Veena Rathi has moved homes more than 12 times. These relocations were consequential of her father’s and, in later life, her husband’s Army postings. While each time attempting to embrace the new locality — and reality — she would find comfort in the cycas palm that had been her companion since 1980. A new address meant that it, too, had to brave new environments while learning to adjust.
Now that the moves have ceased — Veena’s husband has retired — both the plant and she have gotten a chance to “put down their roots” in their home in Southwest Delhi. If you ever visit Veena, don’t leave without paying your respects to it. Of course, the plant is tough to spot considering the 100 other odd pots that will compete for your attention. Through the years, you see, this plant enthusiast has nurtured a beautiful home garden; some plants are baby offshoots, others 10 feet tall.
It’s amazing, really.
So, did you just keep carrying your garden with you when you moved places? I can’t stop myself from asking. Veena’s laugh gives her away. The answer is affirmative. “I remember a truck once taking our luggage to the new location and me telling my husband I would need a separate truck just for my plants,” she chuckles, quick to add that the experiment wasn’t always successful.
“Despite trying to take all of them [the plants], some would perish because of the changing climate and travel time.” She recalls a particular move from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh to Rajasthan where many of the plants in transit withered under the intense heat. But the cycas palm remained unscathed.
It taught her resilience. “So often, it was slow to adapt to the new place. But, it never failed to bloom.” And watching it made Veena feel capable of the same.
‘I know each plant by name’: A lesson in gardening
This year, winter was slow to retire in Delhi. But now that it finally has, Veena’s garden is in its heyday. It reminds me of a mood board; dahlias, bougainvilleas, hydrangeas, geraniums, roses, petunias, and marigolds, vivacious, seem to waltz in sync, their movements choreographed by the ever-obliging wind. The scene is quite the draw for birds, bees and butterflies, who pick their spot, and then proceed to put up a performance. It’s like nature’s very own orchestra.
And watching them, like a proud parent, is Veena, the creative force behind it all. Her love for plants dates back to when she was eight years old and spent more time in the garden of their Dehradun home than indoors. Her favourite pastime was climbing the mango and lychee trees. “I had drawn up a list of all the plants and flowers and recognised them,” she adds.
But try as she did to be impartial, one particular plant held her fancy. “It was right in the middle of the lawn, with a huge spread of dark thick green leaves.” Right since those days, Veena had a soft spot for the cycas palm, and on one visit after marriage when she spotted a baby plant growing as an offshoot, she requested the gardener to cut it off for her. “I wanted to carry it back with me to Binnaguri, West Bengal where my husband was posted at the time,” she says.
“I doubt it will survive the train journey,” the gardener replied. Well, let’s just say, not only did the cycas palm outdo the ask, but went on to survive a lifetime of train journeys. Her adulation towards it is justified. Meanwhile, the rest of her garden remained ever-changing, constantly occupied, and vacated by plants depending on the region. These demanded a specific care regime, something Veena credits for making her attuned to plants’ needs.
“Do you know over 90 per cent of plants die because of overwatering? With time, I began to gauge when to water and when to withhold the watering. Through the years, I picked up knowledge from all the gardeners that I’ve been associated with,” she adds.
They enjoyed answering Veena’s rapid-fire — “What do you call this plant?”, “Where does it come from?”, “What kind of soil does it require?”, “What kind of manure does it need?”. And then they would proceed to teach her a trick or two.
Creating a forest in Delhi
Veena enjoys her vantage seat in the middle of this self-created oasis — ribbons of green leaves intertwine, while flowers bloom at different stages of their fully-lived vibrant lives. She is surprised to see the garden that was once just a baby, now has a mind of its own. Creepers command the overhead cables, snaking their way around them, while every corner has a hint of a plant that is ready to sprout.
But how do you do it? I ask, then rephrase. “How do you do this in an apartment in Delhi?”
Maximise on space
A home garden is fun, but the secret lies in demarcation. “All my plants are not in my home, some of them are in the veranda. There’s also a lane by the side of my house where I have planted some; it makes for a green passage for people to walk through.”
Mix and match
There are plants of every kind in Veena’s home garden. The versatility keeps her on her toes. But it also stipulates flexibility. “I keep moving the plants around as even the ones that are indoor plants cannot be indoors at all times. They need sunlight too.”
Plants too, benefit from non-interference
During winter, Veena observes some plants shed their leaves. That’s simply nature’s rhythm, she points out. Don’t fret, assuming something’s wrong and overwater the plant. “Just water enough so they can rest and hibernate.”
In November, she believes in adding compost to the pots, a shot in the arm, if you will. Every plant requires a different routine, she points out that perennial plants have a rebellious flair, they will thrive with minimum care while seasonal plants might need extra attention.
Adapt to what your plant needs
Veena’s favourite plant is the Boston fern. (Don’t let the cycas palm hear that.) But initially, the plant gave her a tough time. It seemed to despise the Delhi heat. “A few of the leaves got burnt; they would just become brown and wither off. That was very disheartening for me,” Veena shares.
It’s intriguing to watch it bloom in her home today. “I just needed to find the right place,” she explains. In winter, she’s learnt to allow the Boston fern to enjoy a window seat. “As the weather changes around May, and the hot winds start blowing across North India, I move these plants to a shaded area.”
Plant your air purifier
In 2024 (until December 27), Delhi witnessed 155 days of ‘poor’, ‘very poor’, or ‘severe’ air quality, that is, with an air quality index (AQI) of 200 or more. But Veena and her husband weren’t perturbed. The ‘purifier’ plants came to the rescue, Veena says, motioning to the snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata), also called ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’, which is touted as a pollution combatant. There is also the areca palm, whose feathery fronds make for a good humidifier. “And I have my money plant, and spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum),” Veena adds.
The benefits of having a home garden are limitless. But if Veena had to credit the plants for one thing, it would be for teaching her one of life’s biggest lessons.
“They’ve taught me to hang in there. They weather the rough bits, the cold, the hot sun, the breeze, and the hot winds. They know the storm will pass and that nothing is constant. They hang in there no matter what, and they’ve taught me to do the same.”
Edited by Arunava Banerjee, All pictures courtesy Veena Rathi
No comments:
Post a Comment