A little soul nurturing.

One of the things I really enjoy is to start the day by spending some time in my garden. The garden has been carefully tended to entirely by me and Satish. We do not have a gardener and we do everything ourselves.
I live in a penthouse on the 14th floor and we have two large terraces. This is where we have made our garden. We grow our own vegetables--everything right from Brinjals, tomatoes, Parsley, celery, Ridge gourd, Bitter gourd, green chillies , bottle gourd, carrots, radish, beet root, rocket leaves, spinach, fenugreek, beans, okara, squash (yes, it is indeed possible)-- organically and we are very proud of what we have managed to accomplish in a period of one year. We also compost our kitchen waste.(The only thing that goes out from my home is the plastic used in packaging. Rest of it all goes into the compost). I have written a post in the past on how to start an organic terrace garden.
And I have also written about things that a garden has taught me.

Apart from the vegetables that we grow, we also have some flowers. Today I want to share some pictures with you. These had my heart leaping in joy and my soul soaking in all the contentment.
Here goes


This is my collection of cactii plants. Look at the profusion of flowers! If you over-water them they will not grow. They thrive on neglect!


A close up of one of the plants--the flowers are so many that they cover the leaves! It is a very thorny plant.


Here is another close-up of another plant.



Look at this single flower dancing in the wind! Isn't this gorgeous?


Close up of a single jasmine flower. My jasmine always blooms when it rains. The fragrance is a whiff of heaven.



Is this a variety of chrysantemum? I don't know. But it is a profusion for sure :)

And finally--a rose that bloomed. Notice the dew drop inside it?


Gardening is one of the most rewarding hobbies that one can have. You don't need large areas. Even if you live in an apartment, a small balcony that gets sunlight for a little part of the day will do.

Try it once and you will be hooked. After all like  Alfred Austin said 'The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.'

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Read my latest book yet? Jamu kaka grows an organic garden in that one. Now you know where that came from :)
If you haven't yet read it, get it at a great price:   
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Comments

  1. Truly inspiring .. Thanks for sharing the pics. Amazed to know the wide variety of veggies that grow on a terrace.

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  2. Hello Mam, Hope you are doing wonderful as always. I check your Blog for latest updates at least 4 days a week. Every piece of you writing is so very fantastic and inspiring in many different ways. Until now I never found an article or a topic which I could disagree with that you have written. I am really wondering how could a person convince everyone by just writing, not even requiring to explain about some things. You are really an awesome person. You are the best person with the best brain ( not only intelligent but also lovely brain) I have ever come across.
    May God bless you with great health and happiness all your life.

    Thank you for deciding to write frequently.
    Ramesh.

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  3. Beautiful garden and lovely blooms. That's not variety of Chrysanthemum, it is called french marigold :)

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  4. Oh, this wonderful post reflects freshness, positivity, beauty, bliss, efforts and eventually blooming success! :) Best wishes always...

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  5. Mindblowing mam.....

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  6. Mindblowing mam.....

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  7. just looking at those pics gives immense pleasure!indeed very serene and divine!

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  9. Hi mam,this is the first time i am reading your blog & i must say it's such an inspiring.Thank you for sharing this pics it's so refreshing.

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  10. Beautiful garden! You have every reason to be proud of it!

    I live in an apartment on the seventh floor. Though I love gardening too, I'm thoroughly discouraged by how pigeons have destroyed my plants multiple times. Do you have a problem due to pigeons and if yes, how do you tackle it?

    Regards,
    Aruna

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  11. Dedication and effort blooms here bringing fragrance to nostrils and coolness to eyes and peacefulness to mind.Oh! Gorgeous.

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  12. Thank you all of you! :)

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  13. Awesome pics..!!! And this shows nothing is impossible if you work towards it with complete dedicated and passion..!!! :)

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