#ThursdayTreeLove – Page 6

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!

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.

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!

12/11/202012/11/2020

Offspring (ThursdayTreeLove)

A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees – Amelia Earhart

While roots of trees are underground in most cases , plants do grow aerial roots. The Ficus species is the easily recognisable example. When the hanging root touches ground, a new tree is born at that spot. Over time, the single tree has several offsprings and it becomes a forest!!

The Great Banyan at the Botanical Garden in Kolkata, the Banyan at Pemgiri and the Banyan at Auroville are famous for creating such forests.

Have you seen these or other similar ancient Ficus?

Your city would surely have mini versions of such new trees.

Here are two lovely roadside trees that provide a shelter from Sun or Rain to passerby’s. A wonderful spot for evening chats!

And a cool spot to park a vehicle 😉

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove bloghop. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around thecworld.

Better still, join in!!

Happy Diwali folks!!!

May this festival of lights bring good Health and Happiness to everyone!

24/09/202024/09/2020

Autumn Colours (ThursdayTreeLove)

“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower” – Albert Camus

Looking at Autumn or Fall colours is a right on top of my Tree Travel wish lists.. I have always just got a glimpse of the glorious foliage never really catching the plants in their full Fall Glory.

As the above quote says, each leaf dons a spectacular unique colour that truly makes it look like a flower.

Here are a few images from my travels.. I am looking forward to the day when I can see the Fall Colours with my own eyes.. sigh…. Till then, I look forward to the TTL posts from around the world in the next couple of month..

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!

10/09/202010/09/2020

Henna (ThursdayTreeLove)

Today I have a Shrub instead of a Tree but I am sure all of you will enjoy this plant!

The title has been the spoiler so no surprises about the identity.

Yes, these delicate flowers are of the Henna or Mehendi plant. Botanically called Lawsonia inermis, it belongs to the Lythraceae family (that is the family of Crape Myrtles). It is a native and evergreen species.

In my childhood days, I remember it was grown as a hedge plant – I was told that the leaves are bitter hence goats, cows stayed away. However neighbourhood girls always managed to pluck the leaves, grind them on stones and apply the paste on our hands. The red colour was sufficient attraction.. the design was simple – a circle in the centre of the palm and capping the ends of the fingers. There was no thought of making designs.

I do remember we used to put a dot on the forehead.. this is one part where Mehendi does not colour the skin.. the story was if the forehead skin took up the colour then that girl would be a Queen!

No… mine never did colour!

Over the years, this way of putting Mehendi has ended.. readymade Mehendi cones have replaced ground leaves and designs are elaborate.

I am not complaining.. I love the colour and the fragrance that Mehendi leaves on our hands!

Besides India, Mehendi is also used as body art is several countries. We also use it as a hair conditioner and to colour hair.

Here are a few images of Mehendi as body art.

On the top left, the artist is at work! The Peacock and Lotus are popular design elements.

I am sure most of you would be familiar with Henna/Mehendi .. Have you seen the shrub?

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!

27/08/202027/08/2020

Red and Green (ThursdayTreeLove)

The Gulmohor (Delonix regia) of the Caesalpiniaceae family is a deciduous tree -which means it loses its foliage in the winter. Come summer it bursts into full red glory (sometimes orange).. but once it rains, the tree becomes a glorious green canopy.

Here are the images of the same tree in May and August! Nature has its own way of signalling seasons to the trees. Is it the temperature, position of the Sun, or something else?

Either way, trees dont need a calender .. infact, sometimes they indicate the upcoming season to us!

This is my TTL post from May 2020 – the very same tree in full red glory!

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

13/08/202013/08/2020

Yellow (ThursdayTreeLove)

The almost mandatory photo stop in my daily walk!

What do you first see in this image? I know you will say trees.. we are on ThursdayTreeLove after all!! And you are right!!

Normally I would have admired the clouds or the view but this time the yellow blaze caught my eye. So much so that I walked an extra 500m to reach this tree.

There grew a row of Peltophorum pterocarpum and all were in bloom. Their blazing yellow flowers were the head turners that day. This tree belongs to the Caesalpiniaceae family and is known as Copper Pod Tree. It is a common avenue tree in Pune and its dense green foliage is made up of pretty feather like leaves . Its fragrant flowers give way to rusty red pods hence the local name Copper Pod tree. The Peltophorum looks wonderful in bloom as well as when full of these coppery pods.

Not native to Pune, yet the species is happy in the city with profuse flowering and fruiting every year.

As I said, this is mostly an avenue tree which means one cannot really sit under its dense cool shade or enjoy its fragrance … It is all in a days work for the Peltophorum to lay out a yellow carpet for morning walkers..