Rake and Spade

Sunday saga

2012-03-04T05:58:00.003-08:00

Spring is beautiful; each plant tries to be in its very best, and flaunts its pretty flowers. Spring gives way to summer; the heat is good for a few plants, while other plants sulk in the heat. When I water the plants, the soil sucks every drop. I sprinkle water on the terrace to cool it, and sometimes, I can see the water evaporate during to the heat. The plants like it when I sprinkle water, making the atmosphere cooler; a gentle breeze blows to acknowledge the action.

Surprising fact is that all our squirrels and birds seem to have vanished. The bird feed remaining untouched today. I am not sure if the heat has driven them off or if our dear carpenters have scared them. Again, we have entered the phase of getting some house work done, dealing with workers, and safe-guarding the garden. My dearest toad stool is broken, strawberry plants are drying due to some mischief from the workers, and oh... Sigh. From next week, we will be busy setting and cleaning the house inside and outside.

What's up today at the terrace garden, you ask? Hmm... The Neem tree has tender leaves and pretty flowers too. We will use these flowers during our New Year (Ugadi, March 23) celebration. The mango tree has tiny fruits; love the brown color of the new leaves. A variety of birds visit the mango tree now. You can see parrots hopping from branch to branch. The birds' melodies are pleasant; like to listen to them and absorb their happiness. Unfortunately, I am unable to capture them in the camera.

Neem

Mango

Whenever our neighbor's amaryllis plants flower, I admire them from my window. I am ready with my camera to click a few photos, but each time, I get distracted or get busy with chores. By the time I am actually free, the flowering season would be over. I love those flowers, and this time, I bought 3 bulbs from Lalbagh. I sowed the bulbs in a container, and kept watering it everyday. I know that I was late to plant the bulbs, but I was tempted. After a few days, I saw all the bulbs sprout. Ah, was I happy! Today, one of the bulbs have a flower.

Amaryllis bud

The bitter gourd creeper has flowers now, and is crawling everywhere. Oh yes, the grapes creeper has new leaves, while I thought the creeper was dead. The Yellow pepper plant has two peppers. The amaranth plants need another round of picking the leaves. There's a gorgeous anthurium in the garden; waited a few weeks to see it bloom. The lollipop flowers are popping. Hey, one of the hollyhock plants has flowers! The geranium plants have flowers too - pretty pink and gorgeous rose. The bleeding heart creeper has several buds; will bloom this week or the next.

What can I say... It's awesome to see so many flowers at the garden. Here are a few photos:

Bitter gourd creeper

Grapes creeper

Yellow pepper

Geranium rose

Geranium pink

Anthurium

Bleeding hearts

Lollipop flower

Regards,

Asha

Orchids having babies!

2012-03-03T05:29:00.001-08:00

Time flies! Will be a year since I bought my orchids - Phals. Since then, they have flowered, undergone some stress, and recovered. I tell you that my orchids are kind of shy - they seem nice when I don't pamper them, they love to be near me (sit on the windowsill, facing east). They can give me a heart pain and make me guilty when I neglect them; they can also make me smile when I give them attention.

Today, it's time to smile because the three Phals are in different stages of their lives. One of them, which had a crown rot, has basal keikis; I am leaving this one on the parent plant. (Keiki means a baby.) I was very worried when I saw the crown rot. With absolutely no experience or training in growing orchids, I didn't know whether to throw the plant or to keep it. Well, I decided to keep it. I guess that was good because the dormant eyes have pushed out new crown.

Basal keiki

The second Phal has a keiki, forming on the flower spike. Again, I understand that this plant has been under some stress though its roots, stem, and leaves look perfectly healthy. I have decided to leave the keiki on the spike instead of cutting it off. I would love to have a new plant.

Keiki

The third Phal has shot out a flower spike! I must remember to label orchid plants because I don't know which color this Phal flower is. I wiped the leaves today, and checked for any unhealthy indication. This plant is fit and fine. Thank God.

Flower spike

Lesson learnt is that there is always hope (even for negligent gardeners like me). Yay! :-)

Regards,

Asha

Green Harvest

2012-02-23T04:36:00.002-08:00

Previous weekend, plucked a few leaves of spinach, radish, and amaranthus. I prepared a simple sambar with the leaves. Washed and chopped them fine. Added finely chopped tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Cooked all these ingredients in a pressure cooker along with lentil. I saved a few spinach leaves to make poha (with green peas). Both the dishes tasted yum!

