FORM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Hello friends,

I still remember the good old days, when, while walking through a village lane, lined with all kinds of fruit trees, we used to pick up the leaves which used to catch our fancy due to their colours, shapes, aromas, or may be few of them found their mention in our ancient Hindu literature. For example, we believed that by keeping leaves of Thuja Occidentalis in our books, we would be showered with blessings of Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge.

(After each exam, though, getting a good spanking by our Grandpa, irrespective of grades obtained, was another matter.)

We picked up few leaves just because they emit sweet aromas like Eucalyptus, or taste anywhere from the bitter neem, to sweet Stevia. We used to get intrigued by the fact that they have different adaptations for survival, like thorns on cactus prevent animals from eating these leaves.

It is important to understand that however tiny they may be, they perform some of the most crucial and complex functions, and so silently! They absorb Carbon Dioxide and release Oxygen. They help settle dust, which otherwise we would swallow in our lungs. They absorb harmful gases being emitted by our vehicles and factories.

And many of them are edible, like spinach leaves are nutritious, tender, tamarind leaves give tanginess. We worship Tulsi leaves due to their medicinal properties.

I still remember our roofs in the village were thatched using palm and other leaves locally available. ( No to mention that though rain drops used to filter through the holes in the roofs, but we were eager to ensure that others did not get wet; that used to be the bonding.)

We regularly saw our local Vaid (the village doctor) using paste of various leaves to treat skin injuries. We were amazed by the various circular cuts on leaves made by the insects and caterpillars.

Today I realise that they were some of the best days that we have spent.

This is the need of the hour too. We must ensure that our younger generation gains first hand experience of the mother nature. And it can start from a small but so important entity like leaves. Interaction with nature improves physical and mental health. Going away from mother nature can spell disaster over a period of time.

And we, at this society, are committed to better environment, better earth, and better health.

Jai Hind.

(With thanks, adapted from an article from Newspaper.)

FRAGRANT CREEPERS AND CLIMBERS

Introduction:

Fragrance is one of the essential senses out of five senses that make a complete garden, the others being Sight, Touch, Taste and Hearing. A garden without fragrance is like a body without its soul. Every garden should have fragrant creepers, climbers, trees and shrubs, besides flowers.

Indian flora has a pronounced, intense fragrance which is soothing and even intoxicating unlike the Western flora which may have beautiful structure and colours but only a faint fragrance. Rooted in our tradition, heritage and religion, fragrant flowers and creepers are universally used in homes, weddings and religious ceremonies. Women adorn their hair daily with gajras and venis. Our literature has immortalized the emotional and aesthetic beauty of fragrant flora. Kalidasa in Meghdootam, Kumarsambhavam and Abhigyan Shakuntalam and Jai Shankar Prasad in later times are two shining examples. The Moghals continued the fragrant theme and Noor Jehan promoted the perfumery industry to capture and preserve the fragrance in bottles as attar. Indian sages and Aryuveda gurus researched and discovered the medicinal and healing properties of fragrant flora.

There are hundreds of species of creepers but I have selected a few which are hardy,easy to grow in the Indian climate and have numerous uses.

1.Rose Creeper/Climber: The king of flowers:

• Genus: Rosa
• Family:Rosaceae
• Propagation: by cutting.
• Sun: seeds sunshine for 6-8 hours
• Planting time: October
• Soil: Easy to grow in well drained, rich loamy soil with peat moss.
• Flowering: January to April
• Pruning: end September.

Rose creeper inarguably occupies the pride of place amongst all fragrant creepers, climbers and shrubs. Roses are a favourite theme  of all poets and writers because of their beauty and fragrance. They symbolize love, peace and beauty. Red Roses are synonymous with love and affection. Pink symbolizes gentle emotion, joy or gratitude. White expresses innocence and purity.

There are hundreds of species but here we are talking of a few creepers, for example, Indian Summer, Hybrid Tea, Damascus Rose, Kanya Kumari and many pink and miniature varieties. Free flowing creepers can be trained- and hence called ramblers- to climb pergolas, arbours, arches and trellises. A rose creeper is a woody perennial with thorns on its stem. The most common colour of flowers is pink, yellow and white. The flower consists of multiple petals which have a strong aroma.

Rose petals are edible and are used for making Rose Water, Gulkand and other products for health problems. Rose hip, the fruit of the flower, has medicinal properties and is also used for making jams and jellies. Rose petals make delicious Sharbat, Thandai and other cooling drinks. They add a unique flavour in several sweet dishes like Gulab – ki- kheer, Pullao, Rabri ,Sandaesh and Pedas. Essential oils extracted from rose flowers are widely used in aroma therapy and for making attar, perfumes and beauty aid products.

