Botanical name: Citrus limomum

Torching you through summer ...

Botanical name: Billbergia pyramidalis

Foolproof plant is a bromeliad from Brazil. Every summer it blooms without fail with that strange orangey-pink flower. This probably is the origin of the common name. It is not really a flower, but rather an inflorescence with many flowers. It quickly grows "pups" to create an unusual ground cover. The succlent leaves form a large vase, and produce mostly red flowers with yellow and purple highlights. The flower looks like a torch. This photograph was taken on 3rd January, 2012 at my native place in a plant nursery.

Shading your thoughts ...

Botanical name: Albizia lebbeck

Medium to large tree with gray-brown bark; leaves bipinnate, the primary leaflets subopposite, 2-4 pairs; ultimate leaflets opposite, 6-8 pairs, oblong, slightly asymmetric, blunt, 2.5-4.5 cm long. Flowers mimosa-like, in showy, rounded clusters near stem tips, 5-6 cm (2-2.5 in) across, cream or yellowish-white, each flower with numerous long stamens. Fruit a flat, linear pod, to 30 cm (1 ft) long, with many seeds; dried pods persistent after leaf-fall, often heard rattling in the wind. This tree can be seen in many parts of Mysore flowering during summer months. I took this photograph near JP Nagar area of Mysore in the evening of 5th March, 2012.

Brightly and boldly ...

Botanical name: Tithonia diversifolia

Giant Mexican Sunflower, Japanese sunflower, Shrub sunflower, Tree marigold is an impressive member of the sunflower family, Asteraceae. Tithonia was named for Tithonus, a legendary Trojan loved by the dawn goddess Eos, who turned him into a grasshopper. Giant Mexican Sunflower is a perennial native of Mexico and Central America and is naturalized in India. It is a tall shrub, 1-3 m high. Stem is stout, erect, densely hairy. Alternately arranged broadly ovate leaves (lobed or simple) are 15-25 cm long. Large single flower-heads are orange-yellow, 10-15 cm across. In Manipur, flower-heads are used for wounds and bruises. I took this photograph in the evening of 3rd January, 2012 from my native place.

Smile lines to your heart ...

Botanical name: Gladiolus dalenii

The name gladiolus is derived from the Latin word gladius, meaning sword, for the shape of its leaves. An ancient name for the gladiolus was xiphium, from the Greek word xiphos, also meaning sword. The gladiolus flower is the birth flower for August; it also represented the Roman gladiators. Gladiolus are native to the mountains of South America. They are widely grown in India. Gladiolus are easy to grow, and are the favourite flowers in India for bouquets, hence their popularity. Blossoms come in a wide range of colors and bicolors, including blue. The blossoms will open from the bottom first. Harvest spikes of Gladiolus just before the top blossoms open. The top blossoms will open indoors. This is one of my favourites in garden, which i maintained a variety of colours in my home garden during my stay at Bangalore, few years ago. Now also wherever and whenever i see them, it gives me immense joy and happiness and knowingly or unknowingly it inspires me. This photograph was taken on 1st October, 2011 at the Mysore Dussehra exhibitions.

Summer smile ...

Botanical name: Lagerstroemia speciosa

Pride of India is one of the most outstanding summer bloomers. Lagerstroemia speciosa is a larger form of the more commonly grown L. indica (Crape myrtle). It is called Queen Crape Myrtle because it's the Queen of the Crape Myrtles, dominating with grand size and larger, crinkled flowers. The name Crape myrtle is given to these tree/shrubs because of the flowers which look as if made from delicate crape paper. Lagerstroemia speciosa is a large tree growing up to 50' but it can be kept smaller by trimming. It stands on an attractive, spotted bark that often peels. This bark is commercially used and is a valuable timber. The large leaves are also appealing as they turn red right before they drop in the winter. A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this flower. This photograph was taken on 19th March, 2012, from a park, near Ashoka Puram, Mysore.

For worship ....

Botanical name: Nyctanthes arbortristis

Nyctanthes arbortristis literally means, night-blooming sad tree. Grows as large shrub or small tree depending on how it is trained. The large attractive leaves are rough and hairy. The sweet scented flowers are small, attractive with white petals and an orange-red tube in center and bloom profusely, opening at night and drop off in the morning, thus making a carpet of flowers in the morning. Used for worship. Needs warmth during winter months. Use well drained soil and fertilize once a month. This tree has attracted my attention, as i open every day morning, i used to see my neighbour grandma below the tree, collecting the flowers for worship, where i was staying earlier in Mysore. Now on my way to the institute, i see the bush every day growing very healthy, but without any flowers! many days i wanted to take a photograph. But in the morning of 26th March, 2012, i went with a purpose along with my daughter and i could see a few flowers in the bush and i took this photograph.