And yes, four beautiful gardenia flowers bloomed, and also several crape jasmine (nandi battalu) flowers covered the plant. Ended up clicking photo when the flowers were drying.

Regards,
Asha

Taking home a gardenia!

2012-02-18T07:15:00.000-08:00

I had a list of things to do at the garden, but I did nothing other than watering and cleaning the terrace. I kept wondering how and where to plant the excess eggplant seedlings. I will require about 35 plus containers. Where will I keep them all? What kind of soil should I use so that terrace doesn't become heavy? Oh, lots of questions arose in my mind.

As a quick solution, I thought of using carton boxes to plant the seedling and use coco peat to keep them light. In the evening, we bought a few bags of coco peat, and I sealed the carton boxes so that the water and soil don't leak. Well, tomorrow's experiment is to fill the soil in these boxes and sow the seedlings. Let's see how the plants grow; will keep you posted. And, oh yes, I also sowed a few bulbs of gladiolus bulbs.

What's the blog title, you ask? Ah, I bought a gardenia plant; it was healthy - from leaves to root. I loved the White-colored flower and its shape. This plant loves the sun, and the humidity. The plant flowers during mid-summer or spring. The weather seems to be perfect for the plant to bloom flowers. I chose a plant that has buds (no bloomed flower); will be a pleasure to see them bloom, instead of seeing a flower dry. The plant, I understand, grows from 1 to 10 plus metres. I will have to plant it in a bigger container, and prune it regularly so that it becomes a bush instead of a tall plant/tree. Wish me luck with this new plant.

The Purple/Lavender-Red, the Orange, and the White-Pink hibiscus flowers had bloomed today. My husband showed me the reflection of the Orange-colored hibiscus in our kitchen window. I clapped my hands out of joy. When I went out to the terrace, I saw three different gorgeous hibiscus flowers greeting me. Oh, beautiful!

I hope you had a good day at your garden.

Regards,
Asha

Fertilizer Friday - Feb 17, 2012

2012-02-17T02:52:00.000-08:00

Thank God, it's Friday! The mercury has started rising, indicating that summer has officially begun. Watering in the morning doesn't seem to be sufficient to the plants. By afternoon, I see that the plants are tired of the bright sunlight. Well, by evening, the plants recover, and wait for the moonlight to sooth them. Such is the romance among the Sun, the plants, and the moon!

Our jasmine creeper has bloomed flowers to welcome the summer. I like to stand in the neighborhood of this plant, and be wrapped in the flowers' divine fragrance. Of course, I am participating in Fertilizer Friday! How else can I flaunt my flowers? :-)

What about your vegetables, you ask? The tomato seedlings (two) are cute. One set of eggplant seedlings are almost ready for replant; while the other set needs to grow. The bitter gourd creeper resembles a naught kid trying to crawl everywhere. The creeper needs to be trained and needs a support to climb. The shallots, spinach, and amaranth plants are fine. Oh, the pepper plants have flowers; waiting to see the tiny Green peppers. I hope that they are spicy!

Happy gardening and happy weekend.

Regards,
Asha

Hibiscus blooms, and Liebster Blog award

2012-02-12T01:55:00.000-08:00

Thank you. All the gardeners (and bloggers) have shared useful information, which has helped me in several ways. I feel nice when I visit their blogs and read about their gardens. Some of them upload excellent photos. I thank them for having their blogs and making it useful to many people.

The SageButterfly nominated my blog for the Liebster Blog award. I am honored, and I appreciate her for the nomination. She is a beautiful gardener and an excellent photographer. She loves to write about her experiments at her garden. Check out her blog site.

I have chosen the following blogs for this award:

Steph's Green Space: Stephanie is an admirable gardener. She introduces to several plants growing at Malaysia. Her 'green stories' are fun to read and inspiring.
My Little Garden in Japan: This blog site displays the passion of the gardener. A gardener with magic hands, which grow vegetables, fruits, and flowers on the balcony!
Red Ripe Tomatoes: Anita Kumar owns this blog site. She writes from Chennai (India) about her garden, insects/birds that visit, and about places that she travels.
May Dreams Gardens: Carol from Indiana is an eccentric gardener, a gardening geek, and is passionate about plants!
Pattu's Terrace Garden: Pattu blogs about her pretty terrace garden. I am amazed at the vegetables that she grows on her terrace.

