Garden Affair : This self seed flower tastes like Cranberry

 I have been always astounded about how Nature surprise us in the most pleasant manner. Monsoon is on a state of taking bid adieu for this year  and now in no time Autumn season will arrive in my Garden . 

Autumn season is one such season when Garden sees maximum blooming just after the spring season .The summer annuals are at their peak blooming  and just like spring even self seed plants which emerge post monsoon blooms at the mid of Autumn and continue blooming till the end of  season.

Cranberry Hibiscus or Red leafed Hibiscus which self seeds itself every year  as an annual in my Garden during Autumn  is a beautiful shrub with large red to maroon colored Hibiscus shaped  flowers with elliptical maple shaped leaves . The leaves and flowers both are edible and  even taste like Cranberry fruit. 

                                                                                    

                                                                  

Method of Growing and care 

While Cranberry Hibiscus is a hardy perennial like every other Hibiscus plant it grows well in a Full sunny area  and blooms profusely when fertilized before flowering period. The Cranberry tastes mostly comes from the leaves of plant. The juice extracted from leaves of plants has the taste of Cranberry Juice. 

                                                                 

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Garden Affair : This plant in my Garden is immortal

           It was about two years  ago when I was cleaning up garden area after disarray created by downpour post  monsoon season . During this process of cleaning time in my Garden  I discovered  out this stem  lying on  porch area of Garden. I ignored it on the first thought that it could be some kind of  weed and kept it on a Garden Table and forgot completely about it only to rediscover it  almost a month later at same place, I was amazed it was growing and even leaves were budding and this is how I discovered The immortal plant   of Tinospora Cordifolia . The uprooted plant stems can survive months . 

                                         This below  is the stem I found out in my Garden               

I planted that stem and it grew over  into a beautiful voluptuous vine in a course of two years 

                                                                      

I have covered in detail about growing , propagation and care about Tinospora plant in my earlier blog , u can check here How to grow Tinospora cordifolia                                                                                  

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Garden Affair : Plants that attract sunbirds in my Garden

 Sunbirds are one of the most fascinating  looking birds adored for their striking color and their small size around the world. Sunbirds are small in size but their vibrant display, their ability to adapt different habitats even in urban environment makes them one of the most frequently observed  birds everywhere around the world irrespective of climate. They are often spotted feeding  nectar on flowers that makes them fascinating to watch among bird lovers among other birds feeding upon nectar. 

First time I saw Sunbird in my Garden was when it was feeding upon pomegranate flower. I was awestruck with its beauty. 

They are commonly seen in my Garden especially after monsoon season and spring . While they are attracted to plethora of flowers their visit in my Garden is mainly on these blossoms around the year .  

           Cypress vine is annual which attracts pollinators and nectar feeding birds mostly .I had heard about hummingbirds and sunbirds picking upon cypress vine blooms for nectar.                                                             

         Lantana is one more shrub that attracts butterflies and sunbirds especially during Autumn season.                  

I have seen Purple sunbirds from my childhood   especially purple sunbirds feeding upon pomegranate flowers. They are mostly observed post monsoon season when flowering on pomegranate is   prominent.                                                                                                                                                   

Hibiscus plant is a fascinating plant to grow in garden to attract sunbirds. I had observed sunbirds picking upon Hibiscus blooms for the nectar at frequent time periods in a year. 

                                                                                   

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Garden Affair : This vegetable peel helped me got rid of leaf eater moth

 Its Monsoon season , the favorable weather for the parturition and breeding of  bugs . Where the monsoon season proves boon for the garden to bring back greenery, it surely proves to be a favorable weather for the outbreak of bugs and little critters. 

While I was on my cleaning spree in my Garden after rains , I was took aback when my spider lilies and Rain lilies plants went vanished  from pots . Monsoon is  adjacent with flourishing rain lilies it was disheartening to see them disappear completely in their prime blooming season when the  leaves were  chewed by the moths. 

                                                  Leaf eater moth feeding upon Rain lilies 

However these moths don't reach till  the bulbs but controlling their resurgence  is necessary for the garden . The little creatures have capacity to vanish leaves from the plants in a single feed only. 

                                                                      

I had made up my mind recently to use organic fertilizers and pesticides in my Garden after realizing  the damaging impacts of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in Garden. 

