledge. Growing Rudraksh is not easy. It grows in tropical conditions and I've not heard much on the availability of saplings to plant. When genuine Rudraksh beads are sown it takes around one year for it to sprout to a plant. The potting mix needs to be kept well-watered at regular intervals. It should be moist but not waterlogged. Once about 4-5 inches tall, they can be re-potted into larger containers and finally the yard.

My dad's friend has recently experimented with one. I'll see him in a week, and update this post.

Photos courtesy: Internet
More links/resources:
http://findmeacure.com/2009/03/29/rudrakshaelaeocarpus-sphaericus/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudraksha

Banana leaf special

2009-09-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

This post on recipes is at the risk of being ousted from the gardening community. But then this could be accommodated well within the value chain of gardening - making the best out of garden harvest- a result of sustainable organic gardening for food :)
Here's to my container banana tree and for my blogger friend Helen.

Fish with mustard smoked in banana leaf

Marinate hilsa/ shad fish (8 pieces) in fresh coconut paste(2tbsp), mustard paste(2tbsp), garlic paste (1/4 tsp), chopped green chillies (3), turmeric powder (1/2 tsp), salt and mustard oil for about an hour.
Clean the banana leaves by dipping it in hot water and allowing it to dry. Fold each marinated fish piece in a banana leaf and tie it with a thread to hold it together. Steam cook for 15-20 mins and serve.

Fish in green paste

White fish fillets (750gms/1.7lb). Marinate with salt and 3-4 tbsp lemon juice for half an hour. Grind grated coconut (1 cup), chopped coriander leaves (1cup), coriander seeds (1tbsp), cumin seeds (2 tbsp), chopped garlic (2tbsp), lemon juice (1), 4 green chillies and salt in to a thick green paste. Marinate the fish again in this green paste for another half hour. Place each marinated fillet on a separate banana leaf piece and cover it with the marinade. Wrap tightly and steam for 20-25 mins. Once done, garnish with lemon slices.

Fresh out of my garden - lemon grass!

2009-09-20T22:28:00.000-07:00

Lemon grass is a recent favorite for me. Ever since I tasted Thai food, I'd been looking to grow this one in my garden and experiment with any dish I prepare in the kitchen.

Lemon grass is a popular herb and quite easy to grow. From a small rhizome I got, it has now grown into a perennial sedge in full sun and with regular watering. The long leaves have a strong lemony scent and has a great flavoring property. You can use it fresh or dry it to make lemon tea.

Here are some tried and tested recipes for dishes I made for Sunday dinner and everyone loved it.

Steamed Hilsa/Shad fish in mustard sauce

Marinate fish with salt, turmetic powder, green chillies, yellow mustard and poppy seed paste for about an hour. Wrap it in lemon grass and steam cook for about 15 mins. Unwrap and ready to eat.

Baked pomphret or White fish wrapped in lemon grass

Marinate fish with salt, pepper and ginger garlic paste for about an hour. Wrap it in lemon grass, sprinkle worchestershire sauce, olive oil and bake for about 15 mins with fresh vegetables. Unwrap and serve piping hot.

Vegetarians could try these recipes replacing fish with cottage cheese. Lemony scented coconut rice or a fresh cup of lemon tea in the morning are others. It's absolutely refreshing.

Green corner in my living room

2009-09-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

This is a sunny corner in my living room.
On the left, you'll see two brass vessels (antiques handed over by my grand mom). These were used to cook rice in olden days and were lying around unused. I've propped one of them up on a slice of a bark which is not clearly visible in the picture. I picked up the wicker hanging baskets (those on the window) from Thailand and found them to be really nice ones for tiny, slow growing succulents. I'll put those up on another post.
The earthen lamp on the side lights up the place in the evening. I re-arrange a lot, so I'd clicked this one to share before I move to something else.
Wish you all a happy and bright weekend!!!

Mountain beauty and its green

2009-09-17T03:57:00.000-07:00

I decided to share my travel experience over others that brought me closer to nature. I traveled to Ladakh (in the state of Jammu and Kashmir) and here are some of my green favorites. Hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I do.

Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and culture. It has been strongly influenced by tibetan buddhist culture. The largest town in Ladakh is Leh. Its considered an high altitude desert as the Himalayan mountain range that surrounds itde creates a rain shadow, refusing entry to monsoon clouds. The main source of water is the winter snowfall on the mountains.
Vegetation is extremely sparse in Ladakh so I've made an attempt to capture the patches of green and bring it to you.

The first photograph below is that of Lamayuru Moonland. It looks like the dusty surface of moon with its hills and craters. It is one of the most spectacular views with barley fields in a green contrast to the yellow and brown mountainscape.

This is another monastery around Leh. Check out the green.
The picture below was taken on our way to Khardungla, highest motorable pass in the world in the lap of the Himalayan mountain range. Trust me, it's a treat to watch.
This is a view from the top of a monastery in Leh. Isn't it beautiful?The photograph below is the one at Alchi monastery situated on the banks of the Indus river and has countless pomegranate and apricot trees.
Here you see Ladakhi women selecting and deseeding apricots for processing.

As we descend, this is on our way to Manali (a popular town in another state, Himachal Pradesh)

I don't know the name of the flower. The hotel garden was full of them like a snow cover of sorts.

Hope you all enjoyed this post!

I am back with a flowering bonsai

2009-09-16T00:02:00.000-07:00

My husband has a passion for bonsais, so I dedicate this post to him. He has immense patience needed to deal with bonsais, resilience to experiment and energy to keep learning. So there is a lot I've picked up from him when it comes to good gardening practices.
Here is one from our collection of bonsais-in-making, a flowering one. It's been flowering profusely this season. Exposure to full sun and limited watering has worked wonders.
We'd be re-potting it soon after it slips into dormancy post flowering. The soil is compact and caked with the roots crowding around the side. The caked on dirt will be brushed away, the pot scrubbed clean, and the wire mesh would probably need a change and new wires to thread, twist and hold the roots together until they are settled in. More importantly, it's when we prune the roots and branches to encourage new growth.
I'll come back with more pictures from our bonsai collection, and keep writing on our tried and tested ways of gardening.

out of action

2009-09-14T04:46:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
I've not been well - minor health irritants have been keeping me away from blogging.
Hope to bounce back in a day or two. See you around.
Happy gardening...!

a plant for hanging baskets

2009-09-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what this plant is called. I had spotted it as a creeper in a hanging basket and it looked really nice. The plant has thick fleshy leaves, and flowers at the tip of the main stem. I took a piece to plant and to my surprise, it rooted quickly and flowered in less than 4 weeks. I'm waiting for it to grow more and be shifted to a hanging basket.
In case any of you identify this plant, do let me know what it's called.

another garden nook

2009-09-09T00:25:00.000-07:00

I love teaming up plants, and terracotta figures. And that's what I do here. You'll see ferns, Dracaena, spider plant and foliage (that turns purple at cooler temperatures) in the picture. Next, accommodated the frog and the tortoise planters to complete the picture.

dazzling desert rose aka adenium

2009-09-07T01:25:00.000-07:00

Adenium is an evergreen succulent plant ideal for a houseplant. What strikes you is a pot full of twisted gnarled stems with red and pink flowers. It's an owner's delight. It needs full sun but less water, and turns out fab. I'm looking for the deep pink and the red ones now.

Blueing succulents

2009-09-04T04:42:00.000-07:00

Been a couple of days since my last post. So, here's a section of my teeny weeny garden on succulents. Didn't I tell you how much I fancy blue?These containers that you see here are from Khurja (small town in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India). I'll write about that another day.
Happy gardening!

the green in the blue...

2009-08-31T00:46:00.000-07:00

Blue enamors me, and so does Jaipur's famed blue pottery. Blue pottery has persian origin and traveled with Mughals to India. It has a time-consuming process but the results are excellent. This craft now has the Geographical Indications (GI) status that will save its uniqueness and protect the artisans from losing business to cheaper versions available elsewhere.

I picked up these beautiful planters from Jaipur that now adorns my living space.

