Jun 5, 2013

Portulacas !

Portulacas have become one of my favorites in recent years. They are hardy, low-growing moss-like foliage plant..... They come in a number of varieties: Portulaca Grandiflora being one of the most showy ones, and hence the most ideal ones for your balcony gardens.

One look at them here and you wouldn't wonder why they are also called moss roses


Colours: Yellow, Pink, Orange, Magenta, Peach... you name it.

Sun: They need high sun for rampant blooming. Perfect for Delhi summers, I say!!

Suited for: Hanging baskets, fillers around trees (say, you could line these around your Plumeria (Champa) tree...).

Propagation: These are very easy to propagate using stems. However, you really need a lot of branches to create a good basket.

When: Though they can be planted anytime during the summer season. For the gardens in northern plains, late-March/ April is a good time to plant to make full use of them through the summer months.

And here are few pictures of how you could use them around:

1. As a liner along your pavements...



2. In baskets/ tiny pots - in single or multiple shades

3. As a filler to cover up empty ground in larger pots...See the picture below for understanding.
Such an arrangement can look outstanding with plumeria (champa) trees planted in containers (don't have a ready photo alas!)


And last but not the least, they are very readily available at the nurseries!

So, what are you waiting for! They are a must have for your summer garden!













Jun 4, 2013

Summer colors for your garden!

Do you think that Delhi summers are a nightmare for a gardener? Well, I agree and disagree, Delhi summers are as bad as Delhi winters, not much worse though...

The challenge is to regulate the amount of sunlight for various garden inmates, and also choosing the new additions carefully. I have learnt over the years that a gardener must learn to work 'with' the natural elements (water, sun, soil) to enhance the beauty of her green spaces.

So, the scorching summers are a good time to bring some sun-loving beauties to your garden! So bring on some Portulacas, Almandas and Bougainvillea to your gardens this summers!




More of these tomorrow... or may be day after ;-) , I promise!