How have you all been doing? I had a fabulous, if only a busy, weekend driving to the outer parts of the city. Going away from civilization was rejuvenating in many ways. As we re-entered the Ring road, I could feel the CO2-high air dampening my spirit. On the brighter side, we came back with good memories and dozens of pictures.
The drive down the Varthur village road leading to Sarjapur village is a treat to one’s senses: a whiff of fresh air, greenery as far as the eyes can see, a variety of birds from kingfisher to wood pecker cooing around the trees, and vendors selling freshly picked Jackfruit by the roadside to appease your taste buds. And, it’s just a 15 minute drive from Marathahalli on a busy Saturday afternoon. What more can one ask for so close to a concrete jungle that Marathahalli-Brookefields-Whitefield section has become?
One thing that’s hard to miss on this stretch are the numerous nurseries of all sizes and colors dotting the narrow road leading to Sarjapur village. I stopped by a few to click pictures and picked a few more plants for my balcony. Some of them are so big that it’s overwhelming to choose just one or two plants (isn’t small beautiful?). I know the limitations I have: in a south-east balcony with very limited sunlight, it’s tough to tend to flowering plants. But, flowering plants are my eye-candy. I just can’t get over them. Ferns, Cacti, Palm, or Crotons don’t appeal as much as a herb, vegetable or Petunia and Glaxonia.
The picture below is of Madeena nursery. I recommend this place if you intend to buy in bulk. You will grow tired looking at the flowering plants, for it’s never ending. The Hibiscuses, in particular, are big, bright and beautiful. The guys are knowledgeable about the sun, shade, and semi-shade plants. There is very little room for bargaining. Most of their regular visitors are villa owners from the neighborhood. If you hear radical sentiments echoing on a radio, you’ve found the right place. I just bought a Tulsi(Basil) for Rs.15 from here.
The picture below is taken at the Manjunatha nursery – the first big one you will encounter after the Khader nursery. This one will be to your right if you are driving from Whitefield. The small flowering plants are not healthy here. However, you can pick up a Rubber plant, which I did for Rs.30, or Palm at nominal prices. They also stock hybrid varieties of Star cluster. Another landmark for this nursery is that it is at a busy temple junction. But, when it comes to a organized way of displaying and selling plants, nothing comes closer to the Jeevan Bhima Nagar one.
Shall we end this post with a picture of the new comer in my balcony garden? This wooden Rhino is about 3-years old. My husband got it from a trip to South Africa. Over the years, he (the Rhino, I mean of course) has occupied various corners of the house, the last one being in the last shelf of a closet. I decided it was time for him to come out into the wild and sit next to the frog.
I picked the Lily plant (flowing over Rhino), Chili and Aloe at the Jeevan Bhima Nagar nursery.
2 Comments
I am like you only:) I too love flowering plants, but after a few unfortunate deaths at my inexperienced mouldy green thumbs, I have given up. You will currently see creepers, stout palms, a pudina, a curry leaf and some ferns on my terrace…:)
Posts on these Varthur folks are sitting in my edit posts section. Need to visit more nurseries in that section to get a blog post.
Sharon,
Am going to update soon on easy to maintain flowering plants. Will do so in the next couple of days.
Please do visit.