Beautiful Gliricidia Trees

Its the month of March and on the hills at the rear of our housing complex the beautiful Gliricidia trees are in full bloom. Earlier the hills were bare and stony and when Gliricidia trees were planted in a short while the plants became trees. The lovely flowers are in bloom during March April and soon the trees become bare. I am sharing few pictures taken by me.

For more information please read the Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliricidia_sepium

Gliricidia sepium is a medium-sized tree and can grow to about 10 meters high. The bark is smooth and has composite leaves. Each leaf is composed of leaflets that are about 2 to 7 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide. The flowers are located on the end of branches that have no leaves. These flowers have a bright pink to lilac color that is tinged with white.

The tree is used in many tropical and sub-tropical countries for various purposes such as live fencing, fodder, coffee shade, firewood, green manure. Live fences can be grown from 1.5 m to 2.0 m stakes of Gliricidia sepium in just a month.

Because it fixes nitrogen in the soil, it boosts crop yields significantly without the expense of chemical fertilizers. It is also one of the most important tropical agro forestry trees and is an effective wind-breaker.

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Annual flower-show 2013 at the Empress Garden

Reblogged from dilipnaidu's blog:

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“A single rose can be my garden; a single friend, my world” ~ Leo Buscaglia

The Empress Garden at Pune covers a sprawling 39 acres, and is home to many rare species of trees and flowers.The Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India organizes an annual flower show and arranges various programs throughout the year to create environmental awareness among people. This year the flower-show was held on 11th, 12th, 13th Jan.

Read more… 13 more words

Merry Xmas & Happy New Year 2013

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Bonsai collection

We eagerly await the 2012 annual flowers show in Pune. It is held every year in the month of January. I wish to share a few pictures of the beautiful Bonsai taken in the 2011 Flower Show. Hope you like them

Bonsai (盆栽?, means plantings in tray, from bon, a tray or low-sided pot and sai, a planting or plantings, is a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers. Similar practices exist in other cultures, including the Chinese tradition of penjing from which the art originated, and the miniature living landscapes of Vietnamese hòn non bộ. The Japanese tradition dates back over a thousand years, and has its own aesthetics and terminology.

The purposes of bonsai are primarily contemplation (for the viewer) and the pleasant exercise of effort and ingenuity (for the grower). By contrast with other plant cultivation practices, bonsai is not intended for production of food, for medicine, or for creating yard-size or park-size gardens or landscapes. Instead, bonsai practice focuses on long-term cultivation and shaping of one or more small trees growing in a container.

(Above information sourced from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonsai)

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A beautiful sunset

A lovely view of the setting sun from my farm. It was late in the evening and getting dark with the sun disappearing gradually behind the nearby hills. No bird chatter no human voices everything calm and quiet. All this made me so peaceful and tranquil as if this moment should last forever. A perfect moment to meditate deeply.

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A Peahen comes calling

The Peacock enjoys the status of being the national bird of India. It is symbolic of qualities like beauty, grace, pride and mysticism.

“The pride of the peacock is the glory of God” ~ William Blake

As a kid I have seen many beautiful peacocks in our rich Indian forests as well as in my college campus in Pilani Rajastan (years ago). But not in Pune our busy city where we live. And so suddenly spotting a beautiful Peahen in our society (Community) was thrilling. Actually it was my wife who sited this lovely bird and I did manage to capture it on my camera

Sharing our excitement with you all dear readers.

Cheers!

Cauliflower patch in the garden

Cauliflower is one of several vegetables popular for the rich and the poor. It is an annual plant that reproduces by seed. Typically, only the head (the white curd) is eaten.

Cauliflower is low in fat, low in carbohydrates but high in dietary fiber, folate, water, and vitamin C, possessing a high nutritional density. A high intake of cauliflower has been associated with reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Information sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauliflower.

Sharing a few shots of some healthy cauliflowers growing in my friends garden

Cauliflower about to emerge

Cauliflower (Sides) Brinjal ( Middle) patch

Greek Oregano Herb in Jugnoo Farms

Oregano is an important culinary herb, used for the flavor of its leaves, which can be more flavorful when dried than fresh. It has an aromatic, warm and slightly bitter taste, which can vary in intensity. Factors such as climate, seasons and soil composition may affect the aromatic oils present, and this effect may be greater than the differences between the various species of plants.

Greek Oregano

Oregano’s most prominent modern use is as the staple herb of Italian-American cuisine. It is most frequently used with roasted, fried or grilled vegetables, meat and fish. Unlike most Italian herbs, oregano combines well with spicy foods, which are popular in southern Italy.

Hippocrates used oregano as an antiseptic, as well as a cure for stomach and respiratory ailments. Oregano is high in antioxidant activity. (From Wikipedia) Oregano is also used in tea for indigestion.

In India Greek oregano is preferred for its heavy oregano aroma and considered great for pizza and Italian cooking.

Colors of the season!

Hi friends here are some colorful flowers for you

Cheers and have a nice day!

Clouds!

Here in Pune we are in June and yet no rains. But lets just think positive for the rains to come

Oh ye beautiful clouds please Rain!

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