Phlox tips

2009-08-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

This was phlox bloom last spring. Phlox makes for a bright border plant and grows well in containers. It's a beginner's delight since it's relatively easy to grow. They are available in wide range of colors like pink, red, lavender, purple, and white. You could plant it with ferns or vines or other herbaceous perennials to make it more attractive. See the bright green sweet potato vine in the picture. Isn't it beautiful?
Phlox grows from seeds and need shade, moisture and loose soil to germinate quickly. The seedlings can be transplanted in 3 weeks into containers and window boxes. A well-draining potting soil mixed with organic compost works best. Phlox thrives in sun and needs to be well watered but not allowed to sit in water-logged soil. Left to dry, phlox wilts and the leaves turn brown. As the plant grows and the tips are pinched, flower heads will be more. The plant might need to be staked as they grow unless you like the trailing effect. They begin flowering in 2.5-3 months from sowing, and bloom for 2 months.

Gardens at Amber Fort, Jaipur

2009-08-25T23:47:00.000-07:00

Amber Fort, Jaipur (Source: Web, since I had a hazy image for this one)

Kesar Kyari (saffron garden)

Charbagh (paradise garden)

Charbagh (paradise garden), Source: Web

I visit Jaipur almost every month, and pass by this 13th century palace on my way home. A fusion of Hindu and Mughal architecture, this fort is a visual treat. It was built over two centuries in red sandstone and white marble. As you set out to explore the fort atop the rugged hills, on foot or a elephant - the view is breath-taking. On your way up and inside the palace, among other magnificient features, you cannot miss the gardens.

Across the entire fort there are fountains, waterways, gardens and courtyards. The fort rises above the waters of the Maotha Lake, an artificial lake. The Kesar Kyari (saffron garden) lies in the centre of this lake, laid out like a persian carpet. The garden was planted with saffron for the fragrance to waft into the palace above. The garden is under restoration. Further on, the fort is entered through the 'Dil-e-Aaram' Garden (in the traditional Mughal style). Inside the palace, lies a series of corridors, centering on a typical Mughal 'Charbagh' garden or also known as Paradise gardens. Char bagh literally, means four gardens. The philosophy of Charbagh is stated below.

Charbagh in the Amber Fort demonstrates how the basic four parts can divided in complex geometric ways. The concept of the paradise garden was one the Mughals brought from Persian Timurid gardens. It was the first architectural expression they made in the Indian sub-continent, fulfilling diverse functions with strong symbolic meanings. Known as the charbagh, in its ideal form it was laid out as a square subdivided into four equal parts. The symbolism of the garden and its divisions are noted in mystic Islamic texts which describe paradise as a garden filled with abundant trees, flowers and plants. Water also plays a key role in these descriptions: In Paradise four rivers source at a central spring or mountain, and separate the garden by flowing towards the cardinal points. They represent the promised rivers of water, milk, wine and honey. The centre of the garden, at the intersection of the divisions is highly symbolically charged and is where, in the ideal form, a pavilion, pool or tomb would be situated. (Reference: wiki/Citizendium)

Farming broccoli and cabbages

2009-08-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

My father is an avid gardener and here you see his labor of love. He's a pro at raising cabbages, broccoli (leafy plants in the picture), tomatoes, carrots, spinach, radish, turnips, onions, aubergines, cucumber, beans, coriander, mint and practically everything you can possibly imagine. He has sent me tips on growing cabbage and broccoli in containers and here is how he does it.

Seeds are easily available and late monsoons are a good time to sow, once the showers end or are a few and far between.
Soak the seeds overnight, strain and sow them an inch deep in dry and loose soil. Make sure the seeds are well spaced out and the soil is not compact. No fertilizers needed at this point. Partial shade and very light watering is advisable to enable germination. The seeds sprout in about a week, and are ready to be transplanted to bigger containers in about 3 weeks when they are around 6 inches tall.
Soil to be well-draining and mixed with compost. As the plant stabilises, full sun is essential. Broccoli needs regular top ups of organic nitrogen fertiliser in every 3 weeks. Use neem cake (Azadirachta indica) as a natural fertilizer and pesticide once a month in very small quantities.
Cabbage is usually ready for harvest in 2.5-3 months.
For broccoli, as the plants grow taller you may need to stake the plants. Your first harvest is when the broccoli buds of the main head (central stem) look compact. Don’t wait for it to loosen and form yellow flowers. Cutting off the main spear will produce side shoots/florets. As these shoots grow, you can harvest them for over 6 weeks.
You will not need many plants as each plant will produce continuously over time, but you may need to plant successively for an harvest until summer.

