Splash In Spring Colours....

The center of our garden is a riot of  'PHLOX' colours, this HOLI

as opposed to the pristine white carpet of candy tuft flowers we had last spring.

Phlox adding a dash of colour to our spring garden, this year

White Carpet @ Last Spring, around HOLI

LOOK! Our domestic helper’s son spotted these two teeny tiny nests with one and two eggs each nestled deep within the two Thuja orientalis Trees growing in our garden. (Though, only one of them can be seen in the extreme left corner @ the topmost snap above).

The little one helped me to peep through the dense and bushy foliage and click a picture or two of the 'NESTS' to share here via  my blog, Evergreen Tree. 

 BTW, Can you spot the little black birdie within its bushy foliage @ top left snap in the collage.

And, Did you know? 

Wild Sweet William is a specific variety of Phlox.  

We have them growing wild, in one of the flower beds this year, still adding a dash of blue n violets to the garden, while the other beds showcasing the early bloomers like the Calendula, the  California Poppy n Dog flowers need to be cleared in the coming week ahead after a flourishing winter flowering season. They will be replaced with fresh  plantation comprising of Green needle like Cochia’s, Sunflowers and Zinnia’s in the front garden.

The Garden sometime back in November

Talking of FLOCKS aka PHLOX, they are such prolific growers and seem to have taken over the marigolds encircling them as a border edging. The cluster of flower on top of the stems is very bright and showy, as their vibrant blossom comes in various shades of purple, pink, red, violets, blues and even white. They seem to like full sun and once established they grow well with regular watering, weeding and the best part, without much effort and care.

Whoa! They have filled up the entire bed by March

 Being Perennial, these Phlox flourish well through the Flowering Season, in Spring and early Summer, when they are planted in November. Come April, these beds would soon be cleared to be replaced by the nine-o-clock flowers aka Portulaca, which  will add much needed colour around the Fountain during the scorching Indian summer months ahead….

My entry for Todays Flower # 136

Also linking to SSS  # 148  n CC # 154, MM:Snowdrops, MM #113

Click on the Links to visit them.

  Its a Festive SUNDAY for us here, as we are celebrate the Indian festival of colours today,

Wishing all a Very Happy n Colourful HOLI!

Goodbye 2010 n Hello 2011

As this year draws to an end, I would like to thank all family n friends, who touched my life with their unflinching love, care n support through the thick n thin and made this year '2010' more meaningful and truly memorable for me. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU...ALL.

The Hot, the Loud n the Proud Calendula

Today, has been a beautiful day here in Lucknow.... Cold, Cloudy n yes Rainy too, as its been raining intermittently since the morning. I can  hear the pit-tar, pat-tar even as I try to concentrate on writing a few lines for my blog EVERGREEN TREE this evening, after a looooong festive break. Thankfully, the weather did clear out for a while during the afternoon, so that I could step out to take a quick stroll around the Garden n click a picture or two to share as my entry for this Year end, Month end.....The Hot, the Loud n the Proud Meme.

Fountain Palm Tree @ this rainy afternoon

Marigold Border encircling the Phlox flowers -
My Entry for the November Meme

Flora Fountain....with Blooming Marigold border n yet to bloom Phlox Flowers

The Calendula' (across the fountain) have been blooming for sometime now and look just perfect to spread some Joy n Cheer for this December end  Meme hosted by A Plant Fanatic in Hawai. To participate and to check out the other entries you could click here.

Spot the Delightful Yellow Calendula flowers....
growing between the Auracaria n Fountain Palm Trees across the fountain

The pearly droplets accentuating the beauty of the flowers, after the rains

Here's a Floral Toast to say Goodbye 2010 and Hello 2011 

Wishing All Friends n their Family A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR ahead....
Cheers!

Skywatch Friday: Shimmering Lights

Diwali Greetings....

From our Home to Yours....

 Diwali  / Deepawali  is the Indian Festival of Lights.

Saying it with Flowers

The month of September has been rather festive for KEY BUNCH with many of us joining in their September Blog Carnival 

&  SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS….

So let me  take this opportunity (a tad too late though ) to  join in the festivities n wish 

Rekha n Sharon @ Key Bunch

 A Very Happy Second Blog Anniversary!

With Flowers n more Flowers…

Way to go Gals……

Here’s Wishing Many More Happy Blogging days to Key Bunch!

Welcoming Pink Gerbera's ....for the Ladies

The Bouquet - Up close

....Dinner shortly!

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PS:

Here’s my entry, as I also take this opportunity to share …

this teeny tiny pc of ‘CLEAN PLANET’ Nugget of Wisdom

To start with we can keep our homes, workplace n neighborhood clean and advocate the same while we practice n preach for a noble cause.

1. Don’t Litter, always use a Bin; don’t just spit (the masala) anywhere n everywhere, use a washbasin; also don’t s%@$ on the roadside, use the toilets. ITS BAD MANNERS!

