Tag: nature

Also February, the month I was born. They say every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.

If I see my life as a string of flowers, here are the ones that have been most special to me through the years.

Dahlia, my birthday flower: My earliest flower memories are those of standing with my mother and sister in front of a bed of dahlias, a big one almost hugging my face (I am trying to dig out a picture, please wait for it!). My mother used to tell me when we came home from hospital after I was born we were welcomed by huge blooming dahlias. The dahlia is therefore my birthday flower, always special, and has taught me to look for the beauty in spring as the days turn warmer.

Champa – of evening walks in my childhood: Champa reminds me of walks during summers long past and the joy of finding the perfect flower and inhaling its sweet fragrance.

More recently I discovered that this lovely flower is not unique to India. I found a slightly larger version during my visit to Sri Lanka, and it had the most beautiful name – Araliya. I bought incense sticks from the airport with an Araliya fragrance and they are my most precious purchase. My friends on Twitter (@MahendrawathiER) tell me this flower is found in other parts of Asia as well. It is known as Kamboja in Bahasa Indonesia, Jepun in Bali…or simply, Plumeria (Frangipani). So many beautiful names, one beautiful flower.

Jasmine, my string of pearls: Further on, I remember those days spent with my aunt (masi) who taught me that strings of jasmine placed strategically in front of an air-conditioner will produce a sweetly fragranced room. I loved that! And still do now. My mother has these pots of jasmine that give us a bounty of flowers every summer. A few on the desk and the fragrance lasts through the day.

As my “pinned” tweet on Twitter says, jasmine is my favourite summer flower. I call it my “string of pearls” when they string them together and sell them at crossings. Do you know why?

In remembrance of a little boy I met at a crossing once, back in May 2017 selling strings of jasmine flower. I realized I hadn’t money to buy even one. The boy perhaps felt my disappointment. As the light turned green, he pushed a string through the window, then disappeared in the blink of an eye. I’ll never forget the gesture nor that particular string of jasmine flowers. Jasmine thus became my string of pearls.

Chameli, of stars falling on earth. Of late, I have been fascinated by another species of jasmine, the “chameli”. We have a “chameli ki bel” (vine) growing in our terrace. The flowers remind me of fallen stars.

Shiuli, the flower of grace: Pretty and fragile, the Shiuli or Parijat flower signifies Autumn, the onset of the festive season. I would see carpets of fallen Shiuli during my early morning walks in October, and try and grab a few from the ground to bring home. As the pretty white flower with its orange stem falls soundlessly, the sweet smell of the Shiuli lingers. A flower that truly symbolizes grace, fragility, beauty. I once asked my Twitter friend Norann (@NorannV) to define grace. “Endless amounts of undeserved love,” she says.

Periwinkle, my little flower of resilience: More recently, I have been inspired by the ‘sadabahar’ (ever blooming blossom), i.e. the periwinkle flower, also known by the lovely name ‘nayantara’ (star of one’s eye). It grows in the toughest of situations, sometimes out of a cemented wall. It has taught me to bloom, whatever the circumstances. Flower of strength, flower of resilience.

Marigold, flower for all seasons: Nothing spells Diwali quite like the rich marigold. The distinct fragrance of this flower holds special festive memories. My mother gifted me this African marigold plant this year, one of the best gifts I could ask for as I embark upon creating my own garden.

Madhumalti, my lockdown flower: A flower that blooms in summer, and grows in our driveway, which transformed from being a place of transit to the outside world, to being that world itself, during the summer of 2020. These bunches of Madhumalti, also called Rangoon Creeper, or Chinese honeysuckle, will be an enduring reminder of the Corona lockdown of 2020.

Rose, the world’s most beloved flower: How can it not be mine? A rose memory I have is naming the roses in our school garden with my best friend. I especially remember “butter and jam”, a pale yellow rose with tints of red. Over the years, roses have been testimony to special occasions, but none have been as special as the ones my mother has in her terrace garden – they bloom when the jasmines do, and the mix is a heady one.

Life has many seasons, and through all of these flowers have defined my changing identity. They have taught me at various points about the joy of spreading happiness, the impermanence and fragility of life, but also about the immense beauty and grace there is to appreciate and enjoy in nature. I hope we can celebrate flowers, the same way they celebrate us!

P.S. More recently, I rediscovered my love for flowers through my Twitter community of friends. I love to see and share flower pictures, as much as I wait for special days and hashtags (#flowersonfriday, #sixonsaturday). But this post is especially dedicated to my mother from whom I learnt everything I know about gardening and flowers.