A PARAMOURS WAIT

 A PARAMOURS WAIT

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

21/VII/2022

 

In the collection of pots we have today there is one which looks like grass. It is not exactly grass but akin to it. This grass has a little background. There were two pillars on the gate of our home on which two pots of this evergreen grass were placed at Sainik School Kapurthala.

 

            Most of the year it would stay green. As the weather changed to autumn, grass tips would brown. Something like, when people dye their hair and then forget to dye it again for a considerable time. Grey hair stands out and so does the brown in this grass. Dad would painstakingly snip off the brown portions. Once the season passed, it used to turn green again.

 

            It bore no flowers but gave a look of a ‘green fountain’, discharging water uniformly in all directions. For me, the grass looks like hats of the British Royal Guard called “Bearskins”.

 

            As time went by, one came across this grass in one of the nurseries in Alibaug. Moment, I saw it, there was a connection, going back almost fifty years. On enquiring about its name, the nursery owner could not tell us. Nevertheless, we picked it up in remembrance of Dad. God bless his soul.

 

One click on ‘Google Lens’ told me it is called ‘Mondo Grass’. Why it is distinct from normal grass is because it belongs to the ‘lily family’ and has perineal green tufts.

 

            One fine day the Alibaug chapter closed and we moved to Jodhpur permanently. It moved with us and is flourishing. It has tolerated one severe winter and one harsh summer already.

 

            As the rainy season arrived, there was something familiar spouted out of this grassy clump. It was the ‘Cypress Vine’. These pots were kept under the bamboo arch on which we had trained our cypress vine. Some seeds would have fallen in this pot. They travelled all the way and waited for their right time to sprout. All these days I was trying to grow this vine and here it grew on its own. Probably it knew that we love it so dearly.

 

Plants tell us, have they been loved or not in their own unique ways. Their leaves and flowers say it all and they love you back. Maybe, to show their gratitude. Thank you vine, we will love to have you add gorgeousness to our garden.

 

I fixed a Babool stilt full of thorns for it to grip it and it has already fallen in love with it. Like a lover, it is holding on to the stick griping it firmly. Imagine a hero holding a heroine in the woods dancing around the trees. In the local language it is called “Ishq Pechak”. Reason is now clear.

 

It was a surprise gift of nature to us and we thank the Almighty for his blessings. Did the seeds know that there would be a ‘paramour’ waiting so desperately? I wonder!!!!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© NOEL ELLIS