Garden Diaries: December (Winter in its glory)

I catch the sweetness of thy latest sigh...

Here in the dim light of a grey December

We part in smiles, and yet we met in tears;

Watching thy chilly dawn, I well remember...

Farewell, old year; we walk no more together;

~Sarah Doudney (1841–1926), "A Parting"

I was not ready for December, it kind of came too soon this year. November went flying – and just like that it was December. Well, I was not ready but finally my garden was ready to embrace the glory of winter. Misty mornings which makes you believe in life and all good things, followed by golden afternoons, which envelop plants and the creatures of the garden to turn them beautiful like never before. Yes, the short and sweet days of winter are here. Sunshine makes you feel loved and winter flowers make the landscape pretty. 

Kachnar flowers

We are essentially a summer country and we do not glorify winter all that much in India. But the fact is, Indian winter is also beautiful in its own ways- it is the time for many celebrations, travels, culinary delights of the season and of course the gardens showcase a riot of colours. When it comes to gardens in winter, it is easy to recall the seasonal winter flowers and winter vegetables. Surprisingly, the typical image of winter, in my mind is also made up of flowering trees. I would specifically mention three -  edible Kachnar blooming everywhere in the city and neighbourhood, silk floss tree- which made our Delhi campus pretty in winter months and a very useful drumstick tree. They are all flowering at present with purple-white, hot pink and white flowers respectively. 

But they were not what kept me occupied this month. It was tending to my flowerbeds of winter annuals that kept me busy.  I am now happy to see the result of all that endless planning and planting. 

    The crowning glory is of course chrysanthemums. It is now blooming all over in many colours, shapes and sizes. The Chrysanthemum, or Kiku in Japanese, is a symbol that represents longevity and rejuvenation. It is said that, when this flower was first introduced to Japan during the Nara period (710 – 793 AC), the Japanese Royal Family was fascinated with the Chrysanthemum. It started appearing in their crafts, dress designs and seals soon thereafter.   Eventually, the Chrysanthemum become the imperial family emblem and continues to be so. To this day in Japan there are two imperial garden parties given each year: that celebrating the cherry blossom and the formal rite of the chrysanthemum. 

Interestingly, in the second chapter of The Tale of Genji, the 11^th Century Japanese classic, a remarkable reference is made to the revered chrysanthemum. At one place it says: "The chrysanthemums had turned very nicely, and the autumn leaves flitting by on the wind were really very pretty." The footnote explains that “Frost withered chrysanthemums were prized." How odd? One can perhaps understand another reference to chrysanthemum buds with beauty of a young woman, but withered chrysanthemums? And then recently, while admiring my partially withered flowerbed of Magenta Mums, it came to me that maturity has its own beauty- in people and in flowers. Once the joy and anxiety of growth has faded, it leads to contemplative deliberation, retirement and peace - all the qualities that contribute to patient and graceful endurance. My beautiful Mums, some gracefully past their prime and others just a bud, are a delight to my heart. No wonder in many eastern cultures, these flowers have inspired poetry, art and philosophy.   

Delicate Begonias

Other than the Mums, I have delicate begonias, colourful Dianthus, Asters, Impatiens and lovely Geraniums. Of course the Pansies are also on bloom but I know they will get better next month. Begonias have a succulent stem, designed for storing water which is used during the dry periods of the year. I like its small flower as well as ornamental foliage. But honestly, last year I did not have much success growing them. I am told one has to be very particular about the amount of sunshine they get and save them from morning frost. Hoping for better luck this year.

This year is a year for many firsts in the garden. This is the first time I am growing Geraniums and Impatiens. This is also the first year when I am trying hand at many exotic vegetables like Broccoli, Lettuce, Peppers etc. Of course I have earlier grown Rocket leaves and cherry tomatoes, quite successfully and I hope to repeat the performance this year.

Pretty Geraniums

 Coming back to flowers, it is funny how marigold, while widely popular in Indian gardens is also generally neglected. We kind of take it for granted. Perhaps because it is found in flower shops all year through and is grown quite easily. I like this flower. While my favourite is red Jafri (French marigold), I am very fond of the usual yellow –orange African marigold. Unfortunately, the squirrels share my love for marigold and saving this edible flower from them is always a challenge.

Talking of squirrels, this is the time of the year when many migratory birds come to this part of the world. There are many lakes and forests around which host thousands of these birds. I am planning to see some of them in the days to come. My garden of course is full of tweets from the branches. Afternoons are specially very noisy.

 Just a few days back I spotted a pair of white wagtails strolling in the lawn. They are pretty birds and perhaps visit this city in winters every year.  The usual birds viz. spotted owlets, red Wattled Lapwing, Paraakeets and black Drongos are of course there most of the days. 

White Wagtail - a migratory guest 

Another flower, we often miss out on is omnipresent bougainvillea. The roadsides are full of them and the hedges around my house are now bursting with colours. It is true that the flower has no fragrance, it also not a very delicate plant but just the abundance of flowers makes it worth a while. I have now four colours of bougainvillea. 

Earlier this month, I had a problem of fungus in some flowering plants but a timely spray of fungicide was able to take care of that. My much awaited pink cosmoses are finally ready to bloom. While they will get even better in January, they are a tonic for sore eyes, especially in the morning sun.

Hope the new year will bring more beauty, more sunshine  and more wisdom in my garden.