2. Conserve Water, Electricity, Cooking Gas, Paper, Patrol / Diesel, n other resources. THEY are PRECIOUS!

3. Grow n Nurture Plants. Well one could even ADOPT A TREE.

4. Take responsibility n be accountable for your own ‘CLEAN n GREEN PLANET’ , as far as your immediate surroundings are concerned.

Well….

If after reading my WiseNugget, you too wish to share your ‘CLEAN PLANET nugget of Wisdom, in your own space, 

Come Join KEY BUNCH n CLEAN PLANET  

n  DO YOUR BIT……

HURRY!

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PSS:

You could even win A Wise Clean Planet TOTE!

So what are you waiting for…..

Gardening a Game

I was invited to play this game of  bloggers by Bangchik, who is from Putrajaya, Malaysia @ My Little Vegetable Garden and asked to list ‘10 things I love’ as per the rules laid out for ‘Gardening a Game’

So, without further ado, here goes my rather lengthy list of 10 Things that I love the most n more……..

1.First n foremost, I love spending time outdoors…. watching the sunrise/sunset, gazing up at the sky, the clouds conjuring up figures n forms, the twinkling stars, the moon as it waxes n wanes, watching the twittering birds, the fluttering butterflies, hopping squirrels n more..…

2 My all time fav colour is ORANGE, but I also Love the colour GREEN n its various hues..... for its  Natural soothing serenity n everything to do with Gardens n the gamut world of Gardening.  I enjoy collecting, growing and tending to the plants, weeding n watering them, watching them bear flowers n fruits or merely drop their leaves in autumn/winter only to blossom back to life next spring.

3. Simply  Love to take a long walk quite religiously along a Nature Trail….** A beautifully lit Green Round about crossing @ Walking Plaza

4. Love to travel n visit new places…n... Take a long Walk in the Clouds

5 Oh Yes! I also Love long drives too….specially traversing across miles n miles of countryside or coastline, or merely rolling hills. Over the years, I have even participated in intra city car rally; a couple of times and won accolades for the feat as well. V-R-O-O-O-O-O-M!

** My Black Beauty – ‘Save the Girl Child’ Collage on Wheels during a Car Rally

6. Enjoy photography….taking mundane, everyday pictures; all the while capturing Nature and its marvel around me, through my lenses.

7. Almost always have a Book / Magazine by my side… as I love reading; enjoy surfing the net n yes browsing through the beautiful virtual world of blogsphere.

8. Love writing, penning n journaling my thoughts @ Evergreen Tree, A Little Beyond, Jamdan n here….

9. Love learning new things n array of K-reative Art forms ….as in Rangoli, Sketching, Glass painting, Sand painting, n the art of ‘Nature in Miniature’ – BONSAI.

Colourful Rangoli - Diwali Celebrations 2009

10. Last but not the Least, I Love Flowers – all of them.

Pink Lilium

Pink Carnations

Sharing some pictures of the bouquet n Wishes, that I recd recently, from my Bonsai Guru and ABA. Thank You all for brightening my Day and showering me with much love n warm wishes for a speedy recovery.

Saying it with Flowers

 Well…….. the list just doesn’t end here…. I can go on and on and on…..about the little and big things that I LOVE the MOST…. My family, our Golden Brown Labrador woof ~ Buzo, squabbles with my bro M, chocolates (that M often gets for me), window shopping, swimming, Ganesha, music, winters, rains n more ….

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PS: Many Thanx to Bangchik for inviting me to play this ‘Gardening a Game’ along with 9 other bloggers from across the world. Pls do visit his blog ‘My Little Vegetable Garden’ where he shares his Gardening adventures n stories by way of lovely photographs and aptly worded write-ups and at the same time check out the rules of the game and what the other participants Like n Love.

PSS: All Visitors are cordially invited to participate in this Mega ‘Gardening a Game’ and share 10 things ‘they Love’… with all of us here. Kindly Do Join in….

Saying it with Plants

Special Occasions call for a special Gift…. 

... Gift of a Plant

One could always SAY IT WITH FLOWERS only, but for a change I thought I would say it with FLOWERS and make it extra special by saying it with a PLANT as well.

So, last weekend, I indulged myself a wee bit and got creative to ‘Gift a Plant’.

Here’s the material that I used:-

• A teeny-tiny Juniper, that I had picked up while on a Nursery visit recently;
• A shallow tray used for Miniature Landscaping, which I had picked up from my Bonsai Guru Mrs Santosh Arora, also President Avadh Bonsai Association, Lko;
• A piece of driftwood, lying unused in the store room, since the last few years;
• Wire mesh, n thin Aluminum wires to tie the driftwood and the plant together.
• Bonsai Medium Soil, Peat Moss n Sphagnum Moss
• Pot-pourri of  “GIFT A PLANT’ thoughts, idea’s, creative endeavor n effort et al

 ……and finally putting them all together to create ....‘NATURE IN MINIATURE’

This virtual ‘GIFT of a PLANT’ is for each and every blogger visiting EVERGREEN TREE.

