Saturday, February 7, 2015

Love, Dreams & A Garden Amidst !

I have always believed, that those with beautiful gardens are blessed with beautiful souls, for plants can happily thrive, in only such a world, that is made of selfless giving and love that is unconditional.
I have had the joy of growing up in a home where the garden and its inhabitants always come first, and are tended to with utmost care and attention by its anchors, my parents.

My parents, incidentally, and completely unlike yours truly, are very social media shy. So when I approached my mother with the idea of composing a post on her garden green, I did expect a firm 'No' :-) But like a lot of other stuff that I have inherited from her, I also have the family obstinance running through my veins, and so, after a lot of coaxing, cajoling and convincing, I did get, not just the post, but actually got her to write it herself !!! :-)

So here you go dear readers, in her own words, and on the first guest feature on my blog, over to Dr. Suman Banerji and her thoughts, on what she fondly refers to as, her 'Power Garden'...


My daughter asked me to write about my garden and for a moment I was confused. But then, I said, let me try. I don't have green fingers, but a green heart. 
My garden is my oasis in a concrete jungle.As I read once, it is my face to the world. It says so much about you, it reaffirms who you are. Its all about the shape of a rose, the growth pattern of a plant, and of course, where it would best thrive.






My husband is an equal garden enthusiast. Our garden evolved over a period of time as we experimented...filled it with bold colours, spicy scents, dramatic forms. It flows seamlessly, from one space to another, we avoided symmetry, wanted the 'just emerged' natural look. Sturdy trellises on the walls, support flowering vines, wisteria, ipomea, passion flower, mandavellia, cleredendrum, golden begonia...





We have the overflowing bougainvillea in different hues, as they lend vibrancy in summers. The 'kund', its fragrance enlivens summer evenings alongwith 'raat ki raani'. In summer, the potted plants, perennial and succulents continue to provide foliage. They add colour and flamboyancy, there being a contrast of shapes of leaves growing in myriad shades of green. There is a bouquet of hedges, as we sowed tall and short plants together. The green colour is so soothing, even as temperatures soar in summers.





In winters, colour, material and plants mingle with each other. Phlox, salvia, geranium, impatiens, pansy, petunia and 'so many others', our 'winter wonders', they flow as a carpet amidst the birds and the butterflies, we even get a bottle of honey as the bees love our climbers.







The diverse herbs offer me a world of flavours, chives, parsley, thyme, rosemary and the basil leaves...clip a few and enjoy them to suit your palette.




I must mention an old sculpture nestled in the greenery, it gives a touch of whimsy to an already shady area.



My husband loves fruits and we have often compromised because too many trees means too much shade which keeps the sunlight away. Jamun, mangoes, lemons, bananas, 'shehtoot', cheekoo, guava and grapefruit have gifts to offer in season.





The lawn is fairly ho-hum. Dogs play around and the family relaxes, interacts with each other in the lap of nature.




My bonsais are my babies and they do get neglected once in a while, and that's when I say ' STOP!!..'...all chores are then set aside while I tend to my babies.



Our kitchen patch, well, maybe another time. It's practical and provides fresh greens.




I should have mentioned earlier that our garden is East facing and thus we capture the early rays of the sun as it filters through the bougainvillea arbour, wisteria and magnolia branches, trips over the Ipomea and then smiles upon our front verandah. Ideal time for our morning cuppa.


The Wisteria was carried all the way from Saagar district in M.P. when we were posted there. Its rambling blossoms have deep emotions within, they bloom each year on my daughter's birthday, a delightful reminder of the arrival of our new born.


Time is what it takes to make a garden, that makes a gardener swoon. Do come. Do visit me. We shall spend time in my garden, you and I, but tread softly, for you tread upon my dreams. My 'Power Garden'.


Wasn't that beautiful ? I hope you enjoyed this very special composition.
Letting the fragrance of the flowers and the thoughts above linger on...
Thanks Ma, for opening your garden and your heart for us :-)



19 comments:

  1. Beautiful garden and beautiful thoughts and emotions portrayed...... I can understand! Coming from a place where each family compulsively used to have a garden in front of and behind the house, I can relate to the sentiments!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Am so glad you enjoyed it Vandana. As someone who loves plants so much, am sure you can relate to the thoughts here :-) Thanks for stopping by. Hugs.

