Ahmedabad, 12 September
🌿 GREEN DREAM : Weekly Dispatch
Words by Arijeet Rege Images by Arijeet Rege
THIS WEEK'S NATIVE SPOTLIGHT
Noticed a strong, sweet smell in the air lately, especially in the evenings? That's Saptaparni coming into bloom; right on cue, since it flowers this time of year across much of India. It gets an unfair reputation as the tree that "gives headaches," but that's mostly myth. What it actually does is release its fragrance at night to draw in moths for pollination, the same trait that makes it so effective at attracting pollinators is what makes it smell so strong to us. It's also one of the more ecologically valuable natives in the city, so if you've been quietly annoyed by that smell, maybe give it a little more credit this week.
GARDENING TIP
It's been a dry stretch, but heavy rain is expected over the weekend. A sudden shift like this catches a lot of gardens off guard. Before it hits: check that pots and beds actually drain well (soil that's been dry for a while can crust over and repel water instead of absorbing it), clear any blocked drainage holes, and stake or support anything top-heavy that could get knocked over in a heavy downpour.
ONE SMALL SHIFT
Before you rinse vegetables or drain that extra water from washing rice, set it aside for your plants instead of pouring it down the sink. Small habit, zero cost, and your plants get a bit of nutrition tap water doesn't give them.
LOOK OUT FOR
That Saptaparni fragrance drifting through the evenings this week! See if you can spot the tree it's coming from.