Garlic peels had proved as an effective insecticide and pesticide especially controlling the larva and moth growth on plants.                                                                              

How to prepare Garlic Spray as an effective pesticide for Garden :

Garlic spray is one of the best effective organic pesticide that helps in controlling the growth of moths and bugs on leaves  . The simple procedure to make a spray from Garlic peels or whole Garlic cloves is to soak them in water over night and then directly using the strained water to spray on the leaves of plants the next day . We can add a drop of  organic liquid detergent with Garlic water spray  to  help to last upon the leaves. 

                                                                                         

 

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

                                                                       

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Garden Affair : Happy Independence Day

 Its 79th Independence Day , the year when India had encountered multitude of Challenging situations and was able to successfully weather the storm . I am really proud to be born in this country. 

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 

Garden is basking in  green cover  after prolonged Monsoon rains . Rain Lilies and Portulacas are blooming in profusion in Garden . 

                                                                 

Nature finds its way to surprise us when we are not expecting it . Those who do Gardening can relate with the lines  " Its about finding something valuable and delightful when weren't  actively searching for it , and it can bring joy, persona growth and new opportunities. "                                                    

I almost forgot about an avocado seed that I planted in a container in summers until it appeared out of nowhere during my Garden cleaning in the form of  full grown  seedling after the magic of             monsoon spell upon it.                                                                                                                             

The seedling popped out of Seed which I completely forgot after planting in summers. 

  

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Garden Affair : Lifesaver Plant

 The world of Flora and Fauna has its own unique attractiveness and serendipitous discoveries , the whimsical world of succulents and cacti has been drawing attention of Gardeners around the world. 

Huernia Zebrina plant is one of the most eye catchy succulent in the world of Succulent . The starlike blooms of Huernia are captivating , the Huernia succulent plant is also popularly known as Lifesaver Plant. 

                                                                   

It is quite amazing  to note the origin of name Lifesaver plant came due to the resemblance of center of Huernia blooms with Life saver ring as we can see in the image below.                                           

                                                               

 

Growing Method and Care                                                                                                                      

It is an easy to grow succulent plant that doesn't require any special care and blooms semi yearly . The Heurnia plant prefers indirect sunlight for growth. It can be easily propagated with stem and thereby multiplied alike many other plants of Succulent world. 

                                                                 

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Garden Affair : Crinum Lily Season

Monsoon season is the best season for the resurgence of blooms on Lily plants. While Rain lilies blooms are the messenger of arrival of Monsoon season as they often bloom with very  first downpour.The lilies that bloom in the mid of  monsoon season are serendipitously fulfilling for the Garden . 

Crinum Lilies or Crinum Asiaticum is one of the lilies that bestow there blooms in Monsoon season with flowers that resemble to Spider Lily . The Giant blooms and sweet Fragrance of these variety of lilies are mesmerizing enough to draw attention in Garden.

Growing method and Care  

                     Crinum 'Milk and wine '

Crinum lilies are bulbous plants like any other lily plants they can be grown easily by planting bulbs in well drained soil .

While they don't really need special attention still fertilizing before blooming season or preferably in spring helps in resurgence of more blooms in monsoon  season.

The more common variety of Crinum Asiaticum Spider Crinum lily is hardy plant compared to other varieties of Crium Lilies.

                 Grand   Crinum Spider lily          

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Garden Affair : How I Grew Vegetables in 45 degree Celsius

 

This year summer was very harsh , the constant heat waves made it strenuous task to take  care of  Garden . The temperature above 45 degree Celsius  and concurrent heat waves   made it unattainable task to get summer harvest  . My  prime concern was  to protect plants from wilting by heat waves. It was astonishing that somehow with few measures taken by my side and with the grace of  Nature God  my Garden  bestowed me with  summer Harvest. 

                                                                       

                                                      Bell pepper 

Tips that help me grow vegetables in Harsh summer in my Garden                                                         

 

- Keeping vegetables plants in shade away from direct sunlight ;                                                              

- Mulching plants with dried leaves and flowers to retain moisture;                                                       

                                                     

- Watering before sunrise so the roots absorb water  and stay hydrated for the day ;                               

                            

- Misting upon leaves in morning  to protect them from heat waves throughout day ;                                                

                                               

- Adding cold manure once a month in plants .                                                                                        

                                                Aubergine 

Tomatoes

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Garden Affair : Jasminum plant

 The silver lining to the current dead summer is fragrant blooms of plethora  of Jasmine varieties blooming in my garden which is the only sigh of relief in this scorching summer heat. 

