We were very excited as all Kitchen Garden members of GK 2 got a special invite from Swati Gupta to visit her little garden in S block. Swati is an avid gardener but what is remarkable about her garden is how beautifully she has transformed her balcony into a green haven – an absolute visual treat.
A crisp saree-clad Swati, smilingly welcomed us into her home and as we entered her balcony, we were greeted with a burst of colour on our left, by brilliant poinsettias and kalanchoes. Below this were rows of healthy lettuce, and cauliflower plants bearing baby gobhis.
The China Orange tree laden with narangis sang tales of having been fed well. Swati does composting workshops, where she dwells on the importance of converting kitchen waste to black gold, the best possible fertilizer for plants, and I sure guessed the secret of her thriving plants.
Tomato plants full of yellow flowers, fat palak leaves and cheekus galore in pots were clearly indicative of the passion and hardwork that had gone into their upkeep. It is not just fruits and vegetables, Swati has adorned her garden with a variety of plants like syngoniums, palms, dieffenbachia and purple oxalis that add much colour and cheer to the garden.
Long rows of brightly coloured petunias and pansies instantly uplifted our spirits! Thick, old cascading jades were truly amazing. Swati’s beauty, passion and love for plants which is clearly reflected in her garden, soothed our minds and left us in complete awe.
No, it doesn’t end here…Swati is a great cook and we were in for a gastronomical treat… delicious harra kebabs, golgappas, dahi bhallas…cheese cake and so much more… specially prepared for us by Swati. All 5 senses gratified, we left like well fed happy beasts, (not just the tummy but soul as well) smiling ear to ear.
