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 :-)
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.
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 :-)