Personally, I love Flowers and all kinds of Flowers from the Daffodils to the Daisy’s, Carnations, Gerbera, Roses, Birds of Paradise, Lilies, Anthuriums, Jasmines, Marigolds, Dahlia’s, Bottlebrush, Pansies, Portulaca, Chrysanthemums, Ixora’s,  Crype Myrtel, Amalthas, Gulmohar, Bougainvillea, Poppies, Adenium, Salvia’s, Ageratum’s, Heliconia, Bilbergia’s, Frangipani, Peony, Hibiscus…..

I have been saying it…. ever too often, with ONLY FLOWERS, so just this once, I thought, I would  do something DIFFERENT and convey my fondest n heartfelt wishes with a Plant!
Hope each one of you here like your e-Gift of a Plant.

Nature in Miniature - Juniper

PS: To add a special GREEN Zing to one corner of the verandah, I have placed this NATURE IN MINIATURE on an earthen stool, right at the entrance of the house.

The real ‘Gift of a Plant’ is for my Mother, on her Birthday today. 

Happy Birthday!

Hope she likes the flowers, the plant and yes, these two Utterly Butterly delicious cakes as well.

Blooming Now - Lily

Spring time : EASTER LILY

Biding Adieu To February...

From EverGreen Tree

February is a very special month in my personal calendar, because of a series of Flower Shows where the Rose and Gladiolus show at the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) gives way to the Fruits, Vegetables & Flower Show at Raj Bhawan / Governor House Lawns  then a Flower Show @ E- Park, Mahanagar & lastly at the Surya Officers Institute, here in Lucknow.

It is always a feast for the eyes and a solace for the soul as eager Lucknowites throng to the venue for the show in full strength, over the subsequent weekends. A riot of vibrant colours in all possible shades, make you feel complete and one with nature & your surroundings. Be it Cineraria or Calendula, Ester or Carnations, California Poppys, or Daisies, Roses or Dahlias……& not to forget the Prized Trophies the winners at the show get to take back for their commendable effort to fill our lives with Seasonal flowers, bouquets and garlands of love, respect for nature & also lots of admiration for their work.

Now, Gardening can be a very rewarding and satisfying pastime for any nature lover. Some people would like the wilderness of an unkept garden while others would prefer the tamed, prim & proper look of the balcony or terrace garden. The options are many & can vary from one to another.

Even as a kid, I have always been drawn towards NATURE….its like a strong magnetic pull….. I fail to understand… a countryside farm, a ranch, orchards & vineyards, National Sanctuaries, Mountains or let’s just say a Simple patch of green with flower beds and lots of trees around i.e. Our very own GARDEN at home.

I can probably sit in the garden, lazing around doing nothing at all…. gazing at the sky, watching the birds taking a dip in the water bath or merely chirping away like the seven sisters, an occasional squirrel hopping about, the sashaying of the leaves in the breeze, a butterfly on a Nectar flower and amidst it all the sound of your own heart beat. Sounds like I have all the time in the world to day-dream, isn’t it? 


Hmmm…

I remember my brothers, our friends & I, used to perch ourselves high atop a Guava Tree Branch or a Mango tree or an Amaarak (Star Apple) tree, growing in our backyard, all afternoon after school, giggling, laughing, and munching at the guavas we had managed to pluck for ourselves. We were like a bunch of Carefree Monkeys having a time of our lives, back then. We had even managed to convince my MOM to set up a makeshift wooden swing for us…. hanging from one of the sturdy branches of the tree.

Some Memories!! & what a heavenly, luxurious paradise!!

I was probably still in school, when I planted my first tree ~ A Christmas tree  i.e. Araucaria in our garden along with my father. It stands tall and lofty even after so many years right at the entrance of our house.

From EverGreen Tree

I have learnt to appreciate the finer points and the detailing associated with gardening, with the passage of time. I still don’t know the names of most of the house plants or flowers…. or the nitty-gritty of it all, but learning is an ongoing continuous process. I intend to keep learning and keep enjoying the bounty that nature has to offer, to us all.

This blog would be incomplete without two very important things:-

1. Garden Wisdom

“Kind hearts are the Gardens; Kind thoughts are the Roots,

Kind words are the Flowers; Kind deeds are the Fruits,

Take care of your garden, and keep out the weeds,

Fill it with sunshine, Kind words and kind deeds”

From EverGreen Tree

2. Garden Party

So let’s have a Garden Party and a Colourful, Floral Holi Treat for all from our Garden.

Hope you enjoy the Party ie the slide show as much as I do.

Wishing Everyone a Very Happy n Colourful Holi...

From EverGreen Tree

S~P~L~A~S~H !