The rules in accepting the Liebster Blog award are:

1. Copy and paste the Liebster Blog award on your blog.
2. Thank the bestower and link back to them.
3. Select five blogs with less than 200 followers (I can't always tell) and list them with a link to their blogs. Visit their blog and write a comment telling them you have nominated them for the Liebster Blog award.

Sunday update:

It's getting hotter here; the summer's dawning! I guess that my plants will need water twice a day. Summer is also the season during which several flowers bloom and vegetables are harvested. My plants have tiny buds, ready to bloom a flower and say a 'Hello' to summer. This morning, my husband told me about one beautiful hibiscus that had bloomed; said it was huge. Oh yes, the flower is huge, and seems like it is kissing the sky!

I am very glad that the plants have revived. A little love and care are vital to the plants. And the plants can love you unconditionally. Whenever I visit the terrace to either clean it or water the plants or just to walk/have tea, there is a gentle breeze that blows and the plants shake, making the entire terrace pleasant. This is, in my imagination, the plants expressing their love towards me. I am sure that all your plants also express their love towards you in someway. I hope that you are able to identify.

Keep gardening!

Regards,
Asha

Fertilizer Friday - Feb 10, 2012

2012-02-10T10:40:00.000-08:00

Flaunting the flowers at my terrace garden, after a long time! I guess the plants have revived, and blooming flowers. The orange plant has several sparkling White flowers; hoping that all of them turn into fruits.

The spinach and amaranthus seedlings look cute and healthy. The amaranthus plants are everywhere due to the seed blast the previous season. The shallots are going fine; we may have a good harvest. Oh well, all of them need a spray of pesticide during this weekend.

I am participating in Fertilizer Friday - http://www.tootsietime.com/2012/02/fertilizer-friday-flaunt-your-flowers_09.html. Here are the photos of flowers that have bloomed today.

Happy weekend!

Regards,
Asha

New look of the terrace garden

2012-01-29T05:25:00.000-08:00

It's taken a few weekends to bring the terrace garden back into a good shape. The plants seem to be reviving, and have settled down in their new spaces. Last week, I sowed seeds of tomato, carrot, brinjal, palak, bitter gourd, and others. The tomato, palak, and bitter gourd seeds have sprouted, and have grown about 2 inches. By next weekend, I may have to thin them down, and plant them in individual cells. Oh, I forgot to mention - I got some shallots that had sprouted, and have sowed them too. Hopefully, they grow into healthy plants.

The citrus plants have started flowering, and yes, the caterpillars are back to munch the leaves. I hand-picked a few of them. The strawberry plants have flowers; looks cute. The containers have slugs, which eat the berries. I was very tired to remove them; that's an action item for next weekend. I fed all the plants with NPK, though I had horse manure. The NPK will help them revive quicker; during next cycle, I can use the organic manure.

I plucked a few leaves of Coleus Aromaticus plants (Doddapatre), to prepare chutney. I like the new collection of cactus plants. The Anthurium and hibiscus plants have new flowers. The Purple hibiscus needs a lot of care, and I hope she regains her health. The Bromeliad plants, which I thought would die, have sprung back to action. The jasmine plant has new shoots; waiting for awesome flowers this summer.

I clicked a few photos of the new look of the terrace garden. Here they are:

I had unique terracotta artifacts that got smashed by the fabrication workers. They are similar to monkeys - pull out plants, break artifacts or earthen containers, apply paint to leaves, steal orange, and dirty the whole terrace. I have painted a terracotta lantern, and have purchased a beautiful fountain, which I need to paint. I have cleaned the bird feed too. I am waiting for the fabrication guys to finish work and vanish so that everything on the terrace is safer. This weekend, I lost my temper and gave the workers a piece of my mind.

All right, the last surviving terracotta artifacts are:

Gardening is fun and strenuous. You buy one plant, and that makes you a parent! Before buying a plant, please be prepared to give it quality time. :-)

Regards,

Asha

Visit to Horticulture Department, Hulimavu

2012-01-25T02:41:00.000-08:00

That day was beautiful not only because I met friends from school but also because I visited the Horticulture Department. This place is situated on the Bannergatta Road, Bangalore, next to the Meenakshi Temple and Coconut Development Board. We were greeted by the security guard, and then by lots of trees - mango, coconut, chikoo, and others.