                                                                        

                                             top left to right bottom : Crape Jasmine plant, Double crape Jasmine plant , 

                                                 Arabian Jasmine, Jasminum Auriculatum )

Jasmine plant care and propagation

Jasmine plant is a star attraction of summer garden. While every other plant somehow thrives through the scorching summer period the Jasmine blooms profusely and spread its fragrance in the garden. 

Care

  

Jasmine plant is a very hardy plant that thrives through extreme weather conditions and are mostly  drought resistant that makes them favorable plant in temperate region. They can be pruned once or twice in a year specifically in spring season that aggravates blooms on Jasmine plant. 

                                                             Stem propagation of Jasmine     

Propagation of Jasmine plant                                                                                                         

Jasmine plant can be propagated easily through stem cutting taken from a branch of semi soft stem of jasmine cutting. The cutting can be planted in a mix of well drained soil mix and can be              transplanted until roots are developed maturely.                                                                                     

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Garden Affair : World Environment Day

 The scorching heat waves in summer with Temperature going around 45 degree Celsius this year  , the warm spring and short period of winter season are all indicating the repercussions of rapid climate change.  Climate change which occurs due to long term shifts in temperature and weather patterns are primarily occurring due to one of the major reason of burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas by humankind. 

                                                                     

World environment Day is observed  to be on 5th of June every year with prior motive to raise global  awareness and promote action against environmental issues. 

What can we do to protect our envirnoment :

- Conserving natural resources  like water and electrical energy by saving them from unnecessary wastage can actually make a difference in the long run of conserving natural resources .

                                                                    

- Adopting sustainable practices for travelling like using public transport or walking when possible , buying eco friendly products made from sustainable products. 

- Planting trees and promoting and inspiring others to do so by volunteering for the  environmental organizations working for the benefit of  environment protection. 

                                                                              

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Garden Affair : Plants that can cool down your home

Winters are waning every passing year around  the world, the whole phenomena of Global warming is now perceptible . The spring is warmer and summer is becoming harsh every diminishing year. 

                              Summers in our region are harsh with scorching heat waves  that makes it jarring to move out in the daytime . The high outdoor temperatures and consistent heat waves rise up  the temperature  indoors also  . 

Indoor Plants act as a natural coolant to cool down temperature  indoors as they release moisture in to the air through transpiration  that bring down temperature indoors. 

               Here is a look on the Houseplants that can be grown indoors to bring down temperature

Rubber plant    

Rubber plant is a beautiful ornamental plant that purifies air and brings down the temperature of room through transpiration.                    

Snake plant or Sansevieria plants are one of the best plants to grow indoors that release oxygen and has air purifying qualities that helps cool down the room.                                                                               

Snake plant planted in the office premises 

Peace Lily is a small shrubby plant that purifies air it can also be placed on those windows to obstruct Sunlight  that enters the room which  makes the room  warmer.                                                                                 

                                                                           

Pothos can be grown in water and soil as well , it is a must indoor plant to cool your home as it releases moisture in the air. 

                                                                     

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Garden Affair : Amaryllis blooms

 Amaryllis Lily is one of those lilies whose blooms are  most anticipated   after winter season , it blooms throughout long period of  spring until  mid of summer . The blooms of  Amaryllis Lily are large, bright colored  and very eye pleasing. 

                                                                            

Amaryllis lily is one of the hardy and drought resistant lilies that doesn't require much care and some Amaryllis varieties even blooms for twice in a year.                                                                          

                                                                            

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

                                                                

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Garden Affair : Tinospora Cordifolia

 Tinospora Cordifolia or Giloy plant is a perennial vine native to India known for its high medicinal value . 

                                                                                        

The vine grows as creeper is highly valued for its  medicinal properties which are antispasmodic, analgesic, anti inflammatory, antipyretic for body. 

  The plant as a whole be it stems, leaves ,fruits and even flowers are edible and is widely used in medicinal uses in Ayurveda .                   

The Tinospora vine is easy to grow and requires little maintenance, the heart shaped leaves are attractive . The vine also bear fruits during the spring time which are edible.                             

Tinospora stems are believed to be having anti inflammatory properties had been used successfully in diseases such as  Jaundice and Dengue to reduce fever and pain.                                                              

The Giloy  fruit turns from green to dark pink red color in the spring to summer . 

                                                                     

Care and propagation                                                                                                              

                                    

                                                                          

The Tinospora vine is hardy vine and requires little to no maintenance . These plants can be easily propagated through stem cuttings.                                                                                                                                    

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 .                                                                                 

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