Mrs. Karuna Rai, who has been a busy school teacher all her life, now finds solace and calm in the beautiful, green paradise she has curated in her balcony in H block. Now retired, and kids having fled the nest, her plants are her babies as she affectionately speaks about her love for them. “My weakest plants get all my attention, and encouraging words and care, restore them back to good health,” she confesses.
The garden is not a collection of rare plants but common greens like syngoniums, money plant, tulsi, dracena, dieffenbachia and sansivierias that instantly soothe the eyes and soul. Spider and Easter lilies add to the greenery. Roses, sunflowers, hibiscus and sadabahar flowers and coleus and purple heart add colour and cheer to this simple yet delightful, sunlit garden. Huge aloes speak volumes of the tender care they have been nurtured with.
As the balcony overlooks the Jahanpanah forest, Karunaji is blessed with early morning ‘bird orchestra’, as koels, mynahs, bulbuls and parakeets chirp and fill her heart with joy. Also, what stands out in this haven of tranquility is, how well she has utilized kulhads, cracked tea cups and bowls – giving them new life with little green plants. A pullout utensil stand from the kitchen has been cleverly converted into a multilevel plant holder! It is here that she spends time, reading and taking classes on zoom.
“I never throw my lemon peels, but boil them and spice them and they sit in the sun for 45 days to become delicious pickles,” she quips, as we stare at the mouth watering lemon pickle jars glistening in the sun!
We leave mesmerized by her positive energy which comes from, we guess, juggling her time between gardening, constantly utilizing old things to create something new and teaching at the Brahmakumari center.