The first nursery that we saw had saplings of trees; you can purchase them. Further down the road, we saw the Herbs and Medicinal Plants nursery . Yes, you can purchase plants from here. The staff members are courteous and patient. They talk to you (unless they are busy). They like to share information. The nursery staff members are really sweet. Loved the experience of meeting them!

Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka, P.B.No.7648, Hulimavu, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore-560076.
Tel: 080-26582784, 080-26582775
Email: biocentre.hulimavu@gmail.com

Probably, we visited the place at an odd season, because most medicinal plants were dead or had pests or unkempt. But the seedlings or saplings that were for sale were healthy. As I scanned the nursery, I was disappointed to see insufficient soil or growing medium in the containers. A few plants were uprooted from the containers, and had well-grown snails in them. When I returned home with two Bromeliads, I quickly removed the snails and replanted the plants.

I saw some people buying plants without even checking its health. The criteria seemed to be the low cost of the plants. In my opinion, selecting a healthy plant is crucial. My reasoning is simple - Instead of taking home a plant that is priced lesser than anywhere else, I would pay a little more and take home a healthier plant, growing in a healthier soil.

When I went to pay the bill (of purchase), the person in charge (Mr. Chetan) and I struck a conversation, and he promised to show me their anthurium mother plant collection. I have to admire their collection! Unfortunately, the camera and mobile phone was with my husand who stayed back at the nursery. Otherwise, I would have shared the photos with all of you. I also saw rows of seedlings. Beautiful!

Well, I have only these photos for you. Probably when I visit them again, I will have an opportunity to click more photos and collect more information.

Reference Websites:
Karnataka State Horticulture Department
Preserving Native Vegetables Organically
Purple Capsicum or Black Tomatoes?
National Certification System for Tissue Culture Raised Plants
Horticulture Department's Annual Report (2004-05)
University of Agricultural Science

Regards,
Asha

Lalbagh Flower Show - January 2012

2012-01-22T06:23:00.000-08:00

As always, the Republic Day Flower Show (Lalbagh) is attracting thousands of people. What's new this year? Hmm... The lovely Stupa made of flowers, sand sculpture, and exotic flowers from other parts of the world. We tend to get a sneak peek of the flower show during our morning walks. Unfortunately, we could not see the Ikebana section and the sand sculpture because both sections were closed for public during early hours of the morning.

What did I purchase? Well, I bought only one plant - Cycas - small one. Have to plant it in a bigger container with better soil. For once, I did not feel tempted to purchase more plants; probably, because I need to straighten up the unkempt terrace garden, and then think of expanding the garden. It's taken two weekends to clean, prune, spray pesticide, and replant and arrange the plants. The terrace garden seems to be bouncing back to life. :-)

Uploaded a few photos of the Flower Show.

Regards,

Asha

Propagate Anthurium from Parent Plant

2012-01-10T22:30:00.000-08:00

In my blog about my Anthurium collection, I mentioned the Merrry Maroons. This plant is a beauty; produced a lot of flowers. The plant had suckers, which had over grown and had to be removed at the earliest. Today, I decided that I must remove the suckers, and then replant them. Will help save the parent plant and propagate new ones.

The Anthurium plants produce suckers at the base of the plants. They are called suckers because they take nutrition from the parent plant. Therefore, removing the suckers is important to keep the parent plant healthy.
The suckers can be removed when they have 3-4 leaves, and planted in suitable growing medium. Ensure that you do not hurt the parent plant when removing the suckers. This is one way to propagate Anthurium.

The growing medium must be able to retain substantial amount of water but well-drained. Coco husks, earthen pot pieces, saw dust, charcoal, coco peat, and other materials can be used to prepare the growing medium. The size of the containers depend on the size of the plant. For a young plant with 3-4 leaves, select a medium size container.

I got a few healthy plants to propagate and grow, as shown in the photo. :-)

Anthurium plants

For more information about Anthuriums, visit http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Grow%20or%20Growing%20Anthurium%20species.html.

Regards,
Asha

Thousand Petals

2012-01-09T22:11:00.000-08:00

Interesting blog title, isn't it? :-)

Recently, my husband, Ram, had listened to his mentor talk about evolution of agriculture and its products, and about greenhouses. Encouraged by his mentor's words, Ram researched about the topics, and landed straight at Thousand Petals. And that's when he asked me to look it up on the Internet. When I read about Thousand Petals, I had to share it with all of you.

