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Friday 31 December, 2010

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!

Wednesday 8 December, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: A Century


Post # 100
PS:

It’s been almost two years since I started my Blog ‘Evergreen Tree’ here at Bloggers and come to think off how time flies….

Today, sitting in front of the computer screen with a blank word document staring, onto my face, I know not what words to add to my blogroll as POST # 100. After all, it is a Wordless Wednesday Post, though with an exception, as I want to take this opportunity to include a rather lengthy post script along with the photograph I captured just the other day with my Sony Cyber shot DSC-W35, while out in the garden.

Now, I am no professional, photographer and / or writer and not even vying to be one, but yes, I do enjoy going click, click, click…with my camera, ever so often and also penning my  thoughts, every once in a while. It just feels good to blog as n when…

It’s been great to be part of the BLOG WORLD, where one can share their work be it writing and / or photographs etc with one and all from across the world and even receive comments making the whole process much more interactive and interesting.

A piece of writing sans any readership is a wasted effort. What say???  It’s always good to hear from you, dear visitor. If you are stopping by for a Dekko, then, do take a moment to share your thoughts and leave a comment as well. Like I said, it feels good to exchange complimentary words of praise and appreciation for  ‘Nature n Nature in miniature’.

Last, but not the least, A Big Thank You to my followers and fellow blogger friends…To name a few....
Andrea @ Andrea in this Lifetime
 Autumn Belle @ My Nice Garden
 Arti @ Trees, Plants n more...
 Bananz  @ Bananaz People 
 Bangchik  @ My Little Vegetable Garden
 Carol @ Flower Hill Farm
Tiggerlot @ The Galloping Gardener
Edith Hope @ Edith Hope
Green Thumb @ Green Thumb - India
Kiki @ Awake with Charm n Spirit

Whoa!
This has turned out to be one long post script now. Thanx a ton once again.

Cheers!
Radhika @ Evergreen Tree

Tuesday 30 November, 2010

The Hot, The Loud and The Proud

It’s time yet again to participate in The Hot, the Loud and the Proud, Month End Meme hosted by ‘A Plant Fanatic in Hawai’.

Having missed out on quite a few previous months Meme, I thought I would definitely contribute towards this month end Meme and share these pictures of the first to Bloom Winter Seasonal’s from our Garden.

French Marigold
Marigolds forming a Border... encircling the yet to bloom Phlox flowers
Fiery Orange - Nasturtium
Are growing in a few Shallow Containers,
and all possible partially shady nooks n corners around the garden.
Thats's because....Orange is my fav Colour
&.I can't seem to get enough of these Orange Delights!
To visit the other participants, Click here.

Wednesday 24 November, 2010

Balsam - An old Fashioned Flowering Plant


Impatiens Balsamina - also known as Gul mehndi  / Touch me Not
Is native to India and is quick to grow and bloom from mid-summer to autumn
Flowers can be single, double or bloom in small clusters.
Flowers come in colours like White, Cream, Pink, Purple or  Red
@ Garden Balsam Mix
 Last of the Balsam 2010.... @ beds being cleared for growing Dahlia's,
while Dada is collecting the Balsam seedpods for next year's plantation
Bicolor Rose Balsam - an all time Fav
Click on the Link to visit TODAYs FLOWERS

Sunday 14 November, 2010

Post-Festive Blues n Bliss



With the Diwali festivities coming to an end, its time for a wee bit of B-R-E-A-K before the Joy of Christmas and the Year End reminiscing set the mood soaring high all over again.....

These last few days, post Diwali, I have been indulging myself in being SUPER Lazy n doing NOTHING!

...Nothing worthwhile that is; except lazing out in the garden, enjoying the winter-y balmy sun; watch the bees, the butterflies n the recently planted winter seasonal flowers (The Calendula, Marigolds, Verbena, Phlox, Poppy, Dianthus, Astor, Hollyhock, Petunias n Pansies, Nasturtiums n more..) grow stronger n taller by the day, before they begin to Bloom n more...

