Gardening

3 Months of Thrilling experience in Nature   Over the past three months, you’ve immersed yourself in the wonders of nature, celebrating Earth, biodiversity, and our environment. What a thrilling experience it has been! From planting seeds to nurturing saplings, you’ve connected with the natural world in meaningful ways. As we transition from summer to monsoon, let’s delve into the cool, wet, cloudy and green season that breathes life into every corner of our Earth, where the five elements harmoniously interact. Remember those saplings you lovingly nurtured during the summer from summer fruits? Now is the time to plant them in wilderness. Trekking around your home Monsoon season invites you to explore the cinematic wonders of nature right around your home. You’ve already cultivated plant diversity by planting over 20 species at home, and you’ve nurtured saplings from summer fruits seeds. Now, let’s venture deeper into the wilderness. The intention is to discover those additional plant, insects, birds & microbial species in nature & experience their blissful play in nature. Smell Actinomycetes for that Earthy smell As you move forward, smell the hidden aromatic artisans of earth. Their spores, dormant for months, burst forth, releasing that unmistakable earthy fragrance. Close your eyes, inhale deeply, and let Actinomycetes weave their aromatic magic. Every year with the onset of first rains, these mystical bacterial creature gives you the pleasure of waiting for rains again & again. Exploring Wilderness Biodiversity: From Grass to Butterflies to Insects to Birds Start by observing the grasses around you, no need to look far. Just below your waist, you’ll find a variety of grasses, including familiar ones like Amaranthus, Coat Buttons, Creeping Sorrel, Carrot Grass, Lantana, False Daisy, and Pot Cassia. Before you head out, consider searching for images of these common weeds online and create a small collage on your phone or take a printout. These seemingly ordinary plants play a vital role in supporting countless insect species. As you explore, keep an eye out for butterflies like the Common Yellow, Slate Flash, and Pale Grass Blue. Ladybugs, beetles, earwigs, ants, and springtails are also easy to spot. Now, let’s shift our gaze upward to discover the melodious chirping of birds. Look for Oriental Magpie & India Robin, Red-Whiskered Bulbul, Great Tit, Purple Sunbird, Asian Koel, Black Drongo, Scaly Breasted Munia, Green Bee-Eater. Nature’s Lens: Capturing Trail Treasures Everyone has the eye of photographer; one just has to just capture the essence as see by our eyes. Here is an assignment for you to capture some of the beauty on the way to trek. Click the pics of following plants leaves found on the way. Seek out a mango tree along the trail & observe the glossy green leaves. Look for the sacred peepal tree. Notice its heart-shaped leaves with prominent veins. Zoom in on a neem leaf, its serrated edges and pale green hue. Lantana bushes dotting the trail are a riot of colors. Capture their clustered flowers, orange, pink, or yellow. Spot an insect, a busy ant, a dragonfly perched on a leaf. Listen for bird calls, maybe a cheerful bulbul or a melodious robin. Sowing the Summer Fruits Saplings A gentle reminder to sow the saplings you made last month from summer fruits seeds. They must be upto 5-8 inches in height with a good strong stem thickness. If not, you can wait another 1 month however this is the best time to sow saplings for them to anchor & settle better. Greeting Cards in Nature Theme Here is another exciting assignment to make your near & dear ones happy by partnering with nature. The Photos you clicked about plants, insects, butterflies & birds can be turned into fantastic Greeting Cards. So here is the plan. Make 6 Greeting Cards wishing about Birthday, Anniversary, Occasion from each of these themes about nature. Add a cheerful birthday message: Wishing you a day as bright and beautiful as nature itself. Share it with your near & dear one. Home plant Care for the Month As always while you are done all these from trekking to greeting cards, do note to keep the home plants in great shape. This month be very carefully to avoid watering as much as possible as due to rains the soil of plants remain wet throughout season. A very good test for knowing moisture in soil is inserting your index finger into your pot soil up to 1 inch. If soil sticks fully on to your finger, then it means you can avoid applying water. Then add compost & mix well. Lastly remove all yellow/brown leaves from all the plants to keep them green & fresh.

In the last issue of Booktern, we introduced a 4-step plan to boost your garden. How did it go? Did you get your hands dirty and see new plant friends growing? Now let’s dig deeper (literally!) and explore how your garden can become a bustling home for millions of tiny creatures, plants, and other wildlife. The Power of Compost Adding compost to your garden soil introduces millions of tiny microbes, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes. These invisible helpers are crucial for recycling nutrients, decomposing organic matter, and keeping plants healthy by suppressing disease. A diverse microbial community in your soil can improve its structure, aeration, drainage, and water retention, creating the perfect environment for your plants to thrive! Plant Friends for Every Critter We talked about 10 basic plants for a home garden before, but now let’s introduce a few more plant friends to boost biodiversity and provide food for many creatures: Marigold Pentas Rosemary Thai basil Curry leaves Butterfly bush Milkweed Fennel Neem Mango These plants attract and sustain a variety of insects, birds, and other wildlife. For example, worker honeybees typically live for a few weeks to a couple of months. Planting Thai basil can provide nectar-rich flowers that attract bees, helping to support local pollinator populations over time. This not only benefits bees directly but also plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance by supporting the broader ecosystem, including various wildlife that rely on pollinators for food or plant pollination. Beyond the Bees Biodiversity extends beyond bees: insects, birds, and butterflies help us in many ways. They contribute to making medicines, herbs, and spices, control pests, and even play a part in creating forests. Gardens are just as important as forests in supporting life, and if every apartment complex with 100 flats grew 10 plants, we’d be supporting an urban forest. So, let’s take on the collective responsibility of nurturing life by setting aside just 20 minutes of our 720-minute day to garden. Remember, every time you dig in the dirt, you’re not just planting a seed, you’re planting a future of biodiversity! The Biodiversity Challenge Here’s a plan to increase biodiversity around us: Compost or Cow Dung: Add a fistful of compost or cow dung manure from different nursery shops to enhance biodiversity in your garden soil. Butterfly-Friendly Plants: Make a list of 100 plants by searching online for butterfly-friendly plants. Birdhouses: Install birdhouses in your garden to shelter birds. Gifts: Gift any of the listed plants to friends for birthdays or other occasions. Life-Generating Plants: Make a WhatsApp message with a list of these plants, calling them “Life-Generating Plants,” and share it on World Biodiversity Day (22nd May 2024). Talk About Biodiversity: Discuss biodiversity with your friends, relatives, and grandmother Reminder: Set a reminder on your parent’s phone to be ready for Biodiversity Day every year on the 22nd of May. Join the plan this Biodiversity Day, and let’s all work together to nurture life!