      Delete
  2. Very beautifully written! Loved the captures, and especially loved the very last pic. And, boy does your mom write well. I totally tripped over this line.."....and thus we capture the early rays of the sun as it filters through the bougainvillea arbour, wisteria and magnolia branches, trips over the Ipomea and then smiles upon our front verandah."

    God Bless! And I had to tear my eyes away from the beautiful green windows...please mum Banerji, a home tour next?

    sharon :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :-) That's my favourite bit in the entire post too Sharon, love how she has phrased it.
      I shall convey your lovely message to her, she will be delighted to know that you enjoyed the post. Thanks once again, love and hugs :-)

      Delete
  3. Really believe that your ma and pa have been blessed with green fingers and our surrounded by the beauty of nature. To give back to the earth, what we get from it, is absolute pleasure and necessity in today's time.
    Beautifully compiled post. My heartfelt greetings to your parents

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you liked it , thank you so much Sangitha, I shall convey your beautiful words to them. Truly, it is their love, toil and deep rooted passion hidden within those blossoms :-)

      Delete
  4. Beautiful post ! Lovely images ! Each picture exuded happiness and warmth. Made me want to put up my feet , read a book and sip my chai or nimbu paani here right away :) Dil garden- garden ho gaya :D
    And yes, as Sharon said, 'the east facing with the sun' bit is my fav part too :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :-) That IS such a lovely line, I would say just catch the first train and head over :-) So happy you liked the pictures too. Love and hugs.

      Delete
  5. What a beautiful garden and equally amazing write up. Loved the image with teal window and hot pink flowers, looks like a Mediterranean home. So beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Disha, my mother will be very happy to read your feedback :-) Yes the green shutter windows are characteristic of homes from Kolkatta, and the pink flowers are 'kachnaar', also known as Bauhinia if am not mistaken. So glad you liked the post. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  6. What a gorgeous garden and now i know where you get your literary talent from :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :-) :-)
      SO delighted to see a comment from you here, love and a big hug. Thanks Wang, for stopping by :-)

      Delete
  7. I am so awed by the beauty of your garden dear Dr.Suman. thank you so much for this amazing post and hope we hear more from you. I love all the plants and natural beauty you have spoke about never ceases to amaze me. I had no idea we got grapefruit in India. been wanting to include it in my breakfast but it's nowhere to be found. Is it hard to grow? Where did you get the plant from, may I ask? What is it locally called. the colors of wisteria is so enchanting. I could just go on and on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, delighted to read your feedback and really so glad that you enjoyed the post :-)
      Grapefruit is known as 'chakotra'. It is miraculous for health, abundant in anti-oxidants and all the good stuff ! We picked up the sapling from the local nursery. It is not difficult to grow at all, but needs a lot of water and plenty of sunlight. Happy planting & eating :-)

      Delete
  8. Unlike my mom I am not a fan of gardens, probably because I am poor at taking care of the plants & also surviving since many years in a cold country with 6 months of winter ;) but this surely put a smile on my face. I forwarded the same to my mom for her read and I am sure she will be delighted to read someone who shares same interest as her. Truly a well composed piece straight from her heart. Love Pinkz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much,for stopping by and for sharing it with your Mom :-) Makes me so happy to read this. Love and hugs.

      Delete
  9. Karishma, this post will be added to favourite bar on my browser, as cannot have enough of this post. Salutes to your parents for creating a beautiful green and colourful space. It shows a lot about the people they are. And mumma Banerjee, your writing is just beautiful.! Please do it again and often, will wait for your posts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, thank you Padmamanasa ! Such a sweet comment, puts a big smile on my face and hers too :-) Glad you enjoyed the post. Hugs.

      Delete
  10. Thank you so much Dr.Suman for sharing your thoughts and pictures of your beautiful garden (and of your home peeking through!) ...truly a labour of love . Like Sharon here already said, those lines about sunlight traipsing through captured my heart ! Never one for taking the time or trouble with plants ,but mad about decor all the same , with joining UGAW and meeting you all with truly green thumbs (fingers and toes !) I find myself opening up to the possibility of nurturing a tiny garden myself .

    ReplyDelete