Blooming Friday- Beginning of Summer

The blue-purple flowers of the Ruellia are common, but very pretty.

The red Amaryllis blooms twice a year.

The pineapple has fiven a flower (or is it fruit?) three years after I planted the top of a pineapple I had eaten.

The Seven-layered Jasmine has a lovely perfume- reminding one of sandalwood.

Summer starts early in these parts, and yellow flowers are having an upper hand. These golden yellow French Marigolds are already showing signs of wilting in the intense sunlight.

I am thankful to Katarina for her wonderful blog Roses and Stuff.

Swallowtails in Spring

The lovelorn Mormons flew slowly past me and landed on the lower leaf of the mango tree.

The Crimson Rose became tired of chasing his partener and rested for a while on the eggplant bush. You can see his crimson body.

Now I know why he coudn't fly as high as the female. The slight damage to the wing makes so much difference. Hope he finds a partner soon.

Flavourful Pandan

This is the Pandan I use sometimes to flovour the rice. Although it looks like a lily, it belongs to the Pandanaceae family. It is growing in semi shade, and has never flowered in six years. The leaves have a nutty, grassy aroma , similar to the aroma of Basmati rice. It is called the Basmati Pandan locally.Pandanus amaryllifolius is used extensively in Indonesian , Malaysian and Thai cooking. The leaves of this plant have a cockroach repllant quality!

Yugadi

Today is Yugadi, the Indian Lunar New Year. We decorate the entrance of our homes with rangoli designs and green mango leaves. After an early morning oil massage and bath, we visit the temple and offer flowers and fruit.

The jasmine is one of the main flowers offered. It becomes very expensive on this day.

The Marigold is another traditional flower offered at the temple.

The Hibiscus bushes in my garden which are full of flowers, will be robbed of flowers by early morning temple goers.

The Neem leaves and flowers are an integral part of Yugadi. The doorways have garlands of Neem leaves. The bitter,tender leaves and flowers of the Neem are mixed with sweet jaggery and eaten today. This is to signify that we must face all sweet and bitter experiences that life offers next year, with equanimity.

Happy Yugadi ! And a Happy New Year!

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day- March 2010

The Barbados lily buds are seen at all unexpected corners of the garden. The unrelenting heat has made them flower earlier this year.

The roadside trees are resplendant with flowers. The purple flowers of the Jacaranda carpet my front garden.

Golden showers of flowers from the Amaltas Cassia fistula attract birds and bees.

The serene beauty of the white Amaryllis contrasts with the exuberant colours all around.

The Lobster Claw Heliconium plants are full of bright red-and yellow flowers. The flowers are becoming longer day by day. Some of them become 2 feet long and last for two months or more. Squirrels seem to love them too.
Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Garden for hosting the Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

Blooming Friday- Viji's Garden

These flowers are from my friend Viji's garden in Mysore. The blue blossoms of the Thunbergia gladden the heart in the heat.

THe Thunbergia Mysorensis is blooming profusely.

These beautiful flowers are the blooms of Pandorea jasminoides. The pink blooms of this native of Australia are not common in these parts although it belongs to the Bignonia family.

The Lobster Claw heliconium has brilliant colours.

The orange blossoms of the Bignonia venusta are full of nectar and attract the birds and the bees.
All the photos were taken by Viji.

To see more pictures of Blooming Friday, please visit Katarina at Roses and Stuff.

The Colour Purple

All gardens here are full of yellow and red flowers, but one longs to see cool colours in this heat. The Petrea is a sight for sore eyes.

The Matchstick plant is blooming in the shade.

The flowers of the common Asystasia have purple and white markings.

The deep purple flower of the Thunbergia erecta.

Hope it will rain soon and the weather will become cooler.