We are in the middle of Summer and Winter. That transient time of the year – Autumn, when torrential rains have ebbed away after giving life to all living species. Now the nights have begun to gain an edge over daylight and soon days will be even shorter.
Autumn is heralded by the heady fragrance of Parijat or Harsingar, which is abundant around Malibu. Its white and orange flowers form a carpet beneath the tree each morning, forming a beautiful vista and scores of admirers who collect the flowers for various purposes. This is the only flower that’s offered to Gods despite being picked from the ground. All other flowers are plucked and offered.
The giant Gulmohars have been blooming and so are the Karanj, both attracting several birds, squirrels and other insects. Home gardens and parks are getting filled with Chrysanthemums, Zinnia, Marigolds, Cosmos, Sunflowers and Portulaca. We just passed the annual Autumn equinox, post which the next few weeks become extraordinarily beautiful in a thickly wooded colony like ours. The slight nip in the air and misty mornings, the dew drops on grass blades and the morning chortling of Rufous Treepies reminds us that it’s a wonderful time to be out and enjoy the great outdoors we have right within our colony.
