Garden Affair : Sweet Potato vine

                                                   

Ornamental sweet potato vine is a popular houseplant which is grown widely as  a groundcover and hanging plant . It is often confused with edible sweet potato that belongs to same family of ipomea batatas which is grown for sweet potato and not for its foliage.  The foliage of ornamental sweet potato vine is attractive and comes in basically two colors green, dark  purple .  

                                                    

It is an easy to grow vine that grows in every type of climate and terrain. It is usually grown for its attractive foliage still the blooms are noteworthy due to resemblance to morning glory.                    

Propagation of sweet potato vines                                                                                                    

                                                                                                 

These are easily propagated through stem  cuttings which can be grown in water and can also be propagated in sandy soil.  The sweet potato vine is perennial plant  which can be grown in containers and borders to create groundcovers.                                                                                                       

It is the time for link up party Garden Affair where we can share posts related to Gardening, Nature and birds. The link up party will remain open for a week. 

                                                             

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Garden Affair : Inch Plant

 Inch Plant is a popular houseplant that is grown for its attractive leaves . It is an easy to grow versatile plant that adopts to any environment. It is drought tolerant as it belongs to family of tradescantia family that can be grown in any type of soil and can be easily grown irrespective of environment.  

                                                                               

Inch Plant can be grown as  a ground cover and for its best look in hanging baskets . The hanging branches of inch plant grown in hanging basket looks attractive when placed in a array .             

Inch Plant propagation                                                                                                                

Inch plant can be easily propagated in water , soil . An inch of cutting can be taken from the plant and placed in a soil or water in shade  and gradually over a period of week or ten days the roots will be forming. When roots form the plant can be shown sunlight which will help in growth of new plant.                                                                                                                                                 

It is the time for link up party Garden Affair where we can share posts related to Gardening, Nature and birds . The link up party will remain open for a week starting from Saturday.                                      

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Winter is knocking

 The beginning of winter season is considered post Diwali in India and the transition in to chilly weather brings changes into the garden as well 

While the summer blooms have still not bid adieu in the garden the presence of few winter blooms can be observed 

                                                      

                                                              It is last of the blooms of Peacock flower 

It has been a wonderful year for Lemonia booms and I'll hope they'll bloom for some more time until cold weather takes in                                                                                                              

It is wonderful that Blanket Flower has been blooming  throughout the year in my garden 

                                                       

                                                               

                                              

                         Meanwhile a GREAT EGRET was spotted at the shoreline  it was surreal almost looked like a painting 

Garden Affair : Happy Diwali

 It is the time for festival of lights, I wish everyone come out of darkness and despair that has been prevalent from last few years in world especially after the Pandemic. May  this Diwali there will be a light that ignite from within us that  will lead us to the desired path and success.  

The festival celebrated on New moon when darkness is at its proximity the handmade terracotta lamps called' Diyas' are lighten up which signifies the celebration of light over darkness . 

                                                            

HAPPY DIWALI EVERYONE !

It is the time for link up party Garden Affair where we can share posts related to Gardening, Nature and birds. The link up party will remain open for a week starting from Saturday.                                      

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Garden Affair : Stevia Plant

                                                     

Stevia plant is a popular plant known for its edible sweet leaves which are used as a substitute for Sugar. Stevia plant resembles Holy Basil which is reason it is also known as ' meethi tulsi ' which means Sweet Basil. 

                                                              

Stevia plant Health benefits                                                                                                                      

Stevia plant leaves are consumed for its sweetness , it is a fact that it is more sweeter than normal sugar with an after taste of bitterness. It is free of carbohydrates and any calories which make it a diabetic friendly . It is used as a substitute of table sugar, which makes it a zero calorie sugar free ingredient in baking, preparing desserts thereby cutting down calories without compromising on sweetness. 

It flowers in a periods of time which looks attractive , when stevia is grown in masses its inflorescence stays on plant and seeds form immediately after flowers are wilted.                                                          

How to use  Stevia in food ?                                                                                                                

Stevia can be used in readily available stevia powder , stevia drops, dried leaves . Although we can easily grow stevia plant at home and can use dried leaves in preparing sweet beverages and other sweet food items.                                                                                                                                              

                                                                            

It is the time for link up party Garden Affair where we can share posts related to Gardening, Nature and birds. The link up party will remain open for a week starting from Saturday.                     

                            

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Garden Affair : Cypress vine

 

Cypress vine is a annual vine grown during the monsoon season in our region. It grows easily and growth is so quick so that vine  can grow   at an invasive height , it needs to be tamed like any other vine to reach and cover  at desired place .                                              

Flowers and leaves  are very delicate and fernlike appearance of leaves make the whole vine very attractive .  Flowers are favorite among the humming birds and sunbirds , one of the reason Cypress vine is also called Hummingbird vine .  While there are many colors of Cypress vine blooms , scarlet red is the most common color.                                                                                                                               

Growing method and care                                                                                                                         

Cypress vine is an easy to grow vine that be grown through seeds which are easy to obtain after the blooms have wilted. Cypress vine doesn't need any special care as it is hardy in nature but due to its  thread like stem it needs to be tamed on a desired place ,vine needs to be controlled to reach desirable growth.                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                     

It is the time for link up party Garden Affair where we can share posts related to Gardening, Nature and birds , the link up party will be open for a week. 

                                                                    

Ps :          I apologize for not being able to open link up party on Saturday as it is meant to be from last two weeks  due to some personal and professional issues .                                                   

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Autumn time

  

Autumn is slowly coming into progression after long monsoon phase has taken back seat this year. Although temperature for this season is on higher side which has lead to extended blooms of summer and monsoon season. 

                            Cypress vine is blooming after monsoon rains have passed .                                      

Costus igneus popularly known as Insulin plant is medicinal herb which is used for the treatment of  diabetic patient have blooms that are attractive and unique.   If you want know more about its health benefits in diabetes check my detailed post here Insulin plant benefits in diabetes                                                                                                                        

Costus igneus 

Autumn season brings in end to blooms of Vinca, Hibiscus, Gomphrena, Plumbago and many other annuals and perennials.                                                                                                                

                                                                         Vinca 

Hibiscus

                                                  Plumbago blooms 

This is fifth time in this year when inflorescence on my  mango tree has bloomed. 

Ruellia blooms are blooming  in full swing after rains. 

Aquatic blooms are usual to bloom in October 

(From top : Gomphrena, Adenium, Crinum Lily, Tecoma blooms, Huernia blooms )

This Greater white fronted  Goose came up to me to give a pose before joining its fellow Geese .