Thousand Petals is the invention of Mr. Rajesh Ram Edke. He has pioneered in a unique design of bamboo-based greenhouses (low cost), and also has filled patent for his design. His Website mentions that he has filled for two more patents: Air circulation within the polyhouse, Air conditioning within the polyhouse. He provides training to interested people. To know more about his footprints, see http://www.thousandpetals.in/InNews.html.

Every great idea triggers a revolution!

Regards,
Asha

Welcoming New Year 2012

2012-01-07T00:23:00.000-08:00

I welcomed 2011 with additions to my garden. The previous year was fun especially experimenting with growing vegetables, orchids, fruits, and other plants. I have treasured the learning. Each new leaf or bud or fruit brought happiness. Felt sad when some plants did not survive; replaced them with same or other plants. As you remember, due to construction work and due to my health reasons, the terrace garden was unkempt and resulted in loss of more plants.

Today, when I pruned and cleaned a few containers, I was happy to find some baby potatoes, chillies, and a lemon. Oh, yes, the Orange plant has a beautiful fruit! I am motivated to resume my gardening activities, but I need to take it slow due to health. What I have realized is that the plants grow irrespective of whether you want them to or not; with a little care, they will become healthy and yield a good harvest. Similar to children!

I thanks all the gardeners that have hosted useful and beautiful gardening blogs. Please visit their blogs as well; I have listed them in my Blog Roll.

What's my New Year resolution, you ask? As far as possible, try to grow my own vegetables. And what's your resolution?

Happy gardening.

Regards,

Asha

Flora at Kodaikanal

2011-12-31T07:10:00.000-08:00

We visited Kodaikanal during the year-end (2011) holidays. Kodaikanal is a popular hill station in the state of Tamil Nadu. Passion fruits, plums, pears, and peaches are some of the fruits grown at Kodaikanal. By mid January, the plum trees will be covered with the flowers. Can you imagine acres of plum orchards covered with pretty White flowers?

Potatoes, cabbages (green and purple), cauliflower, carrots, knol khol, radish, kohirabi, and lima beans are a few vegetables that are grown. A variety of spices is also available; see http://www.kodaispicescorner.com/spices.html. Soft-wood trees cover the hills. Lakes and waterfalls abound. In short, this hill station is a slice of heaven (, which is accessible to us).

This blog is dedicated to the flora at Kodaikanal; shared a few photos.

Nutmeg trees

Pine cones

Pine forest

Happy New Year 2012!

Regards,
Asha

Karnataka Forestry, Wildlife, Medicinal Plants

2011-12-12T04:05:00.000-08:00

Karnataka is a beautiful state in India. The state has rich forests, fertile lands, mystic rivers, serene beaches, and interesting flora and fauna. The state is a fusion of several cultures, religions, beliefs, cuisine, and people. Kannada is the state language; however, several dialects exist. People from Karnataka are basically peace-loving.

Karnataka has about 3924 species of plants in its forests; out of which 1493 are medicinal ones. That is indeed a rich statistics. See Forests at a Glance.Well, over the years, the forests have been damaged by nature and humans. When we drive around, I wonder what the Forest department does to protect the rich wealth.

The answer is available at the Karnataka Forest department website. Some interesting pages are:

The Forest department has a joint venture with the local villages to help conserve the forests and its wealth. This programme is called Joint Forest Planning and Management. The department also has nurseries; see http://karnatakaforest.gov.in/english/Farmforestry/farm_forestry.htm. Yes, of course, the department also conducts various research activities. See Forestry Research Activities.

Protecting and saving our rich bio-diversity is not the job of only a certain group of people. Let's also help in our little ways to say a Thank You to the Mother Nature.

Click to see a few photos of wildlife at Nagarahole national park (Karnataka).

Regards,
Asha

Fertilizer Friday - Dec 09/2011

2011-12-09T02:34:00.000-08:00

Here are a few photos of plants that have managed to survive the construction work at home, and have flowered today. Due to my health issues, I have not been able to nurture my plants. The terrace garden needs a total make over. Praying for my health to improve so that I can clean the garden. It's sad to see plants die or go dry.

I am participating in http://www.tootsietime.com/2011/12/fertilizer-friday-flaunt-your-flowers_08.html.

Happy Friday and weekend.

