The connection with nature, momentarily hushed during the winter months, is joyously re-established as the green grass and open spaces come alive with the vibrant hues of numerous varieties of flowers in spring. The joy of those who have passion for developing their own garden space within the house, and have toiled tirelessly to cultivate and nurture the botanical wonders, knows no bound. With expert hands and boundless passion, they coax life from the earth by tending to each flower with care. And, when their gardens are recognized with awards the pleasure turns to joy of intense contentment.
Smiti Kumar ((SV-1, 005, ground floor, Eldeco Utopia) got 2nd prize in the Medium Garden category, in the recently held Noida Flower Show.
Last year she secured 3rd prize; a progression that should lead to the best next year.
After shifting to Utopia, in 2008, she started devoting time to her garden. It was at her daughter, Shivanshi’s, insistence that she participated in Floriculture Society of Noida (FSN) competition last year.
“She keeps encouraging me to look up at various sites and get ideas to landscape the garden,” Smiti told us while walking us through her garden.
The team of FSN judges visited the garden on 14 February and was impressed by the variety of seasonal flowers – calendula, alyssium, dahlias, stock, antirrhinum petunias, cineraria, pansy, nasturtium, dimorphotheca, aster and verbena – that had thrown riot of colours to the landscape. At one corner she has a small patch for veggies – spinach, radish, celery, coriander, mint, lettuce and eggplant. She adoringly pointed out to a lemon tree, which is full of flowers, ready to give juicy lemons after a couple of months. There is a neem tree and curry-patta as well.
Her collection of bonsai plants, which she has been nurturing over the years, is exclusive and so are a few succulent trays.
Preparation for this wonderful glory of the flowering season begins in October–November with sowing of flower seeds/planting of saplings. She was all in praise for her gardener, Jagdev, who has good suggestions and ideas.