The Veggie patch (Mustard, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Raddish, Brinjals, Spinach, Chili’s n more…) is looking promising as well, provided we get to save the new plantation from the marauding monkeys, who visit our garden almost everyday creating H-A-V-O-C. Its a task to keep them at bay.


Well, Isn't it a beautiful time of the year as we ‘wait n watch’ the Garden Break into a Riot of Colours in the months to come?

Needless, to say, it’s my favorite time of the year, as I simply Love the winters n the months of October, November, December….as they quickly roll past heralding in a Brand New Year.


PS: Phew! I have a huge pile of work that needs immediate attention. PLUS, I still have to visit the Plant Nursery one more time to buy some Salvia’s n Dahlia’s n more….

PSS: ...N…Hmmm...… Need to resume my evening Walks n...
 ..Need to urgently Shrug-off this post festive Blues n Bliss… n the S-U-P-E-R Laziness that comes with it.

Friday 5 November, 2010

Skywatch Friday: Shimmering Lights






Diwali Greetings....
From our Home to Yours....
 Diwali  / Deepawali  is the Indian Festival of Lights.

Sunday 17 October, 2010

OMG!

I have already lost one of my cherished plant
@ a three Yr old Brazilian Rain Tree last month....

Rain Tree - Aug 2k9
.....AND
the disheartening part is that I am about to loose another one......

Ficus - Grp Planting, Oct 2k10
Boo Woo..........
Gosh! I feel so helpless... right  at this moment, 
and just don't know what else to do; 
Except,....Maybe,
Hope n Pray...THE  PLANT  (left, above) recovers soon.

Ficus with Rock ...Grp Planting, Aug2k9
Will it? Won't it? 
Will it!

Friday 15 October, 2010

Skywatch Friday: Fleeting Moments

Gazing up at the sky last evening,
I caught the Silhouette of a lone Monkey sitting atop the Chimney of our house. 

There One Minute...Gone in the Next
He was there one minute and gone the moment after my camera shutter blinked, to capture the fleeting moment.


Sunday 10 October, 2010

Malpighia glabra – as a Bonsai

Glabra - Buds Upclose 

Common names include Acerola, Barbados cherry, Wild Crapemyrtle.

Pink Blossom - Up close
Malpighia glabra: Is a tropical fruit-bearing Evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Malpighiaceae, with spreading branches on a short trunk. It is usually 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) tall, but sometimes reaches 6 m (20 ft) in height

Glabra - Fruit
Nothing is more satisfying for an avid gardener / plant lover, than constantly working towards adding n collecting, growing new varieties of plants, and yes working with them too … hands on.

In my personal quest, to add to my ever-growing Bonsai Collection at home, and collect new varieties of plants from time to time, I bought two small Malpigihia glabra’s, and a Brazillian rain tree, 3 years back. The plants where lanky n fragile, with little foliage, but had good branch ramification; an important prerequisite for any good bonsai.

Way back in spring 2008, while I was getting the plants potted into appropriate Bonsai pots, I discovered that one of the glabra plants had some amazing set of long roots, with a well-spread out branching pattern that could easily be trained to cling n grow on a rock, to achieve the coveted ‘Root over the Rock’ style of Bonsai and the other one could be trained into a ‘Twin Trunk Bonsaibetween rocks.

I immediately set to work……………..and even today, I am still working and enjoying every moment I get to spend with these teeny-tiny plants – watering n pruning them into shape, just like any other garden plant. ERGO, I maybe a little more bent n biased towards my Bonsai - showering them with a little more nurturing n care.

Twin Trunk Glabra & Informal Upright style Rain Tree
Rain Tree, Cascading Jade, Glabra
It requires a lot of patience n hard work to train a bonsai plant into ‘Root over the rock style as the take a long time to grow n cling to the Rock, securing the plant in position.

A Picture of the plant in early stage of Training


Recent Pictures of the same Plant… 
after getting it re-potted into a Proper Bonsai Container.




Thx to the ABA Grp President, Arora Aunty, 
who helped me re-pot it during one of our Bonsai Workshops.