Now that you have a guide here, I would like to add that you don't need to get everything right. We try and learn from our experiences. On this note of broccoli inspiration, I picture an amazingly delicious broccoli soup with mushrooms.

It's worth a mention that studies have shown that cabbage and broccoli have anti-cancer benefits.

Growing potatoes in containers

2009-08-24T21:27:00.000-07:00

I vouch for a superb crop of potatoes within limited space, in containers. The picture you see here, is our kitchen garden harvest. Its highly recommended that you try it at home. It's a very easy thing to do. All you need are deep containers left in full sun, with well drained loose soil mixed with compost. Potatoes grow underground, so the soil cannot be clayey and compact. You could grow potatoes in tall pots, or wooden boxes too.

What and how to plant?
Any potato variety can be propagated vegetatively. You shall need seed-potatoes and they are the ones you see producing shoots in the potato eyes when stored in kitchen for too long. You can plant seed potatoes, or cut them up into “eyes,” with each eye having a sprout, then mound the earth up around them in the container and water lightly. The plant takes a bush-like appearance with very little care. The crop is usually ready to harvest in 2-3 months and once you see the top of the plant dying off. You can leave the potatoes in the ground for a few weeks longer, as long as the soil is left dry. Dig out the potatoes carefully to avoid bruising them, and brush off the dirt. Do not wash them until you are ready to use them. Happy farming!

hanging garden at home

2009-08-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to add color and charm to your garden is with hanging baskets. Here’s to how you could do it.

Fix the place you would hang them before you start making them. There are whole host to things you must sort like location – sun/shade/wind, watering/pruning ease, size of basket, weight/structure (wire or plastic or clay). Once you’ve chosen a basket and a place to hang it, they need to be lined with sphagnum moss or coconut fibre to retain adequate water and soil. It is best to soak the moss or fibre first for a couple of hours because it will be easier to work with. Squeeze the water out and pack the moss tightly between the wires making an even layer around the basket. Fill the bottom of the basket with potting soil mixed in with compost. Poke slits in the coconut fiber where you want to insert plants. You could arrange the plants all around the pot. Place trailing plants/vines at the bottom of the pot, and hanging plants on the sides so that they cover the sides of the basket. The upright plants are planted at the top of the basket. Insert the plants into the slits and you do that, pour in more soil to hold them in the pot. A mix of colorful flowers and foliage would look great, so choose plants carefully.

Watering is extremely important. Your basket may dry out quickly and your plants will not do well unless the soil and moss remain moist. Keep the moss moist by watering the sides of the basket, and twice a day.

Photo source: Web, for now. My baskets would be vamped up and ready for display soon.

Do you have the bachelor’s button?

2009-08-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

Gomphrena globosa (bachelor’s buttons) is a low maintenance, heat resistant annual with a bushy appearance. They are excellent plant for containers and look brilliant with their brightly colored globe-shaped flower heads. The plant is easy to grow, flowers profusely, needs the full sun and regular watering (not over-watering) during summers. The soil type should be both water retentive and well-draining and could be prepared with a combination of peat moss, sand and garden soil. Feeding it monthly with a balanced fertilizer is beneficial.

To encourage branching and hence more blooms, pinch the tips of plant. They are easily propagated by seeds or simple layering. Bend down a stem such that the node is covered with soil. Keep it moist for rooting and separate from the main plant when rooted and transplant as a new plant.

A must-have for summer gardens and butterfly lovers! Did you also know that Gomphrena can be used for dried flower arrangements? Cut the stems just as the flower heads are beginning to open and hang upside down in a warm, dark place to dry.

There are names for Gomphrena colors too. ‘Buddy’ for purple flower heads; ‘Strawberry Fields’ for bright red flower heads; ‘Lavender Lady/Queen’ for lavender flowerheads; and ‘Cissy’ for white ones

Which one are you?

throw in shoe flowers

2009-08-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hibiscus rosa sinensis or china-rose is an evergreen perennial shrub. Generally red in original variety, now there are varieties differentiating in bloom size, colors and other aspects. The bloom can be single, semi-double or double, depending upon the variety. Also many colors are available in a single, double or multi-shades.

