Garden Affair : International Mountain Day

 

International Mountain Day is observed on December 11 with primary motive to create awareness of significance of Mountains directly with  Water , Earth, Food , biodiversity and thereby direct correlation with  promoting and  maintaining overall  ecological system. 

Why do we need Mountains and what role they play in our Life 

                                Mountains plays vital role in our life as they provide fresh water resource to billions of living beings in the world in a gradual process of creating   rivers which are actually generated through melting of snow on the mountains which supply fresh drinking water , irrigation for agriculture and hydroelectric power  . This day highlights the significance of mountains in our life and spreads awareness about the conservation of Mountains to make aware about  the  possible threats of climate change, overexploitation and environmental change laid upon Mountains .                                            

What is the importance of International Mountain Day and why is it celebrated ?                        

                            

Mountains play vital part in  our existence   , this particular event is celebrated every year to take urgent actions to preserve glaciers from the climate change.   This day is formed to educate the public about the significance of existence of Mountains and thereby to create a social movement         to bring issues related to Mountains on the political table .                                                                   

                                                                              

What a laymen can  do to respect and protect our mountains                                                                                               

We can save mountains by practicing daily habits of saving water and non renewable energy. It should be noted here daily practice  of minimizing consumption of single use  plastic, using sustainable transport when possible like walking and cycling can actually contribute indirectly in conservation of Mountains .                                                                                                                                    

People who are visiting mountains should respect them by carrying out all the trash with them back from mountains   on the trails, observing wildlife and glaciers from a considerable distance, avoiding making noise pollution in to the   mountains.                                                                                                                                                               

These above mountain images are clicked by me during my visit to Himalayas. 

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. 

                                                                            

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Garden Affair : Landour

 It was in the last fortnight, I was fortunate enough to visit Landour . Landour is a small town located above the popular hill station Mussoorie in the State of Uttarakhand. 

It  is a cantonment town built for and by the British Indian Army. Landour is a town which is adjacent to the Mussoorie . It is interesting to note the name Landour was derived from Llanddowror which is a village in Southwest wales. During the British rule it was common practice  to give Nostalgic English name to one's home in India . 

                                                                         

There are many historic churches in the Mussoorie Range and especially in Landour one of them is Kellogg Memorial Church . It was built in 1903 which was Language school for the Britisher to learn Hindi Language. 

                                                          Kellogg Memorial Church 

 

Landour has this old world charm comprising of its cafes and bake houses which are located at enchanting spots serving amazing food with  scintillating yet calming vibes.                                                 

Doma's inn and cafe is a stunning cafe cum inn  which has interior and exterior influenced by the amalgamation of  Chinese culture and Indian Film industry . The food served is amazing and especially the decorative walls are a  sight to remember for long .                                                                                                                       

The exterior wall art is inspired from Chinese culture and tradition. 

Doma's inn 

I have been avid reader and fan of writer Ruskin Bond's work from my early days of childhood. I was in school when I learned that he lives in Mussoorie and appears weekly  in a Book cafe located in the Mussoorie. The curiosity to see him in person was one of the reasons that took me to Landour to his residence. Although unfortunately he was not in the sight at  his residence at that moment nonetheless reaching at his place was also exciting .                                                                                                                        

Ruskin Bond Home in Landour  

                                                               

The iconic old world charm of Landour is Landour Bakehouse which is situated near the Kellogg's  Memorial church , it is believed to be established in 1800's which was reestablished again in 1900's . It is believed to be serving original recipes from 1890's and is always seen hustling bustling  with customers. 

                                                               Landour Bakehouse             

The highest peak of Landour is Lal Tibba which translates in English as Red Hill . It is named so as the sunlight falls at the time of sunset  on it peak as red beam . It has Japanese telescope placed on its roof that offers view of Himalayan mountain peaks.  The place is calming and has remain of British architecture. 

                                                                               LAL TIBBA                                                                         

Landour in Mussorie is a must visit place for one who want to spend their time in the lapse of mountains. 

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

                                                                     

 

                                                           

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Springing into summer

 It's that time of year when spring is ending and summer season has arrived . It has been unusual spring due to the on going weather disturbances and concurrent rains  which has lead to unusual wet spring. 

It is the time to bid adieu Spring blossoms and welcome summer in the garden 

                                     Petunias and pansies are giving last of their booms with rise in temperatures  

                                                                       

I am surprised by consistent blooming of Geraniums and Blanket flower for the most part of spring 

Cornflowers 

I had added some of the new varieties of Kalanchoe this spring in my garden 

                                                               Kalanchoes blossfeldiana blooming

                                 Bougainvilleas are back in blooms  as Summer season is back 

                        Adenium is blooming finally  after rise in temperatures 

                                                             

                              Spider lilies are blooming with summer arrival , summer and rains are best season for lily blooms           

                                                            spi

                        

             I spotted this butterfly with unusual blue color , Anyone knows the ID                                                          

              In my recent visit to Bird sanctuary I spotted this beautiful Indian painted stork 

                                                                 

                                                          

                                                              Indian painted stork feeding on fish        

Finally an ode to mountains 

                                                          

                                                                           

Garden Affair : An ode to mountains

 I am writing this post dedicated to Hills and the Mountains spotted during my recent visit to Uttarkhand. If any one loves the mountains would relate to the saying from my favorite Author Ruskin bond  

                                " It is always the same with the mountains. Once you have lived with them for any length of time, you belong to the them . There is no escape. "

                                                                 

                                                               

                                                                          

                                                                     

                                                                        

It is the time for link up party Garden Affair where you 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

Summer vibes

 Summers are at their peak it has been a long  summer this year . The garden has become dry and persisting high temperature had ravaging effect on plants. While there is not much blooming in the garden some of the hardy annuals and perennials are bringing color to the garden

                                                                          Zinnia

                                                                           

 

                                                                           Gaillardia

                                                                               

                                                                                      

                                                                          Jasmine

                                                                           

                                                                     Lemonia

                                                                     

                                                                           

                                                                      Trumpet creeper

                                                                      

Meanwhile I took a break in weekend to escape to outskirt of city and there I spotted 

                                                                 Black winged Stilt

                                                                    

And remembering the lovely journey to the mountains