Flowers are one of nature’s most beautiful gifts to living beings. Bees and wasps, butterflies and birds, worms and squirrels – all flock around the flowers. Every morning, observing the bright crimson flowers on the hibiscus bush in my garden brings me endless joy. During summers, the reddish-orange blossoms of Gulmohars and golden yellow bloom of Amaltaas, along with flower beds teeming with a riot of yellowish-orange Nasturtiums and colourful Portulacas, and boundary walls adorned with hot pink Bougainvilleas climbing over them, create a sight to behold. Watching this kind of nature’s bounty completely uplifts my spirits and brightens my day.
While walking through the lanes of our sector I see many flowering bushes adorning our gardens. But it’s sad to see them devoid of any flowers; they are all plucked away by people. Plucking flowers from public places may seem like a harmless act, but it has far-reaching negative consequences that should deter us from engaging in such practices. Flowering shrubs and trees planted in public spaces are for everyone to enjoy. They often serve as a source of natural beauty and relaxation. When we pluck flowers from these areas, we diminish the aesthetic appeal and disrupt the ecosystem. This not only robs others of the opportunity to appreciate the flowers but also harms local wildlife that depends on these plants for sustenance and shelter.
Sometimes, we pluck flowers for religious purposes, like placing them at the deities’ feet or for pooja. Wouldn’t it be better to buy these flowers from a nearby florist for a small amount rather than plucking them from public places? Deities might appreciate offerings purchased with your hard-earned money more than those stolen from public spaces! Stolen? Most people may not even realize that’s what it is! Anything that’s not your property and you are exclusively enjoying the proceeds of it, is stealing. In fact sponsoring buying of flowers for your domestic help who loves to offer them to the deities is an idea worth considering. It wouldn’t cost one more than 10/- a day.
A little conscientiousness on our part can help spread joy for all. Let’s all strive to appreciate and preserve the natural beauty flowers provide to our surroundings, ensuring that it can be enjoyed by everyone.
