Asparagus Fern

The foliage of this plant is one my favorite for arranging flowers. The long flowing stems with bushy needle-like leaves gives the right background and texture for arranging flowers.

Orchid Pholidota Imbricata

I spotted this orchid in Kavadi Kere and research led me to the name Orchid Pholidota Imbricata. I collected two bulbs of this orchid from the aracanut/betel nut garden maintained by the temple. As I had seen the pictures of the bloom, I waited  impatiently  for the plant to bloom so that I could take pictures [...]

Wild Turmeric

One of the many treasures that are hidden in the Western Ghats and Himalayas is the wild turmeric. These treasures shoot up from their hiding places under the earth in the spring. The leaves are sometimes invisible during this time, but both the foliage and the flowers are very attractive, giving an impression that these [...]

African Tulip Tree

One of the most sought after tree to beautify city lanes, Aftrican Tulip trees are a sight to behold when these trees are covered with the orange blooms. The floor under the trees is colored orange with the flower fall.

Orchid Cottonia Peduncularis – Bee Orchid

As we drove below a huge tree branch in Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, I caught a glimpse of an orchid plant with tiny flowers at the end of the spike hanging downwards. My joy knew no bounds for spotting yet another wild orchid in bloom in the wild.

Anthurium

Plant Summary: Anthurium flowers are colorful and their foliage is very attractive making them the most popular ornamental plant in a garden. The flowers last for a long time and are extremely popular for flower arrangement.

Orchid Dendrobium Aqueum

Plant Summary: Dendrobium aqueum is an exquisite epiphytic orchid found in Kolli Hills Tamil Nadu, Himvad Gopalswamy betta in Karnataka and Coorg.

Rajanigandha

Plant Summary: Polianthes tuberose is the botanical name of Rajanigandha and the other common names are Mexican tuberose, Sugandaraja (Kannada), Nelasampengi (Telugu), Nila Sampangi (Tamil), Gulcheri (Marathi), Ye Lai Xiang (Mandarin). All the names almost mean “fragrance of the night” or “king of fragrance”. Rajanigandha belongs to Agavceae family.

Mexican Lilac

This beautiful tree grows in my aunt’s garden in Bangalore and a Hoopoe sits on the branches and sings Hoo…Poo…Hoo…Poo….a perfect setting to spend time sipping tea in the evening.

Crocodile Bark Tree

Plant Summary: The state tree of Goa is Crocodile Bark Tree belonging to family Combretaceae*. Botanical name of the tree is Terminalia Elliptica. The name is thus derived because the bark of the tree resembles crocodile skin. The other common names are Matti in Kannada, Asna, Saj and  Indian-Laurel, ha…ha..then, which tree is the Indian-Hardy?? [...]