2. Echitis Creeper:

• Native to India
• Botanical Name – Echites Caryophyllata
• Family – Apocynaceae – Plumeria and Oleander family.
• Sanskrit Name: Malti Lata
• Propagation: by layering in monsoon.
• Soil: Any type of soil but requires ample watering during growing season.
• Climate: Needs a warm and humid climate.
• Pruning: Occasional trimming is required. Should not be allowed to climb a tree because it will finish it.

It is a fast growing, woody, evergreen climber,easy to maintain. It has highly fragrant white flowers which grow in big bunches, resembling Jasmine flowers. The flowers have five twisted petals witha spicy aroma. Flowering time is from April- August. It starts flowering even before attaining full maturity.An ideal creeper for pergolas, arches and for covering walls. Its flowers are offered to Lord Ganesha during 21 Pushpa Puja.

The creeper attracts lots of butterflies and bees.

For reasons unknown, it is not easily available and therefore not commonly seen despite its great qualities – native to India, hardy, easy to grow and maintain, an evergreen and highly fragrant flowers.

3.Passionflower (Passiflora):

• Botanical name: Passiflora Foetida
• Other common names: Rakhi flower, Krishna Kamal; Kaurav-Pandav
• Family: Passifloraceae
• Soil: It needs moist and rich soil and lot of sun.
• Propagation: By layering.
• Flowering season: from August to November.

A very fast growing, deciduous climber with a unique floral structure. It climbs through its tendrils. This vine producers very beautiful flowers in purple colour with a fragrance that ignites your senses but now we can get other colours also like pink, red, white and yellow. The flowers have serrated leaves, radial filaments and ten petals and are widely used as ornamentals. Its fruit, called passion fruit, is edible and is also used as a dietary supplement and in making medicines, specially herbal and homoeopathic medicines and is recommended for anxiety and insomnia. It should be used under medical guidance since it may cause drowsiness and is not recommended for pregnant women. It is a favourite of butterflies, humming birds, bees and wasps.

4. Madhu Malati/ Rangoon Creeper/ Chinese Honeysuckle.:

• Botanical Name: Combretum Indicum
• Family: Combretaceae
• Propagation: By layering
• Sun and Soil: needs a well drained soil.
• Flowering: Blooming throughout summer.

Madhu Malti is easy to grow and maintain. All you need is a good, healthy sapling. It is a hardy, fast growing evergreen creeper that needs lot of sun but very little water and maintenance. It can be trained to climb in any direction or surface. Its special appeal is because of its highly fragrant tubular flowers which come in bunches of three colours, changing from white on Day 1 to Pink on Day 2 to Deep red on Day 3 to attract three types of pollinators, from hawks with long tongues to bees and buzzing birds while it changes from a horizontal to drooping posture. Its heady fragrance makes it a perfect plant for summer. The flowers are for decorative ‘venis’ without a string and fruit for making Chinese medicines. Seeds are used to treat roundworm and kills parasites in the digestive tract.

5.Hari Champa/Manoranjani

• Family: Annonaceae
• Botanical Name: Artabotrys Hexapetalus
• Propagation: By layering or seeds.30 degrees centigrade.
• Flowering time: September/October.

Description: An evergreen, sun loving and slow growing, medium size creeper. A tropical creeper which grows up to 10-12 feet. It produces flowers, solitary or in pairs, which are green in colour, fading to yellow with age. The name hexapetalus comes from its  three inner and three outer greenish yellow petals. The flowers have a strong, fruity fragrance. The flowers are usually hidden by coarse, shiny green leaves. Once plucked, they retain fragrance for days and if kept in a room, fill the whole area with an intoxicating, fruity smell. Good for cut flowers, balconies and screens. Primarily  ornamental, its flowers are used for flavouring tea and they yield essential oils for aroma therapy and perfumes.

6.Clematis:The Queen of Vines:

• Botanical Name: Clematis Gauriana
• Family: Ranunculaceae
• Common names: Raanjaimorvel
• Propagation: By layering.
• Flowering time: Monsoon

Clematis is a highly decorative and spectacular vine with small light green leaves. New growth emerges in spring. It is a slow growing, perennial and semi-deciduous, flowering vine. Its flowers are white and highly fragrant. It can climb tall trees, fences and structures.Its fragrance is divine.Needs lot of sun and hard pruning after flowering.You need to be careful where the roots will be set but once established, the creeper will yield a brilliant,dazzling mass of flowers.Roots should be kept cool in summer with mulch or small flowers around them. Its leaves provide food for caterpillars and flowers are a big favourite of bees. Fortunately, its fragrance is far reaching and you can enjoy it from a distance.

