Green Journeys

 I grew up in a space crunch city of Mumbai. Sky rocketing apartments in Mumbai give limited scope for personal garden. At the most I  could have a  plant or money plant. I always had an awe for some enthusiastic friends who grew lots of plants in small balconies or even verandahs. 2018 and I come to space rich Delhi. My Government job gets me a house with a big terrace. A short walk in the colony and I see ground floor houses with well manicured lawns and neatly grown flowers. To compete with them with equal grace were terrace gardens, with hanging plants beautified with dangling lamps and lovely flowers. 

Soon after I shifted to the house, Malis started making rounds to check if they could get some work. Since I'm new to this entire thing, I wasn't sure if I would need one. I decided to give it a try. When I decided to give it a try, my enthusiasm was naturally at its peak and I had no idea about the journey ahead of me. First and foremost challenge was to water plants regularly. And watering plants is not like giving a glass of water. Giving a glass of water would at the most involve options like Cold Water, normal water or mix water. In Delhi winters, it may be warm water too.  Most importantly, you can ask what kind of water one wants. With plants, there is no asking. It is only to be understood. Plants will give you signals but not answers. You would see yellow leaves, brown leaves, cracked soil or mushy soil and you have to understand what it means. In scorching summers, if you forget to water plants even for a day, you may witness wilted flowers, dried leaves and cracked soil. If you simply pour water on plants, you may soon see yellowing of leaves or layers of algae on soil. the amount of water to be given to plants, the way it is to be given and even the time at which it is given, is all to be understood through a silent yet eloquent interaction with plants. In summers you have to water plants before day breaks or after dusk. In winters the amount of water required is less as compared to summers.

Taking care of plants has multiple facets. It is indeed a pleasure to see plants growing, flowering and even bearing fruits. All this doesn't come easily. There are moments of expectations, eager waiting and even frustrations and depressions. You see nice purple flowers growing on a brinjal plant and have high hopes of dark purple brinjals growing from them. But there are monkeys eating them or some sudden storm cuts short the life of that delicate flower.  Gardening takes you through lots of ups and downs. There would be plants, in spite of your best efforts, they don't grow, they don't bear flowers or fruits. You keep thinking what is wrong with this plant. Am I making any mistake? Is there something more that I need to do for this plant? But some questions always remain unanswered. Some puzzles are never resolved. At the same time, you will have a bunch of ever growing, ever smiling plants. They are like enthusiastic people around you. They always make you feel happy with their cheerfulness. Every time there is a breeze these plants would dance to the tune of the breeze. every time there are showers, these plants would turn freshly green. They remind you of ever growing, ever changing yet interesting life. 

Don't miss the trimming, pruning, and loosening of soil activities. They are the activities where you actually dirty your hands and what pleasure is it. Before I got interested in gardening, I hardly knew how it feels to loosen the soil and make the fresh air available to the roots. It is like you opening up the windows for someone who has been locked up in a room. It is like pumping new life, opening new doors, opening opportunities. Gives you a feel of journey from darkness to light, from despair to hopes ,from lethargy to enthusiasm. Loosening soil is a delicate activity especially when you are doing it in a pot which has plants. You need to do it with utmost care, you need to ensure that you don't hurt roots and still make fresh air available to them. It is almost like changing the clothes of a sleeping baby without waking her up. Pruning and trimming is yet another way of infusing new and fresh life in plants. How much to cut, how to cut is all to be learned. sometimes you would cut much more than required. Sometimes you don't cut enough to allow new growth. 

Gardening is a treat for all our sensory organs. You can see plants, smell plants,  feel plants,  taste plants and also hear their music if you are willing to. Holding a small tomato or a pumpkin which is grown in your garden is as satisfying as holding a newborn baby. Checking colour, size, shape ,smell and texture of veggies and fruits and flowers grown in your garden distresses you. It is like transcending in different world for short time and enjoying pure joy. 

Keep enjoying green journeys.