Side View of the Roots, Trunk, Foliage
Glabra is an extremely  popular bonsai subject here in India because of its small leaf, dense foliage, beautiful pink, blossom, small fruit and fine ramification. It is also grown as an ornamental  and for hedges. As a Bonsai, it adapts readily to the weather conditions prevailing here and is easy to shape into a specified style.

Malpighia Glabra - Root over the Rock style
Finally as can be seen in the above pic....
 this slanting flow of the plant,... 'Root over the Rock LOOK'
 ....is what appeals to me the most.

The plant looks so different here.... Isn't it?

However, it is the same plant, but shot at a 'Different Angle'....
...displaying all the mesmerizing qualities of a BONSAI!

Saturday 2 October, 2010

The Chinese Garden Of Friendship

Bonsai on Display @ Chinese Garden of Friendship

The child in me has this innate fascination for automobiles, locomotives and various modes of transportations. So after having enjoyed a zip-zap-zooming joyride in the monorail, looping around Sydney’s CBD, I was game for yet another ride. After all, we still had over an hour to spare, before the 3D show at the Sydney, IMAX Theatre (boasts of the world’s largest screen) commenced.

People Mover 
My Ma and Maasi (Mom’s sister) however choose to sit back on one of the many  benches, relaxing and taking in the harbour side view, while I excitedly hopped onto one of these much slower trackless people mover train which would take me on a sightseeing tour, highlighting the major tourist attractions alongside Sydney’s Darling Harbour.

Darling Harbour
We crossed the Australian Maritime museum, Sydney Aquarium and Wildlife World, Sydney Convention Center, IMAX Theatre, overlooking the Cockle Bay, King Street Wharf restaurant, Children Park n spectacular water features en route to the Chinese Garden n China Town.
Main Attractions @ waterfront

 But, as soon as the People Mover reached the Chinese Garden, my first instinct was to ask the driver to stop so that I could hop out. On second thoughts, I contemplated whether I should complete the entire People Mover tour and then come back again for a stroll with Mummy n Maasi, if the time permitted. However, my excitement on seeing the Chinese Garden, in the heart of Australia… got the better of me and I got off on the next stop and headed back to the Chinese Garden of Friendship.

The Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour, Sydney
Well….here’s what, I would have missed experiencing n capturing on my lenses had I not taken this instinctive split second decision to alight and take a quick ‘sneak peep’ into the garden before rushing back (this time on foot) to where my Ma n Maasi sat waiting for me.



Located at Darling Harbor, in close proximity of China town in Sydney CBD, it reflects the very essence of Oriental Gardens with its majestic Pagoda’s & a harmonious display of plants, rock n water elements in the form of ‘the Water Pavilion of Lotus Fragrance’ & ‘the Twin Pavilion’.




The garden was officially opened in 1988 as part of Sydney's bicentennial celebrations and aptly named the Garden of Friendship. This Dragon Wall (below) symbolizes the bond of Friendship between Guangzhou, China n New South Wales in Australia.

Dragon Wall
The entrance to the garden is guarded by this traditional Chinese Sculpture.


Once inside, the garden offers a rare insight into the Chinese Culture n heritage with beautiful display of Suihan Penjing / Bonsai right at the entrance of the garden.


These Bonsai’s are considered sacred n auspicious in the Oriental culture and are often seen on display in many a homes n even commercial organizations in China n most South East Asian countries.


Being a Bonsai lover myself, I was in complete awe… admiring these so very beautiful and well maintained living piece d’art.



Today, as I glance back at the pictures, I can’t help but smile, recollecting the dilemma I was in - whether to stay put to complete the tour or disembark right then.  I am glad I choose to get off n visit this beautiful n serene Garden Of Friendship amidst all the hustle bustle of Darling Harbour with the monorail offering a sky view of the CBD; the cruise boats, the ferries n motorboats coming into the harbour; the toy people mover's train &  kids whizzing past on skates.....n more....

   The city skyline n the Harbour Bridge
…as seen from our Room @ Star City, Casino