SURPRISES IN THE GARDEN

 SURPRISES IN THE GARDEN

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

01/VII/2023

 

Any garden is always full of surprises. A new sprout, a twisted shoot, a new nest, a new bird, insect, reptile, or a fish fry, sometimes pops up out of the blue. Sometimes their camouflage is so good that they can be missed even with a keen eye.

 

Last year one had got a pack of ten of a water plant called ‘Pistia or Water Lettuce’. The plants travelled all the way from Assam. By the time they reached, only one plant showed some signs of life, rest of them died in transit. Not losing heart, we let them float in our fish tub. Hoping against hope that they would revive. Chances were grim.

 

As seasons changed, the one with some life left started to turn green. Now, they have multiplied to be a tub full. This is an ever-green plant, with long extended fibrous roots which gives fish lots of shade, hiding places and obstacles to manoeuvre around. Fish poop is manure for them. A win-win for both. Our happiness doubled watching them grow.

 

We had brought ‘Caladium tubers’ from the previous station. As the season changed, the leaves died and the pot was put in one corner. Hope was not lost but chances were bleak. To our surprise, they sprouted last week. The size of the leaves is larger than normal. People stop and take a selfie with them.

 

As the Pistia were multiplying one thought to separate them from the fish tank as water lilies needed space to spread. To make them comfortable in their new habitat, water was taken from the fish tank for continuity. Plants should not be subjected to sudden changes. This thought proved to be a life saver.

 

Within three days, the complete surface of the tub got filled with little plants. Plants were split into another small tub. While one was doing all this shifting, a tiny life surfaced. It was a baby Guppy which was recently born in the main tank from where the water was borrowed. This half a centimetre fingerling was all alone in this small container and surviving was a surprise. It must have got caught in the roots of this plant, I reckon.

 

The little one was all alone. To give it company, another fry was picked up and transferred to the pistia container. Once they become adults, we shall send them to the main tank to meet the other siblings. We realised that loneliness was making the little one lethargic, now they were frolicking. We felt happy.

 

In the evening, I was admiring a vine of a hanging pot. The vine hung about two feet down. It looked like a caterpillar climbing up. I expected the caterpillar would eat the creeper that night. There could be more caterpillars too. They had to be removed before they damaged the plant beyond recovery.

 

I had to withdraw my hand with a jerk as I was stung, which surprised me. A caterpillar could not bite. It didn’t look hairy either. Hairy caterpillars spread itching if touched.

 

I rushed inside to get my specs to have a closer look. There were a bunch of small wasps hanging on the vine. They had made a hive which anyone would mistake for a caterpillar. Nature is so amazing. One sting on my finger did not trouble me long. A little itch and then it subsided.

 

It had to be removed and we waited for daylight to handle it, lest we get stung again. What more surprises are in store? I wonder!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS