Spice of Life! – Page 9 – A khatta-meetha take on life around me through my presbiopic eyes!

25/03/202123/09/2021

Red (ThursdayTreeLove)

I had another post with the same title a few weeks ago. So yes, you dear readers, are right in wondering if you have reached the wrong page. But no, this is a different Red, just as spectacular.

I am talking about the spring foliage of a native tree called Kusumb or Schleichera oleosa. It belongs to the Sapindaceae family and is a treat to watch. This deciduous tree bursts into new leaf as winter ends and the tree dons a glorious red. It can be easily spotted from a distance.

The blaze of red one sees when travelling in the ghats in Maharashtra at this time of the year is most likely the Kusumb.

Here are some of the tantalising glimpses we got as we were returning home from a Botany field visit. Finally, we just had to stop and enjoy this beautiful foliage.

Capturing images from a moving bus is so difficult! This is just one Red that we whizzed past.

**All of us trying to capture the red in our cell phones.**

Here is the Kusumb from Pune from our Vetal Tekdi.

My phone camera does not do justice but the red is easily spotted among the bare trees, even from a distance!

**A good camera in the hands of a knowledgeable person captures such great images! Photo credit Pallavi Gharpure**

The Kusumb also bears flowers at this time but the leaves steal the show! Its fruit is very useful among them is being used to make a special kind of hair oil that encourages hair growth.

Schleichera oleosa finds a mention in Trees of Delhi and Jungle Trees of Central India … which means it grows in those regions as well.

Do try to see these gorgeous leaves..because they will turn green soon.

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove bloghop. Head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

11/03/202123/09/2021

Wander Into Nature (ThursdayTreeLove)

And Nature, the old nurse, took

The Child upon her knee,

Saying: ‘Here is a story -book

Thy Father has written for thee.’

‘Come, wander with me’, she said,

‘Into regions yet untrod;

And read what is still unread

In the manuscripts of God.’

Longfellow The Fiftieth Birthday of Agassiz

I came across these words recently on the first page of a book I am reading and they immediately reminded me of the Bhorgiri trek we took a few years ago. It was one of my first experiences of walking out in Nature and being the monsoon the experience was fantastic. One that I have craved for again and again. To feel free and to experience Nature as it is meant to be.

Here are a few images from that wonderful outing.

**Till date, I have not identified this tree.. And it was the only bare leafless one, surrounded by a profuse burst of green.**

**Some Orchid on the tree.. could not photograph properly due to the rain**

**We walked through a thick jungle, over rocks and gurgling streams.. the forest showed some of its mysteries to us..**

**The entire countryside was covered in a glorious green carpet..**

I did identify some trees and herbs, but the lasting impression was of the green countryside… Raw. Rejuvenated. Glorious.

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in.

25/02/202123/09/2021

Golden Silk Cotton (ThursdayTreeLove)

The Golden Silk Cotton Tree is a wonderful harbinger of end of winters in my city. Its botanical name is Cochlospermum religiosum and belongs to the Bixaceae family. Some of its other common names are called Torchwood Tree, Buttercup Tree, Ganer, Sonali Simul. The name Golden Silk is probably from the silky fibers seen when the fruit bursts.

This bare tree on my walk route showing off it’s flowers!

The tree being deciduous in nature, drops all its leaves as winter begins. One begins to wonder if the bare tree will survive. But come January, with the first whisper of spring, the Ganer bursts into beautiful golden yellow flowers. They open before dawn and are said to be fragrant. I see them every year on the Vetal Tekdi but the blooms are usually very high up and impossible to reach till one drops down. A powerful camera can capture flower details but not its fragrance.

In a few months, the oval fruit develops and it rather looks like a Brinjal! It bursts to reveal seeds embedded in silky cotton.

Further, the Buttercup Tree has very pretty foliage as well .. the leaves are lobed and pleated are add to its beauty when in leaf.

This native tree is grows in the subcontinent and finds a mention in the book Jungle Trees of Central India by Pradip Krishen. It is on the cover of the book Aple Vruksha by Prof SD Mahanjan.

A page from the book *Jungle Trees of Central India by Pradip Krishen*. A must have for tree lovers! See the silky fibres inside a burst fruit (top right).

Strangely, several attempts to propogate this tree have failed.. from seed, cuttings and so on. Hence, one can see this plant only in the wild.

Have you seen the Golden Silk Cotton Tree? It grows on the hills of Pune and is still blooming. The golden flowers will beckon you from the bare branches around it! It is well worth the effort to trek up and enjoy these wonderful blossoms.

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see some wonderful trees from around the world. Better still, join in.

12/02/202125/02/2021

Red (ThursdayTreeLove)

One of the ( many) good things of ThursdayTreeLove is the visual treat of Fall colours – something that I want to see with my own eyes. Maybe some day. While we do have several deciduous trees here, they do not have such spectacular Fall colours . Instead we have many trees that throw out beautiful and amazing new foliage in Spring. But more about that another time.

The Terminalia catappa is one of our trees that does turn a brilliant red when it drops it leaves. Currently this species is most eye catching all over my city mainly for its red leaves as they prepare to fall off.

This native species is quite common in my city especially in gardens and by the roadsides.

**Ready to drop leaves. The distinctive tree outline can be seen here.**

The leaves are large, oval shaped and leathery in texture. Flowers are not showy but can be spotted easily if one looks for them. Terminalia catappa belongs to the Combretaceae family and is also commonly called Jungli Badam.

**The inflorescence peeps out from behind the leaves!**

Even without these red leaves, the Terminalia catappa is easily recognisable due to its distinctive growth pattern. The branches seem to grow in whorls stacked on top of each other.