In a climate like ours, they flower more in summer than winter. It does not prefer extreme temperatures, but needs light and warmth to thrive. They grow best in well drained loamy soil, rich in organic matter is ideal. Water stagnant or soggy soil will adversely affect the flowering and growth of the plant. Once assured of a well-draining soil, it is safe to water the plant regularly.

Pruning is done to shape the plant, keep it bushy and full of blooms and and is normally done in late summer or early monsoon. Use a sharp cutter and cut just 1/4^th of an inch above about an eye that is pointing in the direction you want the new growth to appear. Alternatively, pinch off the tips of branches to encourage multiple growth tips further down the stem.

Don’t feed your plant after pruning. Watch for new shoots to appear and then start feeding. Hibiscus like organic feed, so feed your plant with bone meal or once in every two months. Remember winter is the resting period for your hibiscus, so do not fertilize in winter. In summer, fortnightly feed it with a balanced fertilizer mix. The health of the plant may be gauged from its foliage that should be a deep glossy green.

At a time when you observe roots coming out of the bottom of the pot through the drainage holes or the soil is compact and difficult to break through due to the roots, this is a good time to re-pot, but only in early autumn. When the root ball has been carefully loosened and lifted out of the pot, completely cut away any dark brown and soft roots and re-pot. Never prune off more than 1/3 of the root mass. Propagation is by layering, cutting, and grafting. Green semi-woody tip cuttings, treated with rooting hormone, does well.

Other names for hibiscus are Jaba Kusum (Bengali), Gudhal (Hindi); Shoe flower is another common name in a reference to the use of the crushed flowers as a black shoe polish.

Zinnias for late summers

2009-08-23T20:30:00.000-07:00

Zinnia elegans are popular summer flowers, usually grown from seed, and preferably in fertile, rich, and well-drained soil, in an area with full sun. Zinnias come in many sizes and are often available in mixed colors. They’re great for brightening up your late summer garden when most annuals are on their way out. In containers, small to medium-sized zinnias make bright companions for other annuals such as petunias, cosmos, sunflowers and moss rose. Taller versions look good with perennials or foliage in containers.

The propagation is through seeds that can be sown directly in the ground and it will germinate in one to two weeks. Sprinkle seeds over soil mix and lightly cover. Thoroughly moisten soil and keep it moist and not soggy. They grow quickly and may bloom in just six weeks. Successive sowing every few weeks beginning from April through early July will ensure continuous flowering through summer and monsoon. The plants may also self-seed in the garden and some varieties are available from nurseries.

To encourage quick growth and best performance, enrich the soil with compost. Add a general purpose fertilizer once a month. Pinch young plants when they are 5-6 inches high to promote bushy growth and deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote more bloom.
Photos courtesy: Web

song of india

2009-08-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

Dracaena reflexa, known as Song of India is a yellow-green striped foliage shrub grows fabulously in bright, indirect sunlight.

This plant needs a good potting soil that would both retain water and drain well i.e. 1 part garden soil, 1 part peat moss and 1 part sand. Drench the soil and then allow dracaena to dry slightly until watering it next. Feed every 2-3 months with a water soluble fertilizer. If it gets too tall, prune it back in early autumn or spring. To propagate, air-layer, remove basal shoots or stem cuttings in spring. Chop off a foot length, remove the leaves from the bottom half, and push in into some compost soil. Keep it moist, in indirect light and wait a few weeks. Some of the original leaves may drop off, but after a while it should bounce back to life.

a.k.a Moss rose, Nine O’clock, Sun plant, Portulaca Grandiflora

2009-08-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

It’s the perfect pretty flower for summers in North India. The flowers bloom little before nine and close a little after noon. It’s a tough plant that needs little moisture to thrive and bloom. It is heat tolerant, loves the sun that make other flowers wilt. It’s a hardy annual that produces vivid colored blooms in shades of yellow, orange, red, purple, white and pink. They look good in containers and hanging pots.

They grow from seeds but it’s best to plant cuttings. They are very easy to grow. Get a small stalk that is not flowering or about to flower and place it in the soil. They will grow and multiply very quickly. The plants prefer loose, sandy or loam soil with a well-draining composition. Water sparingly, if at all. Allow soil to dry out between waterings. Pinch off spent blooms to encourage flowering and to keep the plant tidy. Fertilize once or twice in mid or late summer.

vibrant crotons

2009-08-23T20:22:00.001-07:00

This is my favorite houseplant.