7. Jasmine/Chameli:

• Botanical Name: :asminumauriculatum
• Common name: Juhi
• Family: Oleaceae

It needs lot of sun (6 hours). Soil should be well drained and fertile. It is a hardy deciduous/evergreen which grows moderately, about 12/24 inches every year. It is a versatile creeper and can be trained to grow as a shrub, In pots, as a ground cover but is best as a creeper. Main growing season is February-May and July-September.

Its flowers have numerous uses. It is used in venis for deities and women. It’s fragrance is a special attraction for humming birds and butterflies. Because of its intense fragrance, it is used  in the perfumery, specially for making attar, and cosmetic industry. Infusion from Jasmine flowers make delicious infusions which are very calming and cooling. Essential oil is referred to as the King of Oils, which is beneficial for anxiety and sleep, Many antiseptic and anti-inflammatory medicines are made from the essential oils of jasmine.

Dr Seema Sood

Flowers and Pollinators

Common Pollinator Insects

Ants — Ants like pollens and nectar, but they aren’t very good pollinators, rather they are a source of aphid infestation. So many flowers prevent their entry with sticky hairs or other mechanisms .

Bats –As bats don’t have very good sight ,So they use their sense of smell and prefer large, light-coloured, night-blooming flowers with strong fruity smell like cactus flowers, nicotiana ,honeysuckle ,four o’clock , datura ,yucca ,night-blooming Jasemine, French marigolds.

Bees –Flowers which have Yellow, blue, purple colours are liked by bees. There are many types of bees, and they have  different flower preferences.

Beetles — White or dull-coloured, fragrant flowers as they can not recognise colours like potatoes, asparagus, beans.

Butterflies –Bright coloured flowers like red, orange, yellow, pink, blue are their preference. They like flowers like zinnias, calendula with flat inflorescence in a sunny location as will to land before feeding,.

Flies –They like green, white, cream flowers in simple bowl-shaped flowers or clusters.

Hummingbirds — They only feed on nectar of the flowers. So they like red, orange, purple/red tubular flowers with lots of nectar like sages, honeysuckles, nasturtiums, columbines, bee balms, madhu malti.

Moths –Moths like light-coloured flowers that open at dusk like honey suckle, petunia.

Creating Pollinator Garden

Garden that attracts a range of pollinators, can be a sight of enjoyment to kids as well as adults. Kids may find small pool interesting and see birds collect twigs to make nest. We can create a beautiful pollinator garden by using following in mind .

1. Include different flowers annual as well as perennial. So that insects can get food throughout the year.
2. Include local plants and pollinators. Native plants get adapted easily.
3. Grow host plants that are known to attract certain pollinators, such as milkweed for monarch butterfly larvae.
4. Keep shallow pools and mud puddles that nourish butterflies, wasp,honey bee and offer home-building materials for bees and wasps.
5. Include tall plants and trellised vines with yellow flowers like sunflower, morning glories to invite pollinators to your gardens
6. Leave cut plant stems exposed, turn flowerpots with bottom holes upside down, leave twigs and brush in small piles, and leave out pieces of string or other light fibres.
7. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides try using organic to save the insects.

                                        Vandna Bhatnagar

nonofficial66 @gmail.com

CREATING YOUR OWN BUTERFLY GARDEN

Who doesn’t love fluttering of colourful butterflies in their garden? Butterflies not only add beauty to your garden, are a great pollinator and also give you immense pleasure of gardening. So why not create your own butterfly garden.

For creating a butterfly garden you don’t need a huge space. You can create it even in small space by following some simple steps:

1. Select some sunny spot in your garden, put  some rocks and create some perches as butterflies love to warm themselves by resting and taking sun bath.
2. Select variety of trees and shrubs even in pots or containers in order to protect from breeze, rain or predators.
3. Keep mixture of wet sand and soil in a shallow bowl or planter tray, as butterflies enjoy resting on wet sand or soil and absorb moisture from it.
4. Now choose a variety of vibrant flowering   plants having different colours and different blooming time. Red, yellow and blue are their favourite colours.

Butterflies feed mainly on tubular flowers and love flowers like Verbena, phlox, butterfly bush, bee balm, pentas, sweet peas, marigold, lantana, sweet alyssum, salvia, lavender, roses, various asters, sedums and many more. These flowers provide nectar to butterflies and add beauty to your garden. Butterflies can also see in ultra violet range.

