HYDERABAD: One of the best ways for city dwellers to live in a healthy, natural environment is to have a home garden. You can have a kitchen garden in your backyard, a colourful array of flowers in your lawn and for those of you living in cramped apartments, potted plants in the balcony or even indoors. Besides, gardening is not only an engaging hobby, but also a rewarding one. You get to breathe fresh air and marvel at the results of your toil. Lack of space? No hurdle at all.Kitchen GardenThe importance of eating fresh, fertiliser-free vegetables and fruits has been emphasised not only by doctors but by our elders as well. Having your own lemons and tomatoes to prepare salads can make daily meals a lot more healthy and appetising. However nurturing a garden does not stop at digging the soil out and burying seeds. Says Mohan Nair, a retired army personnel whose backyard consists of a papaya, banana, tapioca trees and seasonal veggies, “I spend most of the time in my garden and prefer using nutrients like ash and kitchen waste than chemicals on my plants. In return, I get delicious fruits that do not weigh on my wallet!” But what about those who do not have the luxury of backyard space? Sashi Singhal, a house wife who stays in a flat, makes use of the balcony to fulfill her appetite for gardening. “I tend tomatoes, chillies, tulsi, cactus as well as jasmine and roses in pots. My balcony has a healthy growth of a money plant too; it’s really beautiful to look at,” she says proudly. Indoors Apart from having a kitchen garden, you can also cultivate ornamental plants and exotic flowers for scenic beauty. It’s definitely pleasing to the eyes, not to mention a creative endeavour. Moreover it makes your home come alive with colours and keeps the indoors cool, a relief during the scorching summer. Marina David, a nurse, boasts of a whopping 52 potted plants that include marigold, Australian pine, gladiolas, orchids, dahlias and palm trees. Needless to say, it’s no mean task to maintain all of it. But Marina has no qualms, and is happy to tend to her garden on her own. “I do not hire any outside help, and have an absolutely no chemicals policy for my plants. I use a special rose mixture for the roses, and neem cake as manure. The outcome is a sure comfort from the outside heat.” Her plants are spread out on the patio, with small flower pots in the bedroom as well. She spends and hour everyday tending to them in spite of a demanding job. Clearly, gardening is a gratifying hobby even for the working class. Pramod Jain, an engineer is another example. “There’s grape, pomegranate, custard apple and a cheeku tree outside, and every variety of rose and lilies in my living room. I manage it all myself. Several books on plant care help me though,” informs the smiling Pramod.Though most have gone the chemical-free way, indoor plants need to be protected from insects and mosquitoes that tend to scuttle around the house. Agreeing, Sashi Singhal says, “I do use pesticides to protect the plants. It’s unwise to use a feather duster to clean as this can transfer tiny insects from one plant to another.” While it does demand a little extra care and time, these little bundles of leaves and petals are worth it.
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