New Additions ....

Well, friends the renovation work is still going on. There is chaos and dust every where. With Dasara a very important festival to be celebrated from next week, then followed by Diwali and the auspicious month of Kartikam, I just hope that the work is completed and I get to bring some order to my home. 

Till all this is done, my crafts, my stash and my books all are packed up and stashed away.

Amidst all these, we have festivals to celebrate. Well, can't be helped.

Here are a few additions to my garden:

 Here are some marigolds-golden yellow, 

 lemon yellow and 

  a combination of red and golden yellow colours.

Now this is a baby pink rose.....I have planted these quite recently and waiting for their first blooms....

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Bio Diversity Convention 2012

Bio Diversity Convention 2012 is being held in Hyderabad the capital of our State Andhra Pradesh from 1-10-2012 to 19-10-2012. 

I am doing my little bit of saving these species by providing food and shelter for these fells by growing plants and trees...

Are you???????

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The Brown Butterfly

I think this is the butterfly which came out of the chrysalis I was talking about in my previous post. It was perched on one of the plants late in the evening. The sky was heavily clouded, sultry and about to rain. The light was not really good. But I managed to take the above picture.

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Birth of a Beauty

Hi friends. Today early in  the morning, when I was strolling in my little garden, I came across this beautiful moment:

A butterfly coming out of its chrysalis. It has still its legs attached to the chrysalis. I immediately rushed inside got my camera and took this pic. Isn't this beautiful? I don't know much about the butterflies except that everyone loves when one sees it flying around.

I am happy that my little garden attracts many butterflies, birds and other insects. In this area where I live, people don't leave even a few inches around their homes, let alone plant trees or even shrubs. To me a house without greenery around it is really difficult to think about.  So, the birds, insects or other living things don't have a place to visit other than the parks which are also dwindling day by day in the name of development.

I feel so happy when I see the parrots or other birds visiting my garden for the fruits, or butterflies for the flowers. I place some bird feed and water too when ever I can but invariably in summers. It is really satisfying to know that I can give back a little to the Nature when I am taking so much from it.... 

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Beautiful Butterfly

Every day when I get up, the first thing I do is roam around in my small garden, talking to my plants and practice my singing.  In that way I can sharpen my singing skills  as well as spend time with my plants. 

Today I found this on one of the plants:

 So beautiful. Isn't God's creation so beautiful?

See its big eyes and long curved tongue.

I think I can put this under "photography" media of my Butterfly Sampler

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New Arrivals

Hi friends! Its long time since I posted. Actually, I had sprained my arm badly and could not do much. 

Added to that I had a very hectic schedule at work place apart from attending marriages, house warming ceremonies (this is the season for all auspicious ceremonies). With heavy rains, it is difficult to complete simple chores. So that keeps me away from my hobby projects.

Well my arm is on the mend. I have not fully recovered but better. Because of the heavy rains, my garden is full of weeds. Needed lot of cleaning. Thank God I got some one else to clean it up for me. This being the Monsoon time, it is time for adding new plants to my garden. Re-potting, pruning, preparing the plants and trees for fruiting and flowering is not an easy task. One has to battle with lots of pests and that too with safe envo friendly organic pest controls is a lot difficult.

I have some new arrivals for my garden. Just have a look.

 Orange coloured double petaled Hibiscus.

 Lilac coloured double petaled Hibiscus. 

Yellow Button Roses.

I need to take them out of the plastic bags and plant them in my garden. But  I could not resist to share with you all. 

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Time for some gardening

Friends thanks to you all for your prayers and wishes. We are all slowly recovering. One thing about these viral infections is that the recovery takes a long time. One feels so week and listless and it takes lot of care and time to return back to normalcy. Any way, we are slowly recovering. 

Her it is pleasant. Days are hot , slowly becoming hotter, but still pleasant and nights are bearable, slightly chilly in the early mornings. This will continue till Shiva Ratri, on 20th of this month. Shiva Ratri is celebrated by praying, worshipping Lord Shiva. We fast and remain awake all the night which is very difficult chanting the name of the Lord, performing the rituals and praying in general, listening or reading to Shiva Purana. 

Well it is believed that according to our calendar, winter ends with Shiva Ratri. The summertime begins from the next day. This is one season I love. I love summers of India. 

Meanwhile, we have to attend to our gardens, planting the last few new plants as this is the last few days renaming for such activities. We also have to prepare the garden for the summertime. I recently attended a horticultural show and bought some plants and bulbs. I have planted some and yet to plant some.  