You can have a kitchen or herb garden too and plants in the umbelliferae family are great attractors and source of pollen. These include parsley, celery, coriander, funnel, dill etc. The flowers provide sugary water and good nectar.

Apart from lovely adults we need young babies too. To provide best butterfly habitat one must create diverse landscape. Different varieties of butterflies need particular host plant for laying their eggs. Plants like milk weed or wild mustard provide a better habitat and for some species these provide food for the young babies.

You can place a butterfly feeder too in your garden, nearby flowers if you can. Add sugar, water, fruit or both, to the bowl to attract butterflies. Butterflies love fruits viz: oranges, apples, grapefruits, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, kiwi, watermelon banana and many more.

You can also offer them commercial butterfly nectar, rich in sodium and protein to supplement their diet. Many butterfly feeders in vibrant red and yellow colour are available in market that attracts the butterflies most.

Last but not the least, treat your garden as miniature eco system and use of insecticides and pesticides should be avoided at any cost.

So be ready to welcome these beautiful creatures 🦋🦋 in your garden

Love Nature and Enjoy Gardening

Shailja Mishra

Mishra.shailja6325@gmail.com

BUSTLING LIVES BY THE ROADSIDE

Roadside habitats have spread around the world as a result of the increasing number of roads being built to meet expanding transportation needs. Most roadside vegetation is controlled to some extent, mostly for traffic safety. Many roadsides, however, can promote biodiversity by supporting diverse flora with proper upkeep. Roadsides provide chances for grassland species in particular and have thus been recognized as prospective replacements for grasslands and other open habitats, which are now disappearing globally.

More particular, roadside management and abiotic conditions may resemble those of mown or grazed semi-natural grasses. There are many benefits to roadside vegetation. It has a major impact on the economic front as well. The visiting experience is enhanced by improved roadside conditions. Construction costs are lower since better technology is used. It also extends the life of the pavement. In soil stabilization circumstances, this approach can be employed. It also lowers maintenance costs and requirements. It increases the soil’s water infiltration capacity and minimizes runoff. The buildings are made using the roots, stems and accompanying woods that we received through cutting.

In today’s world, air pollution is a big concern and roadside plants can assist efficiently in combating this problem. The engines of automobiles emit a lot of harmful gases and odours, which are detrimental to the environment and the driver. Pollutants such as lead particles, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides may all be easily managed by roadside vegetation. There are several other environmental advantages: primarily it helps to reduce soil erosion by stabilizing the ground surface, as the strength of the root system grows over time, increasing soil stability and making the soil less prone to erosion. It controls weeds along the roadway. It also serves as a habitat for wildlife and helps increase the variety of species. It also shields you from the glare of oncoming car’s headlights. Particularly during the summers, it provides much-needed shade from the fierce sunlight.

Another important impact is that it helps reduce noise pollution. Noise is an undesirable sound on the road that is mostly created by car brakes, horns, and engines. As a result, roadway engineering offers a greater potential to reduce noise pollution by simply planting trees and plants along the wayside. Roadside vegetation is crucial in hilly areas because they are prone to landslides, the trees and vegetation along the roadside boost shear strength and improves the load-carrying capacity of soil along the failure plane, they also offer lateral support by reducing soil erosion. Hence limits the occurrence of landslides. Hence roadside vegetation can be extremely helpful. 

You may have seen a list of lovely flowering trees and bushes along the roadside in India. Here are some of India’s most prevalent roadside vegetation.

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea are thorny ornamental vines known as bougainvilla in India and grow anywhere over the other plants. The vine species are evergreen and the actual flowers known as the paper flower of bougainvilla are white, pink, orange and yellow. It is a low maintenance plant and it thrives in full sun requiring 6 hours of proper sunlight which is easily accessible when planted along the roads.

Nerium oleander 

Nerium oleander with pink flowers in bunches are very popular for their hue and fragrance. The plant is poisonous and most commonly grown garden ornamental plants in India. It is commonly used as a landscape feature in parks and along roadsides. Because it is poisonous, it is more suited for growing in vulnerable regions such as at check/toll posts and along road medians, as animals would not graze on it. They are also resistant to heat and dust and require minimal water. They may also be used to create living borders and hedges.

Tamarind Trees

3, These trees provide plenty of shade and help in keeping the area cool thanks to its more extensive coverage. What’s more, is that the tamarind fruit is edible and a good source of vitamins for the people as well. 