Regards,
Asha

World Organic Trade Fair at Bangalore

2011-11-09T07:46:00.000-08:00

World Organic Trade Fair is back at Palace Grounds, Bangalore from November 10 to 12. For details, see http://www.biztradeshows.com/trade-events/biofach-india.html.

I understand that the fair showcases a variety of organically grown produce such as dry fruits, vegetables, rice, honey, and others (both domestic products and international products). It's a pleasure to have such a fair at Bangalore, and to remind us that Bangalore is just not a Silicon City but also a Garden City!

You may also want to read a little more about this event. Please see http://www.biofach-india.com/en/. Let me know if you visited and your experience. I, unfortunately, will not be able to attend this beautiful fair.

Regards,
Asha

Ground Orchids

2011-11-08T05:27:00.000-08:00

Hello! I hope all your plants are fine.

Well, the construction work (on our terrace) is still on going, and most of my plants are not in their best health. Wish the construction is completed at the earliest so that I can pamper my plants and help them regain their lost glory.

Unfinished work

Tell you what... The plants have been flowering some beautiful flowers, and the peppers and potatoes are ready for harvest. The strawberry plants are still yielding fruits. I have been observing the bleeding hearts flowers silently bloom; gorgeous. The pink cosmos flowers are pretty, and are new this season. The lolly pop plant is back with her lovely flowers. The ground orchids have flowered; YES!

The ground orchids are orchids that grow in rich soil. The terrestrial orchids are easy to grow and a beginner's delight. Provide well-drained and rich soil for this type of orchids, and watch them grow. Ensure that the plants do not receive direct sunlight; filtered light is good.

The ground orchids that I have are:
- Spathoglottis Plicata - violet and orange-yellow varieties
- Phaius Tankervilliae - also know as Nun Orchid

The Nun Orchids are stunning, and if you have land space, oh, do they grow well!

Here are photos of ground orchids that have bloomed this season:

Spathoglottis Plicata - Orange-Yellow

Spathoglottis Plicata - Violet

Phaius Tankervilliae

I hope to be more regular in updating the blog and responding to your emails. Happy week.

Regards,
Asha

Flowering Tree Permaculture Institute

2011-10-10T09:12:00.001-07:00

Permaculture is an interesting study, and a great book that introduces the idea of garden as an ecosystem is 'Gaia's Garden: A Guide To Home-Scale Permaculture' by Toby Hemenway.

When I was reading the first few pages of this book, I came across 'Making the Desert Bloom, Sustainably.' "That's real?" I thought. I read the section in detail, and searched the Internet for related information. Guess what I found?

http://www.floweringtreepermaculture.org/

Flowering Tree Permaculture Institute is NGO that promotes permaculture. Roxanne Wentzel and Joel Glanzberg have been successfully gardening in the desert. They grow native plants as well as exotic ones. Now they educate people about permaculture and its concepts.

This NGO is involved in projects such as land restoration, seed saving, water catchment, cultural preservation, and others. Click 'Our Projects' on the Home page to know information.

You can see photos, videos, and online library resources by either clicking the links on the top bar or by clicking the 'Resources' link on the Home page.

The NGO publishes a newsletter - Droppings; contains interesting and useful information. Click the 'Library & Links' link on the Resources page, to view the newsletters.

Happy browsing!

Regards,
Asha

Indian Council of Agricultural Research

2011-10-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello! It's been a long time since I updated the blog. The renovating of our little terrace garden is shaping up well. Hopefully, in a month or so, the construction completes, and I can arrange all my plants appropriately. Currently, hurts to see the plants crowded in corners, saving themselves from cement and dust.

Meanwhile, I have been studying or acquiring knowledge about plants and related topics. Did you know that most of our regional TV channels air shows about agriculture? They do. In fact, they also have help line numbers to which farmers can call and seek clarifications. Isn't it great?

One of our regional newspapers, Kannada Prabha, publishes articles about agriculture every week. They introduce different concepts, people, innovations, and so on. My mother is a big fan of that series, and her enthusiasm is rubbing on to me. :)

While I was searching for some information on the Internet, I found the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Web site. The site has good amount of useful information. Check out its Publications and Innovations. Yes, you will agree, "Knowledge is power!"

I got curious about innovations; see http://www.icar.org.in/en/taxonomy/term/155. Click each innovation title to read more about it. The articles provide a practical utility of the innovation. I am sure that you will admire the innovations and the inventors.

