Gardening couple and their green yard!

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.

Phlox tips

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.

hanging garden at home

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.

Zinnias for late summers

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