Cassia fistula (Golden Shower)

The national plant of Thailand is also a state flower in India. It has golden coloured flowers that grow in bunches. Due to the number of hanging flowers in the tree, it gives a yellow shower like effect. It blooms in late spring. Flowering is profuse, with trees being covered with yellow flowers, many times with almost no leaf being seen. It grows well in dry climates. Growth for this tree is best in full sun on well-drained soil; it is relatively drought-tolerant and slightly salt-tolerant. It will tolerate light brief frost but can get damaged if the cold persists. It can be subject to mildew or leaf spot, especially during the second half of the growing season. The tree blooms better with pronounced differences between summer and winter temperatures.

Lantana Camara

Lantana Camara is the most common flowering plant from the verbena family. The ornamental shrub has become an invasive species and offers toxicity to livestock. Lantana Camara is a perennial, erect sprawling or scandent, a shrub that typically grows to around 2 m tall and forms dense thickets in a variety of environments. In the right conditions though, it can scramble up into trees and can grow to 6 metres tall. Due to extensive selective breeding throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries for use as an ornamental plant, there are now many different L. Camara cultivars. The leaves are broadly ovate, opposite, and simple and have a strong odour when crushed.

The blooming flowers along the road, the greenery all around, the colour splash we witness while travelling sure does bring a smile to our faces specially for those of us who love to be around the vibrant flowers and get to enjoy the healing quality of nature. To sum up roadside vegetation does not only make roads look aesthetic and pretty but also have several advantages which many of us wouldn’t think of at first. Next time when you go for a drive make sure to notice the flora along the roads and appreciate its beauty!

Deepti Jain

deeptijain1956@gmail. com

GARDENING IN MAY

• May has arrived and the days are getting warmer and longer. Summer is here, plant out summer flowers and start planning for autumn.
• There are plenty of flowers and vegetables to sow and grown in May. If you had sowed seeds of summer flowers they will be ready to flower.
• Keep on checking for spidery mildew and bugs on zinnias, Kochia, gomphrena, sunflowers, rudbeckia etc
• Look after your finished spring bulbs for next year. Once they stop blooming, resist the temptation to cut back the foliage. Instead, let it die and break down on its own and add liquid fertiliser all around the clumps. This will give you an even better display next spring.
• Optimise your watering regime. Watering early and late to get the most out of your water and start collecting and recycling water whenever possible.
• Harden off half-hardy plants before you plant in containers or beds. You can still plant summer hanging baskets with purslane, portulaca adding good-quality compost, slow-release fertiliser, to keep them in top condition.

• Harden off dahlias and tender exotics.
• Keep pests away from your strawberry crop. Protect strawberry plants with straw to control weeds and lift the berries off the ground and netting to keep birds off the fruit.
• Hang pheromone traps in stone fruit trees from May to August to monitor plum-fruit-moth activity.
• Hang pheromone traps in apple trees to reduce codling moth.
• Keep young fruit trees well watered while they are putting on rapid growth.
• Remove blossom and fruits from newly planted fruit trees to help them establish properly during their first year.
• Regularly check the centre of gooseberry bushes for green gooseberry sawfly caterpillars. They will quickly skeletonize leaves if not removed.
• Erect garden netting around soft fruit plants to prevent birds eating your crop.       
• Onion, Pepper, Brinjal, Okra, Onion, Chilli can still be planted along with gourds and peanuts.
• Feed your lawn with a high-nitrogen fertiliser to encourage healthy green growth.
• Water the grass during hot weather that’s particularly important for newly seeded or turfed lawns. Never allow new lawns to dry out.

Stay safe, take care and keep on doing gardening.

Rama Tyagi

tyagirama1@gmail.com

ORGANIC KITCHEN GARDENING

The science and art of growing your own food on terraces, balconies and backyard.

In today’s scenario growing our own food is becoming a necessity than just a hobby. The process doesn’t only make us self- reliant but also empowers us to live a sustainable life free from all chemical fertilizers and pesticides which invite incurable diseases such as cancer, heart attack and many more.

We believe that seedling the knowledge of food growing, recycling and sustainability, in schools and colleges is must as the new generation will become –  The Earth keeps.

Few basic points must  for Organic Kitchen Gardening:

SOIL : First we need good healthy soil with lots of nutrients and rich in microbes. So need to add manure, compost, vermi-compost, leaf mould or other natural fertilizers.

 POTS Selection: Specially for balcony, terrace gardening we need good with well drainage pots. Can be

SEEDS : For healthy seedlings we need either good seeds or saplings. Seeds can be heirloom or hybrids.

