NOEL ELLIS' GOOGLE BLOG

  “If winter comes, can spring be far behind” was written by ‘Shelly’ in a poem called ‘Ode to the West Wind’. Let me modify with due respects to the poet, “if aphids come, can mealy bugs be far behind”.   Plants are delicate and have to be cared for. With the onset of summers, the heat starts to take its toll. It is not only the scorching sun which causes burns, but the water in the pots evaporates faster than one can imagine. Besides, most of us who use plastic pots, the contents inside reach high temperature, half boiling the roots. Shade does help, but the plant has to fight its own battle. ‘Hot West Winds of Rajasthan’ need not have an ode written for them.   A week back, we had a massive Aphid attack on our waterlilies. So, during my morning/evening inspection, I make it a point to shuffle through the leaves of all plants for a thorough check. This is the time when insect attacks take place. They are called “Mealy Bugs”. Aphid’s sister.   Mealybug...

    Some of you must have heard the name of a flowering plant called “fuchsia” also called Chinese lantern/dancing dolls. My wife and I had fallen in love with this plant when we were posted at a remote place called Chakrata during my Army tenure.   It is a plant of the hilly region; the poor plant did not survive one summer when we moved to the Sun City on posting. This was around 1993.   Time went by and we returned back to the Suncity after retirement in 2021. Our hobby of gardening continued and we established a small garden. One day while scrolling the net, I found a seller selling this plant called fuchsia. Without even reading any review, I ordered it.   It came as a weak plant and battered plant. However, it was not the one we were looking for. The shape of the leaves was different. I raised a query with the supplier, who refused to replace it. Being a plant lover we welcomed the new plant in our garden. It was not fuchsia but a “bleeding...

Having done my time both in the corporate and the Army one tries to maintain a few routines. Besides keeping fit and indulging in hobbies of reading, photography, gardening and writing.   I could never write during my Army days except for some ‘service writing’ but in the corporate world, one used to find time.   Those days reaching the office in time was a ritual.  We would then get busy with the office chores. Housekeeping of the office was done before you entered it. If things are neat and clean then one gets time to think, reflect and concentrate on topics which touch your daily life.   Now, the scene is totally civilian. My dining table is my workplace. The whistle of the cooker in the kitchen adjacent, keeps reminding me of that. Once I am free from the morning chores in the garden, it is time to key write my blog.   Our maid times her arrival perfectly as I sit down to write. I keep an ear on her “cling clang” which she does while doing the dishes. Moment...

  Our rooftop garden is in two parts. First are the waterlilies. In each tub there are two different coloured ones. The second part is Adeniums. With more than eighty different colours just sprouting to life, they should be in full bloom by May.   I do a customary visit to the rooftop garden every evening. Water has to be topped up. Fish have to be fed and a cursory inspection around helps. Minor issues can be sorted out immediately. Fish and birds wait for me. Fish for their daily meal and birds enjoy a drink and pose for me.   Yesterday, after clicking some birds, one Bulbul was most excited and kept following me from tub to tub. I thought, probably she was looking for insects or sometimes an odd dead fish floats to the surface which these girl relish. I left her to hop around and took a nice closeup of hers.   When I downloaded the photo, it came as a shock to me that there were blisters on that waterlily leaf. It could be an insect attack, was ...

  A new Adenium colour 🧡 Dil Khush 🧡

    As we walked out of the main door this morning, birds and flowers were waiting to welcome me. They knew it is ‘watering day’. Boy, were they excited? I gave them a wink and went on with the preliminary check of the garden.   First on the agenda was the hummingbird feeder which had been refilled yesterday. With practice, I have mastered how to brew that ‘magic potion’ which attracts these birds. My wife pointed out to a Bulbul which was trying to poke her short and blunt beak into the orifice of the feeder. She was enjoying the sugary water kept for the hummingbirds.   The ‘proportion’ is simple. 300ml of plain water, which is about a tumbler full. We use RO water as an added precaution. 1/3 rd tumbler full of sugar is just right. Put both in a bowl and give it a violent stir till it becomes a ‘whirlpool’. Stir-stir and stir, till all sugar granules disappear. Two minutes and the beverage is ready. Followed by a good rinse to the feeder, fill it and f...

  Garden lovers cannot have a dull moment in their workspace. The area could be limited to a balcony or some lucky ones might have farm houses but there have to be flowers, fruits and vegetables growing in every season. Most gardening enthusiasts would agree.   Well, two seasons see the maximum blooms. Winters and the transition to spring are the best seasons. So much time and preparation go into keeping the plant alive and kicking. Having got used to its tantrums like a baby you see it coming to flower and fruit during this period.   Summers are the worst season for plants. Heat, low humidity, erratic watering takes its toll. Plants go into a shock unless given the requisite shade naturally or artificially. Still, some plants misbehave and the weakest die. A gardener suffers a heart break. Nevertheless, he continues his pursuit to keep the blooming on.   A question people keep asking me off an on. What do you do to get flowers in summer? Selection of p...