Here are some shots:

White and Yellow Chrysanthemums

 Yellow Chrysanthemums

 Pink roses from Kashmir

 Purple rose

Davanam.

The Chrysanthemums are local one and flower profusely. These are used for offering at temples and at home, for garlands and are also worn in the hair by women. Many other colours are also available. 

Davanam has aromatic leaves. It is used in garlands in combination with other flowers like jasmine, crossandras, chrysanthemums, lilies etc or on its own. It is an extremely delicate plant and caring for it is very difficult. It is a challenge for me. I bought them last year and planted but they did not survive. I have been wanting it in my garden for a long time. They are also very rarely available in this part where I live. these days very few are cultivating them. But I have them now in my garden....

I have been neglecting my plants for along time now, except for watering them regularly. I need to clean and organise my garden and prepare it for summer. This involves, grouping smaller plants under big trees for shade, pruning, manuring those plants and trees which bloom or fruit in summer. It is really a very difficult task to save plants from hot summers more so when there is shortage of water supply. There will be many casualties no matter how much care we take. So this week end and the coming week I have my hands full...

Keep a watch for more updates...

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What is this flower?

Hi friends, These days I am too tired after a long days work. I have so much to share with you all, which needs  a lot of typing. Which is very difficult for me with pain in my neck, shoulders and arms due to spending the whole day before the computer. I am also travelling a lot, which is draining my energy. Another week or two and I will be free.

Mean while I have a puzzle for you. Can you solve it for me please? I have a creeper or vine in my garden. Its blooms are white in colour and give off a nice heady fragrance. I don't know what it is called.

These are the blooms. They flower in bunches and have very subtle but heady fragrance.

This is how the creeper looks. mine is small as i am cultivating it in a pot for Bonsai.

If any one knows its name please let me....

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Showers Of Blessing

We have to regularly check our stock of provisions in rainy season. Due to heavy moisture in he air, they get spoiled easily. so we clean them and keep it in the sun. My mother placed some Jowar (Sorghum)which I use for making rotis (bread) as well as for feeding birds. But she forgot to bring it inside in the evening. It rained heavily during next two days. None of us remembered the Jowar. On the third day I saw the container full of water. So I drained them and threw it in a corner in my garden thinking that birds may eat it. But next day I was happy to see this:

They started germinating. And then the next day:

Most of the seeds have germinated.

See the seeds are still clinging to the leaves. You can also see the rain drops glistening ... How such a big plant is stored inside such a small seed....Isn't God great? If this is not a miracle then what is?

I remember the popular hymn. I love this hymn a lot.

There shall be showers of blessing 

This is a promise of love 

There shall be seasons refreshing 

Sent from the Saviour above. 

Showers of blessing 

Showers of blessing we need 

Mercy drops round us are falling 

But for the showers we plead. 

There shall be showers of blessing 

Precious reviving again 

Over the hills and the valleys 

Sound of abandons of rain. 

Showers of blessing 

Showers of blessing we need 

Mercy drops round us are falling 

But for the showers we plead. 

There shall be showers of blessing 

Oh, but today they might fall 

Now as to God reconfesing 

Now as on Jesus we call. 

Showers of blessing 

Showers of blessing we need 

Mercy drops round us are falling 

But for the showers we plead...

Well have a good day.....

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First Cherries

Hi all been busy and still am till the end of this month. But I cannot wait to share this news with you all. I had planted two cherry saplings some two-three years back in pots for Bonsai. Here are the first cherries.

I am so happy. I was not able to care for these plants much because of my busy schedules. I need to care for them. Poor things I have neglected all my plants.

Oh! by the way I may not be able to post during this week though I have so much to share with you all. Heavily clouded skies and heavy rains are making it difficult for me to take photographs of my work. Moreover I am away from my home most of the time. Still keep an eye on my blog...

Rath ki Rani in my Garden

Night Blooming Jasmine-Raath ki Rani (Hindi) meaning Night Queen as popularly known in India,  blooms at night and its fragrance is quiet heady.  Its  near the window of my sitting room. So my sitting room is filled with its fragrance at nights as it blooms profusely.

However when I searched for Night Queen on the net, I got a huge white flower which blooms very rarely(?). Any way here is my night queen...

The whole bush is full of such blooms, which give out fragrance during the night. the plant does not require much looking after accept for water and some dose of fertiliser now and then. But it requires lot of pruning as the plant grown very quickly into a huge bush.