Sow seeds in seed  tray or directly after soaking them in cow urine 1:10 litres of water ratio, for 12 hours for fast

germination. Keep tray in bright place covered with paper, as seed sprouts shift gradually in sun. Keep soil moist not wet.

When the seedlings become 4” tall transfer seedlings carefully in bigger pot or places where it has to be grown. If plant has tap root, no need to transfer. Brinjal, tomatoes, peppers, chillies, cabbage, cauliflower etc. need to be transferred.

After repotting water well and keep them in shade for 3-4 days and gradually shift the pots in full sun.

Vegetables like Ladies finger, cluster beans, cucumber, bitter gourd and leafy vegetables doesn’t need repotting , so the seeds can be directly sown.

WATERING : Water when needed, no overwatering. 90% of plants die due to overwatering which causes root rot.

MANURE : Vegetables need feed regularly so give manure in from of vermicompost, cow dung manure, bone meal, sea weed every 15-20 days interval. Add Amrut jal or Jeevamrit.

Check plants for any infestation like attack from mealybugs, aphids, caterpillars, powdery mildews etc.

• Can spray Neem oil + soap + water in ratio 1:1 teaspoon in one litre water
•  or old buttermilk
•  or tobacco ½ cup + 2 cups water soak overnight, dilute to ten times and spray
• or  Cow urine.

If plant flowers but not fruiting do cross pollination.

Harvest veggies and leave some for making seeds.

Mulching: Mulch with organic residue to reduce weeds. Mulching promotes humus and enhances water holding capacity.

All the vegetables and flowers need sunlight for 6-8 hours. The leafy vegetables or micro greens need at least 3-4 hours of sun light.  East, west and south are the ideal location for growing vegetables.

Kitchen waste compost is best manure considered as black gold, so practice it instead of dumping off. This way we also make our city clean.

Pesticides and fungicides

• Neem oil + soap water(10% solution) spray,
• Diluted old butter milk.
• Garlic, ginger, chilli and neem oil spray. Make paste, leave overnight, mix with water and spray on infested plant.
• Fungicides: Haldi, cinnamon powder and garlic.

Vegetables that Grow in Summer:

Karela, Bhindi, Dudhi, Chilli, Cucumber, Parval, Mint, Sponge Guard, Pumpkin, Kakri, Tinda, Watermelon etc.

Know Green, Grow Green!!

Eat healthy, Stay healthy!!

Jagriti Bhatt

jagritibhatt@gmail.com

Tales of Indian trees

TREENAME: Jamun Black Plum /

LATIN NAMES: Eugenia jambolana

                          Syzygium cumini

INDIAN NAMES: Hindi : Jamun

                            Bengali :Kalojam,Jam

                            Marathi :Jambul 

                           Sanskrit :Jambu ,Nagai

                           Telugu :Neredu

FAMILY:  Myrtaceae

• Have you observed whenever a holistic works are performed like havans or any other ritual, Pandit ji starts with these words “Jambudveepe  Aryavratey BharatkhandeY” and then comes the name of your area, village, kul, gotra, nakshatra etc. Now question arises why first word is Jambudveepe than Aryavrat etc. Jambu means Jamun, So a part where this fruit grows abundantly.It is said Hindus ruled over Jambudweep which was reduced to India.

            As per Puranas Earth was divided into 7 islands:

• a)Jambudweep
• b)Palaksh
• c)Shalmali
• d)Kush
• e)Kronche
• f)Shaak
• g)Pushkar
• Jambudveepe had 9 parts Ilavrat, Bhadraksh, Kimpurusha, Bharat, Hari, Ketumaal, Ramyak, Kuru & Hiranmayee.

Jambudveepe started from Israel,China to Russia .Jambudveepe had 6 mountain ranges . So our Ancient scriptures named our land as Jambudveepe.

• The Jamun tree is considered sacred to both Krishna and Ganesha. Buddhist also worship it.
• Megha is supposed to have been incarnated on earth as the Jamun and that is why the colour of fruit resembles a stormy sky.
• Native to India, jamun is a fruit with rich colour and sweet taste . The fruit had deep blue or purple colour . Also called black Plum or Java plum.
• Krishna is known to have four symbols of the jambu fruit on his right foot as mentioned in Bhagwat Geeta.
• It fruits during May and June.
• The leaves of the tree are strung like Bandhan war and hung at the entrance doors of the houses in Maharashtra and  marriage pandals
• Many legends of Tamilnadu speak of Avvaiyar and Jamun fruits. Avvaiyar met Murugan under this tree only.
• Its wood is used to purify water and used to make the base of boats as it doesn’t rot in water.
• Brahmins are also fed under the tree in temples.
• Many Panchatantra stories are also written around the Jamun tree, like the famous monkey and alligator.
• British landscapers lavishly used it in Delhi along with Peepal and Neem.