**When not dry, the leaves cast a welcoming cool shadow …. a great place to shelter from the blazing Sun.**

I am sure many of you must have seen and admired this lovely tree.

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

28/01/202128/01/2021

Candelabra (ThursdayTreeLove)

I debated using Tree and Cycle as the title of my post today! Finally settled on the one you see. Here was my reasoning……this is a species I see on my cycle route (for unused title) and in its present almost bare condition, i think it resembles a grand Candelabra!

Take a look at these images.. i am sure you will agree with my title choice!

This is the Maharukh or Ailanthus excela of the Simaroubaceae family. It is also called Indian Tree of Heaven. It is a native tree of the deciduous variety and currently is almost bare in Pune. Very soon it will burst into new foliage and flowers. I did manage to capture photo of its leaves and they are vey similar to the leaves of Neem (Azadirachta indica of the Meliaceae family).

This big green leaf is of our tree and is actually a leaflet. This tree has compound leaves.

It is quite common in my city either by the roadside or often along the compound walls. The tree grows quite tall and is very majestic. Its branches grow upwards from the main trunk bole and seem to reach for the sky.. almost like the arms of a candelabra.

Photo by **Ksenia Chernaya** from **Pexels**

Does the silhouette of any tree remind you of objects we use in our lives? Is that just a coincidence or does nature unknowingly influence our designs?

Have you seen the Indian Tree of Heaven? It should be blossoming soon.. do look our for its tiny yellowish green flowers.

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop . Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

14/01/202115/01/2021

Well Settled (ThursdayTreeLove)

Today, my tree is not really a tree.. its a woody perennial climber that grows huge thick trunks that almost look like tree trunks. Its very well known for its flowers and very common all over India. This non-native species has made itself at home and seems very happy judging by the profuse flowering we see.

Well settled as it were!

The flamboyant blossoms are not fragrant but are a sight to behold. Strangely its ‘petals’ are not really petals but bracts. Its fruit is said to be an achene but I have not yet seen one.

I am sure by now you have guessed which plant I refer to.

Yes…. Its the Bougainvillea!

The plant belongs to the Nyctaginaceae family and the Bougainvillea glabra is a common species B spectabilis is another.

The Pink bracts enclose the white flower!

India Posts has issued a stamp to honour this plant.

Some Bougainvillea variants lend themselves to being made into Bonsai and are popular among Bonsai artists in India. Here is wonderful Bonsai by Master Nacho Marin as it put up on the Bonsai Empire website.

A stunning Bonsai by Master Nacho Marin .. Image uploaded via a link from the Bonsai Empire Website

This is a Bougainvillea bonsai by late Mrs Mandakini Malaviya . Photo added on 15/1/21

Where have you seen the Bougainvillea? Which colours have you seen? Have you spotted the double coloured cultivars?

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove bloghop. Do head over to see fantastic trees from around the world. Better still join in!

30/12/202030/12/2020

A New Day (Wordless Wednesday)

The Moon sets as we walk up the hill

Tip: Do Watch in full screen mode

This is an image at the same spot.. the video is much better isn’t it?

The Sun rises as we head home

Do watch in Full Screen Mode!

Continuing with scenes from our daily exercise route, this time I decided to capture the beautiful sky in a short video as my phone camera is woefully inadequate to share the same with you. I hope you can hear the sound of the insects in the Moon set video.

A huge motivation to get out for walks every morning! Dont you agree? 🙂

I am joining Natasha in her Wordless Wednesday Bloghop!

Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy Healthy and Prosperous 2021!

24/12/202023/06/2023

Tree Love (ThursdayTreeLove)

This is one of the glorious sights on my morning walk on Pune’s Vetal Tekdi. Some may well ask what is remarkable in this image .. the grass has dried, many trees have shed their leaves and so on…

The Sun just peeping out from the horizon on a chilly winter morning (yes Pune does have a few every season 🙂 ) is a glorious sight to behold. Refreshing the mind and soul.

But tree lovers will adore trees in all the seasons in all their natural states. A leafless tree displaying its trunk and branch architecture is as beautiful as one in full bloom. The golden grass carpet crunching below our feet and rustling in the breeze soothes as none other.

As John Muir has said, “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”

I am sure you all agree!

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. It the hundredth edition this time and I am happy to say I have been participating since the 20th. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

As 2020 ends, let me wish you all, dear readers, a Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy year ahead.

17/12/202017/12/2020

More Morning Hues (Wordless Wednesday)

The sugarcane fields were in bloom and I could not resist trying to capture the glowing inflorescence from the moving vehicle. The camera does no justice to the beautiful scene..

Posting a day late, but I am sure you will enjoy these images of beautiful mornings ..

I am joining Natasha in her #WW blog hop.

10/12/202010/12/2020

Elephant Apple (ThursdayTreeLove)

What is it that first strikes you about this tree?

I am sure you will agree with me that its the glossy leaves that are eye catching. This is the Dillenia indica of the Dilleniaceae family and commonly known as Elephant Apple. This is a native species and its flowers are just as beautiful as its leaves.

The family Dilleniaceae is in honour of Johann Jacob Dillenius who was a Botanist and Botany Professor at Oxford. India Post has released a commemorative stamp of this tree species.

The leaf has a serrated margin and distinct veins

The five petaled fragrant flowers are large, solitary and face downwards.

Apparently the fruit is a favourite of elephants hence this common name! It is about the size of an apple and I have read that the pulp is used in some our our curries etc.

A few years ago, this species was not very common in Pune, and tree lovers made it a point to visit the few known locations where it did grow. However now I have seen it growing at many places , even on roadsides!

Have you seen the Dillenia indica? Do look out for its blossoms in June/July and Oct to Jan.

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove bloghop. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in!