Greeny and Bloomy 2008

So, the Year 2008 was so bloomy and greeny!

Purple Allamanda - Allamanda blanchetii

Desert Rose - Adenium obesum

Rangoon Creeper - Quisqualis indica (right); Asoka - Saraca indica (left)

Though it was built late in the year (during the summer), Plantville grew up so fast and healthy.

Butterfly Pea - Clitoria ternatea - Aparâjita

Cockscomb Crested - Celosia argentea var. cristata

A lovely splash of colors adorned the mini city, welcoming visitors and growing along with them well.

Blue Morning Glory - Ipomoea nil - Krishnabîja

Mexican Flame Vine - Senecio confusus

Plants are the most adorable pets who reward you well, aren’t they? They do survive a day’s starving and regain back soon with proper attention the next day!Plumbago - Plumbago auriculata - Nîlacitraka

Isn’t that the most positive factor about having Plants for Pets?

Oleander - Nerium oleander - Karavîra

They make no noises, would damage your belongings, don’t need to be walked, and many more attractive factors make them a perfect choice as pets. They in fact cheer you up when you're moody with their beautiful greens and blooms.

Wax Rose - Pereskia bleo

They definitely did for me! I wasn’t content with one and on and on grew their population, crowding the Plantville. Some died and some were thrown out for misbehavior.

Sunflower - Helianthus unknownus :D

Cucumber - Cucumis sativus - Trapushpa

Some were tortured badly by their worst enemies, but always recovered and were grateful to me as ever.

Hibiscus - Hibiscus rosa-sinesis - Japâ

I'm going to talk less today and let you enjoy this year’s cheerful pictures of the denizens of Plantville…

Chilli - Capsicum frutescens

Chrysanthemums

Crape Jasmine - Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore Pleno'

Purple False eranthemum - Pseuderanthemum carruthersii

Four O'clock - Mirabilis jalapa - Krishnakeli

Cape Honeysuckle - Tecomaria capensis

Ixora - Ixora coccinea

Canna - Canna spp.

Desert Petunia - Ruellia brittoniana

Zephyr Lily - Zephyranthes candida

Rain Lily pink - Zephyranthes grandiflora

Yellow Zephyr Lilies - Zephyranthes sulphurea

May the next year bring us all and our green pets, happy, prosperous, and bloomy surprises!

The short lived ones…

Life is long yet it seems very short. People come and go, but you never stop. You can’t! Neither can you stop people going out of your life. Some, you wouldn’t want to, and some you want to. Not all that look beautiful taste good. Though these lines sound a bit depressing to the readers it’s something everyone should learn to accept and life wouldn’t be so difficult then.
Yes, I’m going to talk about such uninvited, yet delightful guests who lived with me only for a short period of time. These came as a trio, killing my lemon seedling, but I let them be, but soon one of them got tired and hid themselves into the earth.
Meanwhile, feet away someone else had arrived silently, which I failed to notice initially, as her presence wasn’t so noticeable!Within three weeks she grew into a mature woman, showcasing her beautiful flowers.

The two guys were slow in their growth but did look healthy and happy.

And another kiddo too grew up pretty fast that I didn’t even notice its arrival until it was about a feet high.

And the red-spined one! How could I forget him? He was hiding behind his roommate and even after weeks, he wasn’t clearly noticeable until you get closer to their room. (See if you can spot him. It's difficult as his leaves blend with his roommate's)

Miss Cucu, in spite of showing up late, put up a non-stop show of blooms, even during the hard rains. She soon began giving out fruits.

The lazy duo looking at her began a fight among themselves and tried their best to attract her with their blooms.

Everyone loved her.

And the kiddo too finally became matured enough to showcase his flowers.

Red-spined cocky was no lagger. He was ready with his first half-grown flower within days. He fell in love with his roommate, which became evident in his growth.

The first fruit of Miss Cucu was never tasted as an unidentified cruel stranger plucked it away before she could let it grow to its full height. This put her into a great depression. She started dropping her flowers and stopped drinking water, letting her leaves wilt. No matter how much I fed her and how much I facilitated her growth, she wouldn’t grow well.

The duo felt sorry for her and tried to cheer her up with their show, but she wouldn’t recover. The duo, who were madly in love with her, couldn’t see her dying slowly and they too began wilting away.

Before she bid goodbye, she gave me a dwarfed fruit as a parting gift and said, “Take me away, I can’t stay here anymore.” I looked at her grievously. She was not the usual cheery self. He proud flowers had lost their splendor and their leaves lost their freshness. I accepted her gift, my heart lamenting for her and did as she told me. Out she came, breathing out her last breath.

The duo shrieked at her departure and lamented aloud, “Let us go too. We can’t live here anymore.” And came out the duo, joining their brother.

The kiddo was too shocked at the scene that happened around him and he left me too.

But the only one who didn’t was the red-spined cocky. He was so in love with his darling that he couldn’t follow his companions. He did cry for a day, but his lover consoled him with her blooms.

Days after her departure, we tasted her gift , which tasted so bitter that the moment it touched my tongue I had to spit it out. No wonder it wasn't tasty, as she bore it in mourning. God knows who tortured her and snatched her happiness away! [sigh]