Uses:

1. The leaves of the Jamun are also the  feed of Tasar silkworms
2. It is also used to make juices,squashes and vinegar.
3. Jamun has several medicinal and health benefits.It is the best home remedy for stomach pain , diabetes and arthritis.
4. The fruit also cures digestive problems like dysentery and flatulence.
5. The seed is used in medicines for diabetes.
6. Improves haemoglobin count.
7. Keeps skin acne free
8. Improves health of skin, heart and eyes.
9. The fruit is rich in minerals and vitamin C and A.
10. Timber is used to make agricultural implements.

Happy Gardening!!

Rama Tyagi

tyagirama1@gmail.com

7 सबसे आम बारहमासी उद्यान

गलतियों से बचने के उपाय

बारहमासी बगीचे के वापस आने वाले सितारे हैं, जो सर्दियों में सुप्त होने के बाद प्रत्येक वसंत में लौटते हैं। इसका मतलब है कि आप उन्हें एक बार लगा सकते हैं और फिर सालों तक उनका आनंद ले सकते हैं । स्वस्थ, खुशहाल बारहमासी जैसे कि लंबे समय तक खिलने वाले शंकुधारी और छाया-प्रेमी मेजबान जोरदार और गुणा करेंगे, आपके लिए अपने बगीचे का विस्तार करने या दोस्तों के साथ साझा करने के लिए नए पौधे तैयार करेंगे। लेकिन कभी-कभी, आपके बारहमासी पौधे उतने फूल नहीं पैदा कर सकते हैं या वे उतने नहीं बढ़ेंगे जितने चाहिए। संभावना है कि आपने किसी ऐसी चीज की अनदेखी की है जिसे उन्हें पनपने की जरूरत है। यहाँ सबसे आम बारहमासी उद्यान गलतियाँ हैं जो आप कर सकते हैं, और उन्हें कैसे ठीक किया जाए ताकि आप एक सीज़न-लंबे रंग शो का आनंद ले सकें ।

गलती 1: बारहमासी को गलत जगह पर रखना

पुराने बगीचे की कहावत “सही पौधा, सही जगह” का अर्थ है एक पौधे की प्रकाश आवश्यकताओं और मिट्टी की वरीयताओं से मेल खाना जहाँ आप इसे रखना चाहते ह !जब मिट्टी की बात आती है, तो कुछ बारहमासी को तेजी से बहने वाली रेतीली मिट्टी की आवश्यकता होती है और अन्य मिट्टी में पनपती हैं जो नम रहती है लेकिन गीली नहीं होती है।

गलती 2: अपने क्षेत्र की उपेक्षा

प्रत्येक बारहमासी में एक कठोरता क्षेत्र सीमा होती है, जो विभिन्न क्षेत्रों के औसत न्यूनतम तापमान के आधार पर होती है ।

गलती 3: रखरखाव की उपेक्षा

जीवन में सबसे अच्छी चीजों के लिए अक्सर थोड़े से काम की आवश्यकता होती है और बारहमासी के मामले में ऐसा ही होता है। हालांकि ये पौधे सामान्य रूप से काफी कम रखरखाव वाले होते हैं, लेकिन जब आप अपने बगीचे के कामों की सूची में कुछ महत्वपूर्ण कार्यों को जोड़ते हैं तो वे और भी बेहतर दिखेंगे। विशेष रूप से, नियमित रूप से डेडहेडिंग, या खर्च किए गए फूलों को हटाने , पौधों को एक स्वस्थ जड़ प्रणाली विकसित करने के लिए उपलब्ध ऊर्जा को चैनल करने के लिए प्रोत्साहित करता है, और कुछ मामलों में, बाद में मौसम में फूलों का एक और फ्लश। डिवीजन कई बारहमासी को पुनर्जीवित करने में भी मदद करता है । अपने बारहमासी पौधों को हर तीन साल में विभाजित करने का लक्ष्य रखें।

गलती 4: मौसम के अनुसार रंग के लिए रोपण नहीं

अधिकांश बारहमासी लगभग तीन सप्ताह की अवधि के लिए खिलते हैं। जब आप कई अलग-अलग प्रकार के बारहमासी एक साथ लगाते हैं, तो आपके बगीचे में साल में कम से कम तीन मौसम खिल सकते हैं ।

