Fresh water from the mountain stream falls in a cascade. On its course, the stream has passed through thick forests full of medicinal plants. People believe that the water has the power to heal.
A botanical garden is basically a well cared for and well-designed (sometimes not even planned out) garden that is considered a public place for the whole community to enjoy. Mostly you will also be able to see cards with the scientific or botanical names of plants, flowers and trees.
Minggu, 31 Oktober 2010
Today's Flowers - Hibiscus
These are hibiscus flowers from my school garden. Which do you like best?
To see more flower from all over the world, please click on http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/
This is also my contribution to Noel's 'The Hot, the Loud and the Proud'.
To see more flower from all over the world, please click on http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/
This is also my contribution to Noel's 'The Hot, the Loud and the Proud'.
Jumat, 29 Oktober 2010
Weekend Reflections
The pool in the forest of the Tiger Reserve is used by wild animals as a watering hole.
Thank you James for Weekend Reflections.
You can see more pictures at http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com
Thank you James for Weekend Reflections.
You can see more pictures at http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com
Kamis, 28 Oktober 2010
Blooming Friday- Water Flowers
This pink waterlily did not bloom for the seven years I had it. Later, I followed my friend Helen's (Islandgal) advice and it is blooming profusely now. On some days there are even four or five blooms.
These white waterlilies were blooming in a village pond, which was green with algae and some other tiny water plants.
The leaves of the Lotus have a special property- they never become wet. Earlier it was thought that this was because of a wax coating, but now we know that it is because of the tiny hairs present on the leaves, which make the water drops slide away. You can see the drops on the leaves in spherical shapes, ready to slide away.
These white waterlilies were blooming in a village pond, which was green with algae and some other tiny water plants.
The leaves of the Lotus have a special property- they never become wet. Earlier it was thought that this was because of a wax coating, but now we know that it is because of the tiny hairs present on the leaves, which make the water drops slide away. You can see the drops on the leaves in spherical shapes, ready to slide away.
The leaf of the lotus has special significance to Hindus and Buddhists because of this property of not getting wet or dirty. The yogi is supposed to be like a lotus leaf, not attached to anything , and not affected by anything in life.
Katarina at Roses and Stuff hosts the Blooming Friday meme.
Rabu, 27 Oktober 2010
Mother Earth
Mother, I thank thee for thy life-giving waters
Selasa, 26 Oktober 2010
Senin, 25 Oktober 2010
My World - Temple by the Ocean
The ancient temple at Tiruchendur is on the shores of the Indian Ocean. People who visit the temple usually have a bath in the ocean and then come to the temple.
To see more images from all over the world, click on http://showyourworld.blogspot.com
To see more images from all over the world, click on http://showyourworld.blogspot.com
Minggu, 24 Oktober 2010
Today,s Flowers: Orchids
This is the lone orchid which has flowered in my garden at last.
The flowers below are all from my friend Jenny's beautiful garden.
The flowers below are all from my friend Jenny's beautiful garden.
Jenny's husband John takes good care of their plants. The orchids are grown in a medium of coconut peat . He occasionally gives them a feed of neem cake solution. Their orchid garden is exuberantly flowering now.
To see more flowers from all over the world, please visit Today's Flowers at http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com
To see more flowers from all over the world, please visit Today's Flowers at http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com
Jumat, 22 Oktober 2010
Weekend Reflections- Transport
These coracles are used to cross the river Kali. The word 'coracle' has come from the Kannada word 'Harigolu' which means "God is my Staff"! The boatman uses a staff instead of oars to manouvre the vessel across the the river. The raft itself is a basket woven with bamboo canes and buttressed with buffalo hide. Passenger, 4 at the most, sit on the round stool in the centre, and the boatman sits on his special seat. It goes round and round noiseleesly in the river so that you could watch the water birds without disturbing them.
They have modernized the transport in Kariyar lake. Here , there are motor boats spewing fumes and making tremendous noise, to go across the lake. One cannot hope to view any water birds from a boat. Our boatman told us that even crocodiles give the boat a wide berth, which is a good thing.
My thanks to James for Weekend Reflections. You can see more pictures at
Kamis, 21 Oktober 2010
Flowers on a Skywatch Friday
The skies have finally turned blue here, and this Indian Blue Sage reflects the colour of the sky.