There was a colony of insects, very busy on the leaves and blooms. I don't know what it is. A fly or a wasp? But I like its colour and its wings.

Well I love all my visitors of my garden...

At Last!

I am a very passionate gardener. Well what ever I take up, I do it passionately. Anyway, I have had many a success and also failures in my gardening ventures.No one can be totally successful.


Plants are like children and pets. They need so much care, looking after and love. Even after that they may not survive. I talk to them, coax them admonish them...my plants can understand all this. I also sing to them mostly when ever I get a chance..that takes care of my daily riyaz(practise)...:)

Well one of my failures which consistently repeated itself was fruiting of Papaya. You know during the past so many years I have planted so many Papaya plants. I used to nourish them carefully but when they start to flower only then I would know that they were all male trees. They give out flowers at the end of long stalks and no fruit. I had to remove the plant. Well my family and friends used to make fun of me. There was no way of avoiding this as one cannot know it till it flowers.

This went on year after year......

But now Thank God the Jinx has been broken. My Papaya plant turned out well and this is my first fruit. 

So I am celebrating....:)

Heliconia Flowers-2

Here are the picture of my Heliconia- the second stage where another bud or flower is opening up.

                Heliconia

It takes a long time for the entire flower to show up. So one can enjoy the sight of the flower for many days unlike flowers which bloom and fade away in a day.

Mangoes-an update

HERE  they are-the mangoes. They have grown a little more. In few days time we are celebrating our New Year. We make a special chutney using mangoes , jaggery, neem flowers etc . 

They would be sour and a little bitter since they are not fully grown. At this stage either due to birds or due to winds some the weak fruits fall down. But as children we were looking out for any such fallen fruit. We use to cut them into pieces and eat it with salt and  chilli powder. They are also made into pickles -a temporary pickle as they don't keep for long. Once the fruit are full grown in a month or so we pickle them which keep year or two.

Heliconia Flowers

Heliconia -is a flowering plant covering around 200 species of plants. The word has been derived from the Greek Helikonios. These are also referred to as Wild Plantains, Lobster Claws and False Bird of paradise. These flowers are in different shapes but resembling mostly and in shades of reds and greens and oranges

I have these in may garden and when they flower they are really beautiful. It starts with one bud and keeps on giving out one in two three days. Here is the first days flower.

                     Heliconia

To me it looks like the beak of a bird. I love the red and green colour combination. Watch out for more photos as I will post its progress.

Crossandra Flowers

Crossandra- Kankambaram

          Kankambaram

Crossandra flowers bloom in shades of orange, yellow and a mixture of these two colours. In Telugu they are known as Kanakambaram. In fact the colour- mixture of orange and yellow and pink itself is called as Kankambaram colour. These are also known as Firecracker flowers . In some places in India, these flowers are also known as Priyadarsha or Priyadarshini. These flowers have different names in different regions of India.These are native to India, Srilanka and Nepal.


It is believed that these are favourite flowers of Lord Hanuma, Lord Subrahmanya Goddess Laksmi and Goddess  Lalitha and offering them these flowers will please them. They are used for religious ceremonies as offerings to Gods and Goddesses and are also worn by our Indian women in their hair. They are strung together to form Gajras (Hindi) or Mala in (Telugu)-that is lenghts of woven flowers- woven together using yarn made out of cotton, or plant fiber like jute, banana etc..These are worn in the hair by the women. Garlands are also made for offering to Gods and Goddesses or for use in festive occasions like marriages etc.  Other flowers like Jasmine and fragrant leaves of Maruvam and Dawanam are also used for making these Malas.


Here take a look at the flowers blooming in my garden...

     Yellow Kankambaram


This is the yellow shade. It is bright in colour. 

      Green Kankambaram


Though the most common and popular colours are orange, yellow and a mixture of these colours known as Kankambaram shade, we have green and blue shades too. Unfortunately, I lost blue shaded one last Summjer and I could not photograph them. 

          Maruvam


This is Maruvam-the fragrant stems with leaves are used in garland along with flowers like Jasmine, Crossandra etc.


One good thing about these flowers is that they keep for a couple of days without wilting even if worn in hair- provided we have not applied oil to our hair. We wear it in hair with the help of a hair clip, then remove it and keep in cloth drenched in water or refrigerator. If they come in contact with oiled hair they wilt quickly.


Here is one place where you can see how they are worn in hair by Indian women:


http://gardentenders.com/projects/553

Here is a Kankambarm shade sari I have:

This is one of my favourite shades...