A few innovations that you can use at your home gardens::

Keep reading, experimenting, and sharing. Keep gardening!

Regards,
Asha

Fertilizer Friday - Sep 23/2011

2011-09-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday and weekend!

With construction work in progress, I have moved my plants to different corners of the terrace; aw, it's a mess. Removed all the garden artifacts. Some plants sit on the windowsills. In a week or so, I will be moving them all again to protect them from cement. I will also have to cover them with nets or tarpaulin.

Well, will be closing the terrace garden for about a month, but will continue to post articles about gardening. After the work completes, re-arranging the plants and setting up a beautiful terrace garden will truly be challenging. Wish me luck. :-)

I participated at Tootsie's Fertilizer Friday, Sep 23, 2011.

Regards,
Asha

Designing Terrace Garden Patios

2011-09-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's Sunday - the special day when I clean the garden. Thanks to my hubby for disposing the waste. Well, I wish I could use the garden waste in making compost, but due to construction work, all the unwanted rubbish gets mixed with the garden waste. It's better to dispose everything than keep some.

My current project is to work on the patio design for our terrace (container) garden, and with a limited budget. The main focus is to keep everything simple - design, elements, and cost. The construction and fabrication are work-in-progress, and ah, what a mess the terrace is. I only hope that I can save my plants from cement and inquisitive workers. :-)

When I think about this project, I feel excited and challenged. I remind myself that this is just the first phase of the project, and that I shouldn't set goals that are over-ambitious. But, oh, more than 100 ideas dance in my head, and each tend to involve 100 more sub-ideas. Silencing them all is such a tedious job!

I searched the Internet for patio projects, and wow, I found a lot of information. Though, I am n-o-t going to do any of the suggested designs, I absolutely love looking at the designs and admiring them.

- http://www.gardenbuilders.co.uk/section.php/348/1/design/d93ac1db4127611b7bb1e3f23e924656
- http://www.secretgardens.com.au/cityApartment.html
- http://chicagogardens.com/rooftop_gardens_projects/bucktown_modern/1.php
- http://www.gardenpatio.com/
- http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/pleasing-patio-designs/pictures/index.html
- http://www.floralandhardy.co.uk/pages/patio-and-+courtyard-garden-design

And many more!

Now tell me... Isn't it easy to go over-board after seeing such awesome designs, uh? :-D

Regards,
Asha

Bonsai - Ponytail Palm

2011-09-17T02:36:00.000-07:00

Almost a year ago (Sep 19, 2010), I wrote about my experiments with Bonsai. I am always awe-struck when I see bonsai plants. For me, they connect the senses and the soul - kind of spiritual. Though, I have been tempted a couple of times to make a bonsai, I have resisted. That's because I need to wait and watch the outcome of my first experiment. Well, I guess the ponytail palm (beaucarnea recurvata) bonsai has not only survived but also grown. Yay!

Does that motivate me to grow more bonsai plants? Hmm... May be. :-)

Ponytail palm

A good Asia Guide for Bonsai is http://www.bonsaishoponline.com/bia/country/india/index.shtml. Also, check this Web site for lovely and rich collection of online books: http://www.phoenixbonsai.com/books/OnlineBooks.html.

Happy experimenting!

Regards,
Asha

Fertilizer Friday - Sep 16/2011

2011-09-16T05:23:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I participated in Fertilizer Friday (Tootsie Time). Just after the rain, the flowers look even prettier. I have no new flowering plants this week. I will flaunt the flowers from the existing plants (that have bloomed today). :-)

Phalaenopsis orchid

African violets

Clerodendrum Thomsoniae - Bleeding Heart

Bridal Bouquet

Crown of throns

Regards,
Asha

Documentary on terrace vegetable garden

2011-09-15T04:24:00.000-07:00

Sharing a documentary on terrace vegetable garden that I absolutely loved, and I am sure that you will like it too. I hope we get inspired by Harikumar and his efforts to be self-sufficient.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBmLZ0zwu88&feature=related

The Kissan Kerala (www.kissankerala.net) is a "citizen centric e-governance projects of the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala." The institute has several services such as online dynamic agriculture advisory service, a weekly agriculture television program, and others. For more information, visit their Web site. You may also want to read about crop management, http://www.kissankerala.net/kissan/kissancontents/cropmanagement.jsp.

Regards,
Asha