Tag: Nature’s delights

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Arrows (ThursdayTreeLove)



I spotted this Mango tree in full bloom quite recently. Almost every branch and subbranch seems to have an inflorescence.  They reminded me of tiny arrows that seem to have framed the tree almost creating a brilliant halo around it! 


Actually almost all Mango trees are blooming right now. The profuse flowering suggests a bumper harvest but usually many of the flowers fall off (for various reasons) and the actual fruiting may be lesser than the number of flowers.


Here is an image of the inflorescence. 

Have you noticed the Mango blossoming in your city? 
While there are several varieites of mangoes, they are horticultural variants of Mangifera indica. Mango belongs to the Anacardiaceae family.  Cashew and the Indian Ash Tree are also members of Anacardiaceae.


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

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Tennis Balls (ThursdayTreeLove)

January sees many trees lose their foliage in Pune and spring with its profuse flowering is still a few weeks away. Yet there is one tree that brings a smile not merely by its blooming but also by the ‘flowers’ themselves! 


I am referring to Parkia biglandulosa which is locally called Chenduful belonging to the Mimosaceae family. Its a common avenue tree here and one realises its in bloom as one has to side step what look like furry balls when walking on the road. They obviously are not something kids have played with and one is compelled to look up. I have unfailingly been amazed to be looking up at what looks like tennis balls hanging down from the branches of the tree. 



Each of these balls, is just the inflorescence and consists of several flowers. They remind me of tennis balls and I am still unable to understand why this Parkia is called Badminton Ball tree.. As far as I know, Badminton is played with a shuttlecock so… 


Parkia biglandulosa is not native to India but I have seen it growing across the country even at one of our bases in the north east. Our daughter remembers playing with these blossoms and even preserving one of the furry balls in a box.. She still doesnt remember why and what happened to it later! More recently, one of the children in my Tree Walk group collected it as a memory of our walk! 

A lovely tall tree with delicate leaves that reminds of the Gulmohor. I am sure most of you would have noticed these fallen ‘tennis balls’. If not, do look out for them as Parkia is still blooming at least here in my city! 

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

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Kailashnath Neem (ThursdayTreeLove)



Continuing on this e-visit to Ellora, here is a massive Neem tree. It is growing on the right side as we face the Cave 16 Kailash Temple complex. The straight trunk its vast base are eye catching.. The dense foliage hid its branching and only made it more imposing. 

Here is another view .. 

Later, I found that this tree is listed as the Kailashnath Neem under the Landmark Trees of India.


Going by the botanical name Azadirachta indica , it belongs to the Meliaceae family. Neem is a common species almost all over India. This is easily the tallest Neem I have seen!
I
have seen glorious trees at the Qutub Minar. Just proves that there’s more to archaeological sites than the structures.. We only need to look around!


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

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Monumental (ThursdayTreeLove)

“Monuments and archaeological pieces serve as testimonies of man’s greatness and establish a dialogue between civilizations showing the extent to which human beings are linked”


Vicente Fox



This magnificent Ficus is growing at the entrance of the Ellora Cave complex. The winter morning sun streamed in through the leaves and aerial roots creating a pattern on the ground. My humble phone camera was unable to capture the full glory but I think this image gives a general idea!
A monumental tree at a UNESCO World Heritage site. What a wonderful coincidence! 

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

Temples often have wonderfully old trees with massive trunks and huge canopy. Common species that I have seen are the Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and of course the Temple Tree which is variously also called Chafa or Frangipani or Plumeria rubra . Usually the white flowered species is more common than others.


I saw this tree growing outside a Shiva temple located on Sadashivgad which is at Karad in Maharashtra. It was almost leafless and had only few flowers. This meant its superb branch ramification was easily viewed. The spread was so vast that I just could not capture it in a single frame!




Being a bonsai enthusiast, I was immediately drawn to the ‘nebari’ which refers to the radial layout of the roots as they emerge from the trunk base.

Chafa, Karad, Temple Tree



This would be a stunning sight when in full bloom! 


Frangipani belongs to the Apocynaceae family. It is deciduous in nature, which means the leaves drop off in the winter season. This is an exotic species. In Pune, I have observed profuse flowering but rarely have I seen the fruit possibly because of lack of suitable pollinators. 


Here is an image of the beautiful and fragrant flowers – but these were growing at another place. Pink and red are some other shades of the lovely blossoms. 




I have seen spectacular Chafa trees in other temples as well but I shall reserve those for another post! 


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!

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Surprise (ThursdayTreeLove)

A walk on the hills of my city has become a part of my life and its something I crave for once there is a gap of more than 2 days. Ever since I started noticing the trees, I unknowingly keep track of them – at least those on my route. I know species that grow on the hill and where. 
Or so I thought.
So it was a huge surprise when I came across this particular tree … Not one or two but an entire avenue as it were…


Which reminded me of John Muir’s words..


“In every walk with nature, one receives far more that one seeks” 

Happily Surprised

This is the Garari which goes by the botanical name of Cleistanthus collinus of the Euphorbiaceae family. Its dark green leaves and almost black fissured trunk are quite attractive but the leaves, bark and roots are said to be poisonous. 


Garari, tekdi, Nature, Pune

nature, hills, tekdi, pune



Obviously, the hills will continue to surprise … Never take things for granted!


Have you been surprised by trees in your neighbourhood? 


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


We are celebrating Diwali here in India so here’s wishing everyone..

Happy Prosperous Healthy Diwali! Lets see, learn from and appreciate what Mother Nature has to offer!

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Survivor (ThursdayTreeLove)

Tree, Tokyo, Gingko biloba



This is my second ThursdayTreeLove post with the same title! Its not for lack of creativity but this seems to be the apt choice for the tree that I want to share. 
My alternative title for today was Living Fossil.
With that, some of you may have guessed the ID of my tree.


That’s right! This is the Ginkgo biloba which is known for its brilliant yellow Fall Foliage. 
I saw the above tree in the premises of a temple in Tokyo and it seemed to have its apex burnt off by lightning. It was obviously a very old tree judging by the texture and girth and appearance of the trunk. Despite losing its apex at some point, the tree had developed new lateral branches and continued to flourish. It did have some protection around it but visitors were not really interested in this. 


Ginkgo biloba is a gymnosperm  which means the seeds are not covered by true fruit. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, disturbed environments and air pollution. In fact, six Ginkgo trees even survived the A-blast of 06 August 1945 in Hiroshima. It is commonly seen as an avenue tree in urban areas – New York, Shanghai, Tokyo (some cities that I spotted the Ginkgo). It is called a living fossil because it is the only living species of its group. 


Ginkgos boast pretty fan shaped leaves which are very distinctive. It is dioecious which means female and male specimens are separate. Most trees planted in cities are male because the fruit like seed has a foul smell when it falls to the ground! 


This is among my favourite species, especially for its wonderful leaves. 


Do you have the Ginkgo growing in your city?


I am joining Parul in her #ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see some glorious trees from around the world. 

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