गलती 5: बहुत ज्यादा या बहुत कम मल्चिंग करना

आप गीली घास जोड़ रहे हैं, है ना? जैविक गीली घास की 3 इंच की परत , जैसे कि कटा हुआ छाल आपको खरपतवारों को कम रखने और मिट्टी में नमी को लंबे समय तक बनाए रखने में मदद करेगी। लेकिन जब आप इसे लगाते हैं, तो किसी भी गीली घास को प्रत्येक पौधे के क्राउन, या ग्रोइंग पॉइंट से 2-3 इंच की दूरी पर रखें। बहुत पास या ताज के ऊपर बीमारियों को पकड़ने में मदद कर सकता है या धीरे-धीरे पौधे का दम घुट सकता है। मल्च समय के साथ टूट जाता है इसलिए आपको सालाना एक नई परत फैलाने की आवश्यकता होगी। गीली घास (6-8 इंच) की एक वास्तव में मोटी परत का उपयोग कठोर सर्दियों की स्थिति से गिरने वाले बारहमासी को बचाने के लिए किया जा सकता है। यदि आप देर से गिरने में नए लगाए गए बारहमासी के लिए एक गीली घास का कंबल लगाते हैं, तो इसे शुरुआती वसंत में निकालना सुनिश्चित करें ताकि हवा का तापमान बढ़ने पर मिट्टी बेहतर तरीके से गर्म हो सके।

गलती 6: बहुत करीब रोपण

भीड़-भाड़ वाले बारहमासी ऐसे हालात पैदा करते हैं जो बीमारी को बढ़ावा देते हैं । हालांकि यह कल्पना करना मुश्किल है, 4 इंच के बर्तन में एक युवा बारहमासी आसानी से तीन साल की अवधि में कई फीट तक फैल सकता है। नए पौधे लगाते समय, उस चौड़ाई और ऊंचाई पर ध्यान दें, जिस तक आप पहुंचने की उम्मीद कर सकते हैं। पौधों के पूर्ण आकार के आधार पर रोपण स्थानों का चयन करें, दोनों संरचनाओं और मार्गों के साथ-साथ उनके आसपास के अन्य पौधों के संबंध में। और फिर धैर्यपूर्वक प्रतीक्षा करें। बारहमासी पहले वर्ष में धीरे-धीरे बढ़ते हैं। दूसरे वर्ष में, आप विकास में तेजी से वृद्धि देखेंगे, और तीसरे वर्ष तक, वे आमतौर पर अपने पूर्ण आकार तक पहुंच जाते हैं।

गलती 7: लंबे तने को नहीं बांधना

कुछ बारहमासी को लंबा खड़ा होने के लिए थोड़ी मदद की ज़रूरत होती है। उनके फूलों के प्रदर्शन का अधिकतम लाभ उठाने के लिए, आपको उनके खिलने के मौसम में पहले कुछ स्टेक लगाने होंगे। आप एकल स्टेक या ग्रो-थ्रू ग्रिड का उपयोग कर सकते हैं, जो इस बात पर निर्भर करता है कि आपको जिस पौधे का समर्थन करने की आवश्यकता है, उसके लिए सबसे अच्छा क्या है। या, यदि स्टेकिंग एक घर का काम है जिसे आप टालना चाहते हैं, तो अपने पसंदीदा बारहमासी की अधिक कॉम्पैक्ट किस्मों की तलाश करें जिन्हें समर्थन की आवश्यकता नहीं होगी।

यदि आपने अतीत में इनमें से कुछ बारहमासी बगीचे की गलतियाँ की हैं, तो आप आसानी से ठीक कर सकते हैं क्योंकि इस प्रकार के पौधे बहुत क्षमाशील होते हैं। इन बागवानी युक्तियों का अनुभव करने और उन पर ध्यान देने के लिए अपनी त्रुटियों को चाक-चौबंद करें ताकि आप एक समर्थक की तरह बारहमासी उगाना शुरू कर सकें।

Rama Tyagi

tyagirama1@gmail.com

THE TEAM BEHIND

“THE HFS TIMES“

Mrs Rama Tyagi            Director HFS

Mr Som Dutt Tyagi          Advisor                          

Gp Capt Sushil Bhatia     Chief Editor

Ms Vandana Bhatnagar     Editor and Content Provider

Ms Sugandha Singhania Asst Editor

Ms Shailja Mishra          Editor and Content Provider

Mr Sandeep Rohilla      Executive & Marketing Editor

Ms Sonia Agrawal          Creative Editor

Mr Devraj Singh             Technical Head