It’s a woody and erect perennial, bushy, compact with variegated coloring. Exposure to bright light intensifies colors. Full sunlight is needed but not the oppressive summer heat that might discolor and burn the leaves. Over-watering or too low temperatures or low light might cause leaves to wilt and fall off. Houseplants need better management in terms of light and water. Fertilize once a month and lightly with a balanced soluble food easily available in markets these days. Autumn and spring are a good time to prune and cut back on height.

Beware of mealy bugs (tiny white bugs) and spider webs that are some of the more common pests. Remove infested leaves and spray water soluble pesticide on the plant.

Photo Source: Web

Terranium bytes

2009-08-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

How to start?

Fetch a glass container (round or rectangular) with a sealable lid. Start with a layer of gravel, a layer of sand, then charcoal (half of sand) and top it with potting soil. Make sure there are no clumps in soil – mix it very lightly with sand for a well draining texture. For plants, preferably use moss and button ferns, crotons and slow growing plants for the tropical feel. Avoid cacti since they suffocate in excess moisture. Do not mix desert plants with moisture loving tropicals. You could try herbs too, but pruning might need extra attention.

Once you have found your plants, carefully plant a small sample of plant you choose. Make sure you give it some room to breathe and grow and water very lightly, just spray and replace the lid. No direct sunlight is needed. Ambient light will do else you’ll see condensation on the glass. For the next few days, watch your terrarium closely, and see what balance of moisture and air it needs. Depending on the size of the plant it may need more or less water than you’re giving it. If it seems as though there is too much water, leave the lid off for a day, and let it dry out a bit. Make sure you remove dead matter, trim plant on a regular basis. Once the terranium looks stable, water once in few weeks and don’t care. You could also design a landscape within, create uneven surfaces (hill look with lumps of soil covered with moss) and grow plants in sections. Use bridges, craft animals, birds, other structures for a dramatic presentation. Once you are comfortable with the terranium environment bit and feel confident to experiment more, you could move to other plants like mini-foliage and flowering plants.

Just in case you do not have lid for the terranium, you will have to care for it a little more. The open-terranium needs to watered once in few days unlike the closed ones. Everything remains the same.

Growing coleus

2009-08-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

Coleus is a beautiful plant, a tiny specimen of which grows up rather quickly to fill up a pot. Humid conditions are most helpful. It needs a lot of direct sunlight but all coleus are tender and cannot survive peak summers or frosty winters. Partial shade in such conditions would prevent stunted growth, leaf damage, burning and discoloration.

A single coleus plant could be planted in a small pot, or 3-4 different types could be planted together in a larger pot for dramatic presentation. The soil mix should be of good quality, airy, and well-drained. A combination of garden soil, peat moss, sand and compost is recommended. Daily watering may be necessary to keep the soil evenly moist and do not allow the soil to dry out. Watering is best done in the early morning so the leaves have time to dry before the sun hits them. Use a fertilizer conservatively as long as the soil nutrients are intact. Pinch off the tips of the plant frequently to encourage the plant to branch and look bushy. Some coleus plants will bloom, and the blooms may be pinched off too. All coleus are grown from seeds and cuttings. Early autumn and spring are a good time to raise these plants. Cuttings can be either planted directly into soil or left in clean water, partial shade for 2-3 weeks until roots appear (see pictures)

pencil sticks on fire!!

2009-08-23T20:10:00.001-07:00

Euphorbia tirucalli is popularly known as pencil tree, milkbush, finger tree, red pencil tree, sticks on fire. The Pencil tree makes a dramatic plant for containers. It grows with single or multiple trunks that have a tangle of light green, pencil thick, succulent branches. The tips of these branches are of a beautiful orange color. This plant must be grown in full sun, therefore if you want the good color, it’s the solar power. The color tends to fade in the summer, and becomes redder in the winter. The small leaves are inconspicuous and soon drop. The tree can be trained and shaped to grow in any pattern that you may like. It can be propagated by cuttings. They take a little while to acclimatize and when they do, they show robust growth. It needs to be watered only when dry since it’s drought tolerant and hardy and thrives in the driest atmosphere with ordinary soil, water, and feeding.

