2019's first Gardening Day - a report

The first family gardening on Saturday 5th January was a great start to 2019. 

It was a glorious winter morning at the lake. The sun shone brightly on the trees and the water, one could see only sparkles everywhere!

Schools of fish could be spotted at various points making the cormorants a happy lot. A Spot-billed Pelican which has been visiting the lake regularly of late, came around to enjoy the sun and the lake much to the delight of our "Family Gardeners."

Trees like the White Silk Cotton and Ball Badminton are flowering. The deciduous Mahogany is still fully barren but the Thespesia is growing new leaves after shedding all their old ones on our avenue side!

They had provided enough work for the volunteers today - 5 adults, 4 children and 2 young adults. They all raked the fallen leaves and collected them for composting. When this was done, some of them set to trimming the hedges while others watered the plants. No one noticed how the hour and half went by!

One of the first time participants, a 5 year old introduced her aunt who had brought her because, as she said, her mom and dad are at home. Dad was watching television.

Keeping a straight face, I told her to get her dad to bring her the next time. 

She said, "He doesn't listen to anyone. He is a naughty boy."

Childhood is like no other phase in one's life because it is filled with wonder and curiosity. Nurture it!  Join us with your children in our next Family Fun Gardening Day on Saturday 2nd February.

Warmly,

Sapana

Event Coordinator, PNLIT

Time transforms

With tender loving care and good intent, the saplings at Puttenahalli Lake are now trees!

Coconut grove side avenue

Road side avenue

Protect Arekere Reserve Forest campaign

Senior officials at the Arekere Reserve Forest (near Ganesh Temple) want to promote awareness of the importance of trees and forests especially among the residents in the area. They want volunteers to work with them so that the effort is sustained even if they are transferred elsewhere. This is indeed a much needed effort to protect the trees not yet felled in our "Garden City." 

According to a recent study conducted by the IISc, green cover in the city has reduced to 0.1 tree per person whereas to maintain a healthy urban environment the ratio should be 1 tree per person. 

PNLIT is a very small team and we do not have the strength to take on this responsibility as well. However, given the vital need to protect not just our lake but also trees in the locality we can consider doing whatever we can with your help. 

Mr. Saravanan, South City resident, has very kindly agreed to coordinate this initiative. Please spare a little time and volunteer to save at least the trees in our area. 

The next meeting with the Forest Dept. officials is on May 15th at 3.30 p.m. If you would like to participate in this Protect Arekere Reserve Forest campaign, please email Mr. Saravanan <saravanan_ss@yahoo.com>

Thanks

Usha

Hope and Colours at Puttenahalli Lake

In this season of colours, our lake bed may seem drab, devoid of water but for us at PNLIT, it is a sign of hope. The brown piles of drying Salvinia is the final leg of a battle we've been fighting since Aug. last year to remove the invasive fern Salvinia Molesta and to infuse new life into the lake. The way the BBMP's JCB and the men are working, we are hopeful that the last of the Salvinia will be removed by the end of the week. THEN we can welcome the rain to fill up the lake.

In spite of our preoccupation with the lake bed, we did not miss the riot of colours on the embankment. Some of the trees we'd planted in July 2010 have begun flowering and how lovely they look! A selection of photos of trees that began flowering this year are attached. A few like the tall Markhamia Lutea have been showering yellow flowers on the walking track for a year or more. The Bougainvillea has been a blaze of scorching pink and violet while preventing miscreants from cutting through the fence.

We are now setting up a small garden within an enclosure behind the Gazebo. Very soon there'll be a burst of colours here as well since most of these are flowering plants such as Hibiscus, Canna (both in two colours), Nerium, Euphorbia and others.

This is our floral thank you to our donors! We are using your donations not only for the trees or to set up the garden but also to effect many other changes at our lake. Please keep donating to PNLIT and avail of IT exemption under 80G.

 Golden Laburnum

Crepe Flower

African Tulip

 Tabebuia Argentea

Crepe Flower (in the foreground), Bougainvillea (in the background)

Garden enclosure

Garden plants awaiting planting

Text and pics: Usha Rajagopalan