(Editor’s Note – Abha Batra, a well known name in gardening circles also crowned “Orchid Queen” has been unusual in her choices of plants. She has been growing a variety of trees in pots in whatever spaces she can find in her home, turning them into mini forests. No one could do justice to her talent so we requested her to pen down her thoughts in her own words – let’s read on to find out more)
One spring morning in the year 2016, as I observed baby red leaves spring up on the Mango tree, it was love at first sight! Curiosity got the better of me as I began identifying trees and as my knowledge grew, so did my greed… to practically grow them at home and observe their characteristics. I have collected about 30 trees in the past 8 years which include.… Reetha, Amla, Dhak, Maulsari, Mahua, Neem and many more.
4 trees are in their full glory these days. First is the Amrapali mango tree which is about 4 years old and bore a huge, almost 1 kg mango, last year. Orange and naturally sun-ripened, it was the sweetest mango ever! It is in full bloom again. The flowers are yellowish green in clusters, fragrant with a strong nutty scent. Most flowers are male, the rest bisexual and pollinated by flies and beetles. Can’t wait for it to fruit again.
The second stunningly beautiful tree is the Indian Coral tree. It is laden with brilliant scarlet blooms in bunches. Also called the Tota tree because of the flowers shaped like a parakeet‘s beak. Purple sunbirds are regular visitors for nectar. A sheer delight to have and cherish the blooms for weeks.
The third is a 5 year old Olive tree laden with small cream-coloured fragrant flowers for a week now. It adorns my terrace as it is a beautiful, smallish evergreen tree with thick leathery slender leaves. In its natural habitat, it enjoys a dry climate with winter rains. I am hoping for some olives this year as it looks really happy and healthy.
Another personal favourite is my Kanak Champa tree with its majestic, large glossy green lobed leaves, for which it is also called the ‘dinner plate’ tree! Yes, the leaves are used as plates in villages. It bears fragrant, pure white flowers when the flower cup peels backward like a banana skin. Flowers are highly medicinal, though I have yet to see them on my tree!
I hug my trees and they never refuse and comfort me with peace and solace.