Note: The milky sap that it oozes when damaged or cut may cause skin rash, itching and general discomfort.

Welcome to frangipani

2009-08-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

Plumeria or Frangipani is popularly known as “Temple Tree” or “Champa” in India, and grow to be large flowering trees. They can be grown in containers since it’s very adaptive and you can control the size of your plant by the size of container you choose for it. Plumerias love full sun, water and fertilizer to thrive.

You can grow Plumeria from cuttings, usually a foot in length. Apply rooting hormone to the base of the cutting and plant it good three inches into a pot with well-draining soil. Wet thoroughly, do not water again until you have 2-3 well formed leaves. It will take about a month for the cutting to root. Until then, the soil needs to be kept slightly moist. The cuttings need a green-house environment to emerge faster. A pink plumeria cutting that we planted, showed signs of growth after four months, so each type of cutting will have its own growing characteristics and you have to patient with them. At this stage and beyond, watering should be such that the soil never gets soggy and the soil should be a well-draining one.

The secret to lot of blooms is a lot of branching. Each tip on the tree produces a flower stock that in turn causes it to create multiple branches on each tip. I recommend fertilizer high in phosphorous that will promote this flowering/branching process. A water soluble fertilizer feed every other week will work wonders. Plumeria begin to go dormant in autumn and all through winter. You may stop fertilizer feeding around September until spring. Prune the fine roots every spring, or re-pot if you think the plant needs space to expand. In case you don’t re-pot, I’d suggest you remove some top soil and add fresh soil mix to refresh the plant.

This spring, all our plumerias have been kind to us. We’ve seen a beautiful sweet-smelling bloom, the ones you see in pictures. By the way, did you know champa flowers have no nectar and simply fool their pollinators?

the mint express

2009-08-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

Mint is a great kitchen window sil plant as long as it meets some sunlight and is well-watered. Mint has roots which can be broken off and placed either directly in the ground or in pots. It prefers partial shade and water retentive soil and little maintenance is needed. A twice yearly feeding with bonemeal will keep it happy. Keep using its twigs and leaves in your cooking and soon it’ll swell and fill the pot. Given half a chance, it has the promise to take over a garden. Summer is a good time to try, bring mint seedlings and get going. Coriander could be the next to follow your mint success.

It's raining lilies!

2009-08-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

Rain lilies that you see here in yellow and pink are autumn blooms, lasts for a day and flourishes throughout the rainy season, especially after heavy showers. Soon after flowering, the heads brown and dry up and these are the seed pods. You can harvest the seed pods, break them open and find black flakes. These flakes can be sowed immediately in a slightly moist environment for the seeds to germinate. I have both the yellow and pink ones planted in a shallow rectangular container that I shift around for display. My pink ones surprised me with a bloom this spring. Since I forgot to take snaps, I’ve put up pictures from the web for your ease. There are white rain lilies too, though I’m yet to lay my hands on them.

Where the lilies bloom...

2009-08-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

These red lilies were a part of my spring bloom early this year.

Growing lilies in containers brightens up the garden and provides an attractive display for one season, remaining unnoticed for the rest of the year. With careful planning, the bulbs may be lifted after flowering and replanted each year to make room for other seasonal plants in limited spaces. The bought or stored bulbs of the lilies are planted in late summer or early autumn to be ready for display in spring. The bulbs are planted in free- draining fresh compost to avoid water-logging or the bulbs may rot. They are planted at twice their own depth and one bulb’s width apart with the growing tip facing the top. Avoid over crowding bulbs in a pot. Once planted, the bulbs in containers should not be allowed to dry out when in growth and should be fed regularly in 2-3 weeks with high potash low nitrogen fertilizer to boost flowering.

When foliage leaves begin to turn yellow, usually a month after flowering, gently lift the bulbs, clean off the soil, and dead and dry flakes. Cut the drying foliage, leave it overnight to dry, dust them with fungicide and store them in clean labelled paper bags in a cool and dry place in summer. Alternatively after flowering, the bulbs may remain in the pot, kept moist and shifted to a shaded place to rest till early autumn.