The Green Romantic Lay

It bechanced in the Autumn of last year in a little green city of Plantville. The fall of the city was not yet conceived at that time, when butterflies loved visiting the city and reveled in its beauty.

It was then that the most unlikely event bechanced – the love of the immortal (perennial) and the mortal (annual). The love between them was magical though. The moment both saw each other, the air was charged with love.

Ms rosa-sinesis fell for Mr annuus' charm.

(Sunflower - Helianthus annuus - Sûryamukhî)

In his quirky talks and charming manners, Hibiscus felt young again.

Never was there a day that they fought with each other and were the perfect couple of Plantville.

Hibiscus' friends counseled her, tried to speak sense into her but her love for him was blind. Honey couldn't see her friend doing this to herself.

(Cape Honeysuckle - Tecomaria capensis)

She coaxed lovely mortal dames to court sunny, but his love for Hibiscus could not be broken!

(Eggplant - Solanum melongena - Hingula)

(Cypress Vine - Ipomoea quamoclit - Kâmalatâ)

One night, when their lord (moon) was radiant and full and the auspicious constellations were bright and fair, the young lad proposed to the wise beauty.

She felt rejuvenated. Delight filled every cell of her and she bloomed crazily, showing her assent.

(Hibiscus - Hibiscus rosa-sinesis - Prâtikâ)

Then was it decided that the two would be married. The divine knots would be tied. Priest Bee was called, friends and kin were invited.

(Arabian Jasmine 'Grand Duke Of Tuscany' - Jasminum sambac var. 'Grand Duke Of Tuscany' - Jâtî)

(Bride Whirling Butterfly - Gaura lindheimeri 'The Bride')

Lady Autumn wove a lovely robe for her daughter and Athel Summer adorned his son with exquisite garments.

(Ixora [Jungle geranium] - Ixora coccinea)

Gerbera sang a lovely tune

(Gerber daisy - Gerbera Jamesonii)

and the Oleanders danced about.

(Oleander - Nerium oleander - Karavîra)

The butterflies too put a show.

 

The Priest Bee began chanting the incantations 

and came around the city.

He wanted to know if anyone had any objections in this divine union.

(Holy Basil - Ocimum tenuiflorum Linn. - Tulasî)

 

(Amaryllis Lily - Hippeastrum hybrid)

None looked up except the Old Hag (one of the oldest denizen of Plantville who claims that she's been alive for aeons). Wise one that she was, she remained silent, not wanting to meddle with the ways of Fate.

(Arabian Jasmine 'Maid of Orleans' - Jasminum sambac var. 'Maid of Orleans' - Jâtî)

Finally, Priest Bee declared them Husband and Wife and he said, "May the Man kiss his Bride!"

Everyone applauded for them and thus the perfect couple were married.

Nights rolled by clock ticked away, but the couple couldn't make a child. Everyone suggested that they consult the Old Hag about it and they did so, only to hear, "Your Fate is sealed!"

Hibiscus cried and sought the Priest Bee's help, who tried to help them.

 

Hibiscus could never bear Sunflower's child. Sun dawned and set many times and she knew that the fate that the Old Hag was talking about was nigh.
Sunny showed signs of wither. Hibiscus nursed him and tried to make his departure easy. She eased his old age pain with her tears.

She lamented for she couldn't borrow her youth to him, but such was thedesign of their creator.

As designed the handsome Sunny soon left Plantville as he'd served his assigned time in his mortal Being. Weep she did not, on that day, but held her calm. From then on, she'd bloom crazily starting from his birth day, until the coming of Athel Winter, in his honor.

Plantville’s back online

Hello everyone!

It’s nice to be back in blogosphere! First of all, I owe you all a sincere apology for going offline for too long. It’s just a mood swing – I guess I should steal Prue’s blog title and call myself Inept Gardener ‘n’ blogger :D.  Though I have been inactive in this blog, my garden was growing big time, then suffered ignorance, many departed Plantville, and finally, they are coming back to shape now. I was blessed with a nephew on October 2010 and I was also busy with my office. My irregular and frequently changing shifts kind of put me into this inactive mode. Now, finally, I’ve decided to get myself a new, regular job and get myself a life! Phew! Wish that day comes soon…

Anyways, as I told you, my sister gave birth to a cute ball of joy who’s now the most important person in our family. I crocheted him a sweater and jacket! YAY! It was fun. Baby projects always are!
Plantville was doing great in the month of June and July. The Amaryllis Lily and Spider Lily were flowering crazily

 

 and so was the cape honeysuckle and Adenium.

 This Hummingbird Vine would grow crazily the moment you give it support. 

 It would twist and turn around the twine in no time and cover the vine with lovely scarlet blooms. What a sight it was! Plantville had strange visitors in July 2010.

Unlikely ones like these lovely dragonflies (?) visited Plantville

  

and I had fun watching them.

Sunflowers and Hibiscus flowered as if it was the end of the world. I even planned to post a blog about them but never got around to doing it. Well, you might get to read that story very soon…

Gerbera too flowered well

and so did Brinjal (eggplant),

but somehow it never yielded fruits.

The mini roses and jasmines did great too.

 And then came the period of ignorance with the onset of rains. The Plantville gardener would hardly water them, prune, or fertilize them. He was irregular. With the onset of cold season, he took up crocheting and knitting in the very little time that he got between office and sleep and would almost always ignore his Plants. He’d occasionally check on them and pick the flowers for his pûja.

With arrival of New Year, things changed. The gardener woke up and began cleaning Plantville. Of course, he had to pay the price of his ignorance. Many departed,

  some fell very sick,

and some were ardently devoted to him.

The good news is, I don’t intend to go back to hibernation mode and have promised myself to sow as much as I can this year. I also plan to launch a crochet and knitting blog titled ‘Cables n Posts’. Will be back soon with more green stories and lookout for the surprise giveaway to celebrate my comeback. :)