The beautiful Kachnar Tree

On a fine winter morning while on our morning walk we were pleasantly surprised to see beautiful pink flowers in bloom. These were on some of the trees at the road side in our Society in Pune. One of our walking buddies shared some interesting information on this tree and its lovely flowers. The tree is called the Kachnar and the flowers are Kachnar flowers. The colours varied from pink to mauve.

Some friends who had more hands-on experience in preparation of this lesser known herb said the kachnar buds are boiled and used in different is used for preparing tasty vegetable dish and others said you could use the long beans seen in the picture too. They need to be washed very well before use to remove the bitter taste. Its also popularly used in non vegetarian dishes. Do visit one interesting website for details – http://nishamadhulika.com/en/368-kachnar-kali-recipe.html

The Kachnar tree is also known as the Orchid Tree. As given in the Wikipedia its botanical name is Bauhinia variegate.

I’d like to share some pictures taken of these lovely flowers. And any additional information from viewers is welcome.

Have a great day!

Kachnar Tree

Kachnar flowers

The Kachnar in bloom

Basil Bliss

Whenever I visit my farm the site of the healthy and robust basil plants seem to say “A warm welcome to you”! And the wonderful fragrance of basil is so intoxicating and blissful!

Sweet basil in sunshine

Cheers

Wish You A Happy New Year Full of Roses

Which is loveliest in a rose? Its coy beauty when it’s budding, or its splendor when it blows? ~ George Barlow.

I wish all our viewers and friends a very happy and joyful New Year 2012 with lovely roses!

Cheers

The Colonel visits Jugnoo Farms

On Christmas Day my friend the Colonel visits the farm. The Colonel knows a lot on the finer points in agriculture and farming and gave us some good tips. The weather was nice and sunny. Here are a few shots of some of our plants.

Bird chilli plant

Kaffir lime plant

Lemon Balm calms the nerves!

Lemon balm is a herb which when taken as a tea calms the nerves. It acts as mild sedative and helps in getting sound sleep. Lemon Balm essential oil help is used in aroma therapy.
I find it easy to grow and it has a strong lemony flavor.

Lemon Balm

Cheers

Good News from Jugnoo Farms

We grow culinary herbs in Jugnoo Farms for sale to South East Asian and Italian restaurants in Pune. Off late we have been getting requests for fresh herbs for home consumption. The good news is that we have started keeping a few packets of each – Basil Sweet and Thai, Rucola, Lemon Balm, Kaffir Lime leaves, Thyme and Oregano at a retail point. The place is a popular health food shop located at North Main Road, Koregaon Park Pune. Do visit and try out some herb favored culinary delights in your kitchens

Have a nice day

Winter fresh

Ya winter is the month where we grow some veggies. A modest quantity for home consumption and for friends. This lot just arrived.

Go Veggie!

Winter glory

Hi folks these berry like fruits grow around hedges every year but are not edible. They can be seen in November and start disappearing in the beginning of December. What are they?

Cheers!

The Joys of Drinking Lemon Grass Tea

“Tea … is one of those rare treasures, enjoyed throughout the world, that actually benefits health”!                                                                                                                                                                                       ~   Quote by KIT CHOW, All the Tea in China

Lemon grass plant

Lemon grass tea called gavti chaha or  गवती चाहा (in Marathi) is very popular for its refreshing flavour. Lemon grass tea also provides relief for people having common cold or cough. Regular use of this tea provides mild immunity against cold and cough.

Lemon grass

Generally we add a few leaves of fresh lemon grass while boiling water for preparing our regular tea. The flavour of the regular tea gets distinctly enhanced.

So do enjoy this wonderful tea especially in the rainy season or in winter. The lemon grass tea is not taken in summer perhaps because it increases body heat slightly.

A lemon grass plant is very easy to grow you just need to water it regularly. Grow it soil or in a clay pot.

Natures Gift the Holy Basil

Sweet or Common Basil and Thai Basil are grown in fairly large quantities at Jugnoo Farms. In our home we take great care of two plants

Krishna Tulsi

of Krishna Tulsi also known as holy basil. In most traditional homes the Holy Basil is worshipped. Sweet Basil leaves are light green whereas the Krishna Tulsi leaves are darker and slightly purple in colour.

The tulsi plant has many medicinal properties. The leaves are a nerve tonic and also sharpen memory. It has strong anti bacterial properties and its anti oxidant properties strengthens the nervous system.

Other reported benefits are healing colds, coughs and stomach disorder skin infections. Some Ayurvedic doctors claim benefits in diabetes, lowering cholesterol and stress. This plant gives out ozone which means that the presence of this plant protects the surroundings from the

Holy Basil

harmful ultra violet rays. A friend who despite being a alopathic physician is a strong believer in alternative healing. And has a row of Tulsi plants in front of the bungalow perhaps.

Also do read the amazing story of Holy Basil which today has become a global business at http://www.organicindia.com/tulsi-holy-basil.php

Most mornings we have Tulsi tea instead of the usual morning Tata or Lipton cuppa. Here a few leaves are added to hot water and allowed to steep for few minutes. Some folk add a little honey for taste and for medicinal value. In the mornings when we are in a hurry just chew a few Tulsi leaves – it even freshens the mouth.

We can easily conclude by saying Tulsi moves the body towards good health. Enjoy good health and a calm mind.