The Spring is here officially and the temperature is hot already at an average of 30 deg. Celsius. I've been talking about starting veggies for long now and I did so two weeks ago. The results weren't great but a few that did germinate are encouraging.
The arrival of Spring is marked by the flowering of Indian Licorice.
Its beautiful bunch of blooms reminded me that Spring isn't far away two weeks ago and Lo, it's here already.
Abrus precatorius - Indian - Licorice -
Gunja
The Jasmines followed the queue with its wonderful fragrance wafting in the air, first being the Arabian Jasmine 'Belle of India' (Readers of my older posts might remember the Old Hag who used to tell me the stories from Ancient Legends of Plants).
Right now she's blooming crazily.
Did you notice a unique feature of this flower? Look Closely...
Jasminum sambac var. 'Belle of India' - Arabian Jasmine 'Belle of India'
She looks as if a flower has bloomed from the one below - as if one single petaled flower has been placed over the other. Lovely, ain't it!
Arabian Jasmine 'Maid of Orleans' isn't doing bad either.
Jasminum sambac var. 'Maid of Orleans' - Arabian Jasmine 'Maid of Orleans'
It's surprising that the River Jasmine is blooming crazily even in this hot climate because we get them in the market only during colder climates. Anyways that's good for me!
Jasminum fluminense - River Jasmine - Mullai
I had a super-duper surprise two weeks ago. As usual, I didn't get what I sowed but something else - this time really cool plants! I sowed Columbines and Lavender but I got these:
Can you guess what these are? At first they seemed like weed but thanks to my instincts, I didn't pull them out.
I'll reveal the identity in my next post. Let's see if you can guess.
Oh yea, I mentioned the basil in my last post and it's grown really well. One looks bleached and the other one is purple.
Is this normal? They're exposed to same amount of light/sun and are beside each other in the same pot but still are differently shaded. Anyways, they taste the same. We made tea and curry out of them. It tasted really good. I'm lovin' it!
Ocimum basilicum
The Bush tomatoes have grown well and one of the seedling has already started giving out buds.
YAY!
The 'Golden Queen' Tomato has germinated
and so has Gaura and Pepper.
I did sow another batch of seeds and am waiting for them to germinate with my palms enjoined towards the heaven! Wish them luck...
Here's another clue to that mystery plant...
20 comments:
Oh how I wish I could grow jasmine here! Your garden must smell heavenly, Chandramouli. Your vegetables look very healthy and promising. The mystery plants look familiar, but I'm not sure what they are. I guess I'll just have to wait for your next post:)
Loved seeing your oleander. Just got back from Arizona, which is much warmer than my part of the US, but their oleander is just barely blooming.
Thank you, Rose :) Yes, it's smell really great with the Jasmines! I still crave for all other varieties of Jasmines. I wanna grow them all. At least the most common ones in India, which is about seven that I can think of right now.
Ah, I remember your photos from AZ from your trip to your daughter's. Was the Orchid Tree blooming still? I love it!
I love the smell of jasmine so much. We have a star magnolia that is reminiscent of the jasmine smell but not quite. Not sure about your basil. I think there are subtle differences betwix plants so not to worry. I don't think it is lighting.
I can't tell you how much HOPE your little garden gives me! I finally got some Jasmine this year. It's 'Jasminum polyanthum' and the scent of the flowers is amazing. I'll be planting it outdoors soon along with my Tomato and Basil babies. Thanks for sharing your beautiful garden with us. Blessings!
Your Spring weather sounds hotter than our hottest summer days! Your basil and tomatoes look great! I can't wait til it's warm enough to plant Basil here!
The Jasmine looks like it must smell so good.
I have no guesses on your mystery plant so I'll have to wait for another clue.
Thank you, Tina for putting my fears to rest. I was fearing that the other plant was getting bleached but wasn't sure why the other plant didn't get bleached. Your answer comforts me.
Marion: I have never grown that variety of Jasmine, but we buy them to use them in our daily worship to gods and god, that smells sweet! Good luck with your babies.
Catherine, you should try these Purple Basil. They make good for tea and taste good. BTW, did you get the Hummingbird Vine? Just curious.
Very nice Jasmine...your mystery plant is a fruit of some sort...love seeing the seedlings..thanks for visiting my blog, drop by anytime..
You guessed it right, Darla. I enjoyed your blog soooo. I'll definitely be back again to your wonderful space.
I guess it is Physalis...What a great post Chandramouli as I'm mostly a kitchen garden gardener I found this post very interesting.
Your plants are doing wonderfully well! I'm picking tomatoes now. Planted the tiny saplings in December. Even the cherry tomatoes are doing well.
Lovely jasmine. Mine are budding now.
Hmmmm.... Maaa...ay be :D
Thank you, Tyra.
Nice to hear that, Kanak. I envy you for your beautiful Irises!
What a beautiful blog you have. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I loved your comments. I suspect that you are a poet in disguise. What beautiful words you have. Blessings to you.k
Debbie
Beautiful post, your pictures are lovely, you have such a nice variety of flowers and edibles and I enjoyed your writing style immensely. The blooms of 'Belle of India' are so special and stunning. :)
texasdaisy: Thank you :), Debbie. It was a pleasure visiting your blog.
Glad to hear, Rebecca. I adore my Jasmines - I am a proud parent of those babies :)
Oh I wish for jasmine too! The first one is so unusually beautiful. I have no idea about your secret plant, wish I did!
Dawn: We have plenty of it here. If only the customs allowed shipping plants...
Jasmine is one of my favorite scents in the garden. I can hardly wait for my 3 vines to start blooming! They fill the air with sweetness...
They really do, Skeeter. My wishes for those beauties at your garden. May the three Sisters bloom and fill the air with their divine fragrance!
Jasmines :)
I was taking a walk and looked at a house that was totally covered with familiar yet strange pink flowers, and much to my shock I realized it was the jaadhi-malli as we call it. The reason why it was so strange: its density, because I have a single creeper who gives 4-5 flowers whenever she fancies. boy, was I jealous :) Arabian Jasmine, really ? Mouli, along with posts about ur plants, do write one about their history and origins and travels around the world, including a cultural-perception, easier asked than written, but I think it'll be a very interesting read. For starters I want to know why Jasmine is associated with Mohini-pisasu :)
Jasmines in general are fussy when not offered enough light and they need food for flowers. I've seen Arabian Jasmine weaving my Aunt's house with no flowers for very long - reason? No food! Later when she added cow dung, it started flowering...
Origins about plants, eh? I did plan to write 'em and did write one single post about the Asoka tree from our Ancient Legends (http://inartliesmyheart.blogspot.com/2008/12/legends-of-ancient-ones-series.html). Later on I got caught up with the posts about how Plantville is growing that I forgot all about it. Thanks for reminding me. I'll start the second post in the series.
About Jasmine and Mohini Pisasu, I seriously am clueless. LOL! It makes me laugh at the thought of connection. Well, there must be some reason... Let's see what I come up with :)
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