The Banasura lake has many small islands which are inhabited by birds and butterflies.
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.
Selasa, 30 November 2010
Senin, 29 November 2010
My World- Hot, Loud and Proud
The gardener who used to work for me one hour every day has left as he got a more lucrative job as the village priest. It is two months since I am doing all the hard work myself. Fortunately for me, the garden and the weather have been co-operating with me. The Swiss Cheese plant, Monstera deliciosa is putting out enormous new leaves.
Red salvias are attracting bees, while in the distance, the lemon yellow Shrimp plant Pacystachis lutea is blooming like mad.
In the frog pond, there are a couple of water lilies every night , thanks to my friend Helen's advice. I have planted the edible red Hongonne Alternanthera sessilis near it, which I use in my cooking.
The shadier part of my garden has white Peace lilys and pink anthuriums blooming among various shade loving foliage plants.
The shadier part of my garden has white Peace lilys and pink anthuriums blooming among various shade loving foliage plants.
It is only when I go for my frequent trips that I miss my gardener, as there is no one to water the plants for a couple of days when I am away. So far, the weather has been kind with daily showers when Iwas away.
This is my contribution to My World and to Hot, Loud and Proud. My thanks to the team of My World, and to Noel for hosting these wonderful memes.
Minggu, 28 November 2010
Today's Flowers
This is the white plumbago, called Chitrak locally. It is a wild flower native to peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Its botanical name is Plumbago zeylanica. The plant is used in Ayurveda to treat high fever and stomach ailments.
The Impatiens prefers shade.
The blue Chinese Bells is a new addition to my garden. I brought it from Kerala.I hope it will do well here.
Jumat, 26 November 2010
Weekend Reflections- Islands in the Lake
The Banasura lake in Kerala has a large area. It is a natural lake with earthen embankments. There are many small islands in the lake where you can find butterflies.
My thanks to James for hosting Weekend Reflections. You can see images from all over the world at http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com
Blooming Friday- A Touch of White
Kamis, 25 November 2010
Selasa, 23 November 2010
Watery Wednesday- Jungle Stream
Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy who hosts Watery Wednesday. You can see more picturs at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com
Senin, 22 November 2010
My World- Coffee
The coffee plant was brought to India in the 13th century by the Arab Sufi saint Baba Budan. He planted it near the cave in the Western Ghats, where he meditated. Now there are coffee plantations all along the Wester Ghats.
The coffee gardens are eco- friendly places, where other native plants also thrive whereas the tea gardens are unfriendly, monoculture plantations.
In this season, te coffee berries are still green. Whan they ripen, they are plucked by hand, dried and roasted, before being powdered.
Coffee is the preferred beverage of South Indians, while tea is that of North Indians. When I go for my early morning walk, I enjoy the invigorating smell of fresh coffee being brewed in all the homes on my way.
Strong!
The spider is a strong creature- I knew this fact. I had not realised how strong it was until I saw the branch of the Thunbergia vine being bent and used as a support by my resident Tiger Spider this afternoon. If you click on the photo, you can see the thin strands of the spider's web which have bent the branch by 90 degrees.
The Tiger Spider Poecilotheria regalis is a native of India and SriLanka. It weaves its web in tree canopies, and lies in wait for passing insects. It has distinctive tiger markings on its body and legs. In my garden, it has woven a web between the Amla tree with the Thunbergia vine, and the Sandalwood tree.
Minggu, 21 November 2010
Flowers of Wayanad
There was this cream coloured Allamanda in our hotel in Wayanad, which is quite unusual.
The Honeysuckle creeper was full of flowers.
The hydrangia bunches were huge and blue.
The Cane Begonia was already in flower. All these 'tame ' flowers paled in comparison to the large blue flowers of the Barleria courtallica which I found in a jungle path.
This barleria flowers once in 10 years! We were lucky to see the beautiful flowers in the jungle. The flowers and the plant of this barleria are used in Ayurveda medicine and also in Siddha medicine. It is only found in certain pockets in the jungle.
To view more flower pictures, please go to http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com
Jumat, 19 November 2010
Weekend Reflections- Spoil Sport
The washed -out match.
My thanks to James at http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com You can see more weekend reflections there.
My thanks to James at http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com You can see more weekend reflections there.
Kamis, 18 November 2010
Skywatch Friday- The Retreating Monsoon
This year, the retreating monsoon has been very active. I hope the coffee gardens and the forests benefit by it.
I thank the team of Skywatch Friday for their wonderful meme. To see more skies, please go to
http://skyley.blogspot.com
I thank the team of Skywatch Friday for their wonderful meme. To see more skies, please go to
http://skyley.blogspot.com
Selasa, 16 November 2010
Watery Wednesday- Waters of Wayanad
My World- the Many Storied Gardens of Kerala
Last weekend, we had gone to Wayanad in Kerala, our neighbouring state. Tha land in Wayanad is undulating, and the peoplehave made the best use of it. The gardens of Kerala are many storied. In the lowermost storey hugging the ground, grow Centella and other herbs. Above that are the gingers and turmeric. Coffee is planted between the ginger plants.
The tall rubber trees give shade to the garden, as well as provide the rubber latex. You can see the grooves cut on the rubber tree for the latex to flow down. The latex is collected in coconut shells .
At the borders of the garden are planted banana trees, which hold the soil, and provide fruit to the gardener.
Coffee gardens have other shade giving trees such as rosewood and arecanut.
Cottages are surrounded by coconut and arecanut palms, round which pepper, the king of spices, is made to twine.
People of Kerala have been growing and exporting pepper sice thousands of years. Columbus discovered America when he sailed to find the sea route to this land of spices.
My thanks to the team of That's My World. You can see posts from all over the world at http://showyourworld.blogspot.com
Senin, 15 November 2010
Gardenblogger's Bloom Day November 2010
Pelargoniums have such cheerful colours. These were bought recently, and I don't know if they will last in the rain.
This vinca is pretty rose red.
My faithful plumbago is bringing out its sky blue flowers. This is a very easy plant to grow. When it has finished blooming, I cut it down very short, and feed it with cow manure and water. It flowers throughout the year.
The Crinum lily is also non- fussy. It suddenly puts out a long stalk with frarant white blooms with pink stripes, any time of the year.
Jumat, 12 November 2010
Weekend Reflections
The lake in the desert is calm and peaceful.
For more reflections, visit James at http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com
For more reflections, visit James at http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com
Kamis, 11 November 2010
Friday's Flowers
Selasa, 09 November 2010
Watery Wednesday
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