My Zinnias are flowering profusely now, the rains have benefitted them.
The huge trumpet of the Golden Chalice vine is a pale, cream colour when it opens, but turns a golden yellow the next day.
You can see more flowers at Tootsie Time.
To view more skies, visit http://skyley.blogspot.com/
My thanks to Katarina at Roses and Stuff for hosting Blooming Friday.
My thanks to Katarina at Roses and Stuff for hosting Blooming Friday.
Selasa, 19 Oktober 2010
Forest Flowers
I found some wild flowers during our hike through the forest of Agasthiamalai, last week. This is a Day Flower Commelina forskalii found near the Banateertham Falls. You can see the falls in the background. Usually Day flowers are intense ,electic blue, but this was a very pale blue, matching the colour of the constant spray.
This flower is called the Dhobi's Kerchief. It is found all over the forests of the Western Ghats. The garden Mussaenda has been hibridized from this plant. The flowers are a tiny orange, but each flower has a modified white leaf attached to it , which draws the attention of the pollinators in the lush green forest.Dhobi means Washerman in Hindi, and this flower , with its spotless white 'kerchief' is aptly named.
Senin, 18 Oktober 2010
The Versatile Palmyra
The Palmyra palms dot the landscape all along the Indian coast line. The leaves of this useful tree is used to thatch the cottages . You can see a thatched cottage under the tree.
The palmyra leaves were used as paper to write books in ancient India. The letters were written with an iron stylus. The picture above shows some 13th century palmyra manuscripts preserved in a museum. You can see the stylus too.
The plamyra fruit is black, and has sections where you find transparent, jelly like edible parts.
A man was selling these palmyra leaf bowls filled with sections of palmyra fruit which were dunked in palmyra toddy. The toddy is the sap of the palmyra collected in mud pots. It is sweet when it is fresh. They make a local beer from the sap by fermenting it for a few days.
After a eating the palmyra fruit and drinking the sweet toddy, we felt invigorated enough to stand under the raging cascades .
Minggu, 17 Oktober 2010
Today's Flowers
The red of these flowers makes a striking contrastto the green , grass like leaves.
This orchid has a blotched face.
Zinnias are flowering in spite of the rain.
My nursery lady did not know the names of this hibiscus. It is a delicate peach colour.
This hibiscus is huge, and it has four colours blending with each other. The hibiscuses will stop their display next month when it becomes too cold for them at 13C.
My thanks to Today's Flowers. Please click on http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com to view more flowers from all over the world.
Jumat, 15 Oktober 2010
Weekend Reflections
The ancient temples of Tamil Nadu were places where people congregated to worship the Almighty, as well as to enjoy dance, music and drama. All the temples have enormous pillared halls called mantapams for the purpose. Disputes were settled, marriages fixed, treaties were signed between different kingdoms, and festivals were celebrated in these stone mantapams.
This mantapam belongs to the Kartikeya temple at Tiruchendur, built by the Pallava kings 2000 years ago. The twin snakes on the granite pillar is the symbol of the presiding deity.
My thanks to James at Weekend Reflections for his wonderful meme. To see more images from all over the world, please click on http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com
This mantapam belongs to the Kartikeya temple at Tiruchendur, built by the Pallava kings 2000 years ago. The twin snakes on the granite pillar is the symbol of the presiding deity.
My thanks to James at Weekend Reflections for his wonderful meme. To see more images from all over the world, please click on http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com
Kamis, 14 Oktober 2010
The Ocean and the Sky
The sky was a bright blue in Tiruchendur, which was a nice change from the gloomy grey skies we have here. The green of the Indian Ocean made a beautiful contrast to the brilliant sky.
The 2000 year old temple to Lord Kartikeya is on the shore. The temple has a tall 'gopuram' with beautiful carvings. The sea air has turned the stone carvings white.
This is my contribution to Skywatch Friday. To see more images of skies, please go to
Selasa, 12 Oktober 2010
Wild Wednesday
I had gone to a tiger reserve forest with my friends last week.We did not come across any animals in the tiger country, but there were hoardes of butterflies. The yellow -and-black Southern Birdwing is the largest butterfly in India with a wingspan of 8 inches. One of these butterflies followed our boat when we crossed the lake Kariyar.
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