DIL KHUSH FLOWERING SEASON

 DIL KHUSH FLOWERING SEASON

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

01/X/2024

 

What is more unpredictable? ‘Man’ or the ‘weather’. I can predict your answer. It is Man. However, what is happening in the Sun city is that we are not sure what the weather is going to be in the next twelve hours. Quite unpredictable, I must say.

 

It was a normal warm and humid day yesterday.  However, the garden both on the ground floor and the rooftop couldn’t be avoided. Daily grooming and inspection have to be done. Some pots may need water, some may need a trim or a hoe. Besides feeding the birds and fish, all these things have to be done, irrespective of the weather.

 

Potted plants were asking for water in the evening. These days, instead of watering them everyday, we have started watering them once every two days. If some plants wilt, which can be observed from their leaves, that pot is watered as an exception.

 

That took me to the rooftop to see what was happening there. As I shoved my hand into the water tub to pluck out a decaying water lily leaf, the water temperature became a matter of concern. It was hot all day and the fish, though under the shade of the water plants, had to bear the brunt. So, some cool tap water was added to bring the temperature down.

 

As I was watering, the sun was setting but behind thick black clouds with a ‘golden & silver’ lining. I thought of taking a few pictures. By the time I finished topping up the tubs, Surya Maharaj had already gone below the horizon. Some dark and thick white clouds were still roaming around, so I captured a few of them. It seemed it would rain but my prediction could be like the met department's prediction, ‘way off the mark”.

 

I moved down to attend to other chores. Soon, it turned dark earlier than usual. There is enough light left till 7.30 pm usually. Then suddenly it poured and poured like there was no tomorrow. It was not the normal pitter-patter of rain drops on the clay tiled roof of the garage but it was like beating drums.

 

For a gardener, I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t have to water the plants the next day.

 

Be that as it may. A round to the roof this morning had a purpose. When it rains, tubs overflow. Many times baby fish while exploring new frontiers swim over the ledges. Sometimes, even adult fish get excited and jump out in glee. This also happens when the water temperature becomes intolerable for them. They land on the floor and die. Luckily, I did not find any this time.

 

A new surprise was also waiting for me. A new flower, that too an aquatic one, joined the Ellis’ Garden, called “Water Snowflakes” or “Nymphoides Indica”. It too has a story. It arrived almost like a dead plant due to courier delays. Summer added to its woes. There were nothing but a few roots which came out of the packet.

 

With a prayer and hope they were sown. Within a week, new sprouts became visible. This was an indication that plants fight to survive. It took almost two months for the plant to reach the flowering stage. A big ‘Dil Khush’ moment for us indeed.

 

‘White water hyacinth’ obliged us with flowers two weeks earlier. Those plants too were in a deplorable condition after transit. However, it grew without much ado. It also flowered alongside.

 

Sometimes, I feel that we are not only lucky but blessed. We have suffered tremendous losses, but then we bounce back with the same josh. If one side of the garden runs out of flowers the other side takes on and the cycle continues.

 

With winters fast approaching, I have ‘Project Chrysanthemum’ in mind. This year, it would be the ‘giant’ variety. Wish us luck. The consignment of plants has been shipped already. Results of the project would be shared in December.

 

Hopefully, we shall have some beautiful chrysanthemums in our garden which were my dad’s favourite flowers. It is his birthday today. Dad, wish you a very happy birthday in heaven. Keep blessing us and our garden and also help us continue with our family hobby of gardening despite the unpredictable weather.

 

We are waiting for another “Dil Khush” flowering season. Are you? I wonder!!!!!!

 

 JAI HIND 
©® NOEL ELLIS