Terrace Garden - September 2014

                                                 Terrace Garden Update - September

September is interesting month from my perspective as it is the time to start sowing the seeds and wait in bated breath for them to fruit/flower. All the while i have been ignoring flowers and herbs but realize now that they are needed for pest control and pollination as well. Flowers like cosmos and hollyhocks attract lot of butterflies and i have experienced few times with quite a few butterflies hovering around the cosmos plant i had pre summer but lost due to mealy bugs and intense summer.

Back to vegetables, this month has been mostly root veggies. The root veggie Colacasia (cheppankizhangu) is my all time favourite for growing due to pest free and needs very little care except for regular watering and of course harvesting. This colacasia grew himself which i thought would have been from compost bin after being discarded as rotten. All root vegetables needs a well drained soil and i personally feel a soilless medium is better (mix of coco peat and compost should do). In addition to colacasia i also planted a few Turmeric rhizomes graciously donated by my Bangalore friend. I have planned to use the Turmeric plant for the pongal festival. :). In addition to this my Bangalore friend also send few rhizomes of Himalayan turmeric which is currently in a 5 litre plant bucket. This 5 Lt paint bucket has been having very good diversity. A volunteer tomato plant, a brinjal and Elephant foot yam (Senaikizhangu) all came by itself. :)

As a fan of greens, i loved those greens which has long growing season along with cut and grow varieties. Celosia Spinach is one such variety which has green and purple colored leaves and goes easily from seeds. Seeds were donated by my friend from Delhi who attended the "Seed Diversity" festival in Delhi early this year. I heard that there is also a white version of this variety which is called as Pannai Keerai as this grows wild across the farms/pannai. I was checking with my friends for seeds and Usha ji graciously sent across the seeds. But to my surprise i had a plant growing in the pot where i seeded Sukkan Keerai and the plant growing in it i assumed to be Sukkan. But to my surprise i found that to be Panna Keerai after seeing the white spikes of flowers. Thanks nature. :) . Also growing Water Spinach (called Kang Kong in South Asia). Seeds as usual courtesy from Bangalore friend and found the germination and maintainence to be hassle free. It grows from cuttings as well and was successful in rooting one cutting. The surprising part is out of the all Water Spinach plants one plant seem to be vining while others are erect plants. Not sure if there is a vining variety of water spinach. I am not complaining. Had few attempts growing New Zealand spinach. The germination was not great and whatever left post transplant not everything survived albeit one. Keeping fingers crossed. Apart from drumstick (chedi murungai, 3 nos) growing for greens have volunteer Manathakkali growing wild from one of the 20 lt paint bucket and i left it to grow. Thavasi murungai which was struggling to grow has suddenly picked and started to look better. Swiss chard and Kale is doing well now. The green ponnankanni patch is affected by pests and i need to prune them to get fresh leaves pest free. 

In addition to this had quite a few volunteer tomatoes and snake gourds growing in 20 lt containers. I started growing Vathala Valli Kizhangu also called Air Potato last month. The rhizome of this was given by Anoop sir and after moving this to a large drum it has started to do well. I wanted to grow Bavani Kathiri for a long time but didnt get hands to seeds. However there was a volunteer eggplant growing and found that to be Bavani and left few brinjal to save seeds. Nowadays lots of volunteer plants growing helping me to spend less time in seeding and bringing them up. Thai long brinjal after pest attack seem to be doing OK and first set of long brinjal is coming up shortly. Salkethi okra (long podded ones) after doing exceptionally well initially had attach Yellow Mosaic virus and i am taking a risk of leaving them though it has started fruiting. Taking a risk here. I grew white Kanthari chilli (seeds from theyoungfarmer.com) which was doing pathetically bad but managed to survive the harsh summer. It has never fruited until now and it is almost 6 months old plant and i was once thinking of pulling the plug for this guy but somehow my laziness helped his guy to survive). After few rounds of cake tea (handful of neem cake, ground nut cake, sesame oil cake and cotton seed oil cake soaked in water for 3-4 days with occasional stirring) along with Panchgavvya seem to have helped the White Kanthari plant and seeing a few small ones. Kanthari chilli is widely used in Kerala which is small but very spicy chilli. It is supposed to control Cholestrol as well. Waiting for the chillis to ripe to save some seeds. Had decent harvest of Bull Horn capcisum (seeds from Auroville) which is taking a break from fruiting. 

On the herb and flower front, have volunteer Sweet Basil (Vibuthi pachilai) growing on its own along with Little Gem variety of basil that has got smallish leaves but very aromatic (seeds from Annadana) growing well. Have 4 plants of Marigold which is growing well but yet to flower. Excess nitrogen, i dont know. Leaving it to nature. 

Pomegranates have started to bloom profusely but only one turned into fruit. But squirrels ate the only one left. Let us see if i can get a hand on pomegranate in future.  

Thats the update for September 2014, Terrace Garden and see you all in the next months blog with updates and new plants. :)

Trip to Sabarimala - September 2014

                                                    Sabari 2014

Since i started blogging from year 2014, i thought in addition to the regular garden blogs, i can blog on Sabarimala visit too. This was my 8th year of visit to Sabarimala and i was looking forward to this as usual. Got to understand from Guruswami that we had Udayasthamana Pooja (cost of entire day' s pooja will borne by our group) booked and we had just 14 in all going to Sabari this time. Usually we have anywhere between 18-25 members coming with us.

Day 1 (16th Sep) - With the kettunira function completed, we were all set to start the journey with Irumudis and the common luggages we carry for the abhishekams and other poojas. We departed from the place where we had our kettunira function and left to Central station by 6:00 PM. Our train was scheduled for 7:45 PM and our Guruswami being a meticulous person wanted to reach nice and early. Reached the station by around 6:45 PM and after a bit of haggling with porters eventually settled down in the train. The compartment was one of worst i have travelled. It was jerky and squeeky noises and i guess the compartment was the first 3 AC prototype built by ICF. It was a disturbed sleep overall.

Day 2 (17th Sep) - Reaching Kottayam by 8:00 AM, we were picked up by a van (AC van) to reach Samooha Koodam to freshen up. With all morning chores completed we were ready for the first leg of journey to Sabarimala. We had plans to visit Pandhalam template en route. Dharma Sastha was was born in Pandhalam dynasty as Lord Ayyappan and it was worthwhile to see Sastha in aroopam form. It was a typical Kerala temple with low roofings and smallish temples when compared to Tamil Nadu ones. We had a good darshan of Sastha and was keen to have a look at the Thiruvabaranam boxes (the boxes that carry jewels for Lord Ayyappan on Makara Shankaranthi). However we were told that the boxes are open for viewing only during Mandalam times, Vishu and Onam. 

After having a good darshan we proceeded to Sabarimala and with September being monsoon months, rain was playing hide and seek. Eventually reached the foothills of Sabarimala around 3:45 and proceeded for 5 KM trek uphill. The Pampa river wasnt in full flow as it usually is during this time but nevertheless it was scenic view. Literally there wasnt any difference in the path to Sannidhanam from last year and i deliberately wanted to go slow thereby giving enough time to chant Ayyappans saranam on the way. Finally reached Sannidhanam by around 5:45 PM and waited for all others to join us before we proceed to take the Holy 18 steps and eventually Lord Ayyappan. Please note that only those who have Irumudis are supposed to climb the Holy 18 steps. Climbing the 18 steps chanting Sarana gosham was a magical experience and the ultimate/pinnacle of the vratham is darshan of Lord Ayyappa. It was a sight to behold and there is no words to describe the experience and the most beautiful idol i have ever seen so far. Took little light on that day after the first darshan and had few more before calling it a day. The thought of having multiple darshans from close quarters due to Udayashtamana pooja was in mind already. 

Day 3 (18th Sep) - It was a early rise on this day as lot of work need to be done to get prepared for Udayashtamana pooja and Ashtabishekam (Milk, Ghee, Honey, Tender Coconut water, Panchamirtham, coins , Vibuthi and Sandalwod paste are used for Ashtabishekam). We split ourselves into two batches for witnessing poojas as. Since it was a small group we split equally (7 each) to watch the poojas that majorly happen between 7:30 - 9:00 AM (around 15 of them). We went round and round and had a good solid 8 times of darshan in close quarters and everytime we had a darshan could not help tears rolling). I dont know why but you just become one with god and i just go blank. After receiving prasadam and having a stomach full of that it was time for Ucha pooja which was restricted to just 4 members of the group. My sincere thanks to Guruswami who was gracious to accept me as the part of 4 member group to witness Ucha pooja. Ucha pooja is the last pooja/ritual that is done before they close the doors of Lord Ayyappa for the morning session. After having a great darshan again came back heart filled with joy and happiness that cannot be explained in words and had to agree that this was one of the best darshans i had in the last 8 visits. 

Evening we were occupied with performing Deepa Pradakshanam which is customary to do. Fortunately we had Pushpabishekam as well in the evening and as usual split into two groups and carried the flowers which are offered to Lord Ayyappa. I remember a few years earlier that the flowers were spread right from the start of the sanctorium and by the time the flowers are spread you get a feeling that Lord Ayyappa is lying on the flowers. Interesting to note that Lord Ayyappa statue is slightly inclined backwards which can be visualised easily during Pushpabishekam times. Had few more darshans from close quarter and from janta queue as well and came back satisfied back to dorm.

Day 4 (19th Sep) - We had to start very early to trek down to Pampa as we had planned to visit at least one temple before catching the train from Alapuzha @ 4:00 PM. Started from dorm at 5:00 AM sharp and had one last glimpse of Lord Ayyappa before bidding a farewell to him and hoping and praying he gives another opportunity to visit him. Trekking down was little easier due to no rains. The entire group reached Pampa by 8:00 PM and we were set to visit one temple en route. Hunger pangs got us over and stopped for break fast in the roadside shop. First time i had a dish named Kappa (dish made out of baked Tapoica) which has to be eaten with Raw chilli (Kanthari a type of chilli famous in Kerala which is small but very spicy) chutney. It was different and was filling as well. 

Getting up early and a good breakfast helped to settle down for a small nap. I was wondering how Guruswami was staying awake as he was constantly checking with temple office on until what time they are open etc. We reached a temple named Mannarsala Nagar temple where Nagar (Snake god) is the main deity. There is a belief that couples who have no offspring if they offer prayers here they will have a child. Could see a fair amount of crowd in well maintained temple. There is a old lady (around 90 years old) who used to stay in this temple until few years back who was believed to be descendent of Nagar. 

After a good darshan in Mannarsala, headed straight to Hotel Aryas (our usual place for lunch) for lunch in Alapuzha and reached station well in advance. The train started on dot and Guruswami had arranged for dinner to be delivered at Eranakulam at 6:30 PM. A few chappathis with vegetable kurma and kadala curry made a great dinner and slept like a log until someone was shouting "Avadi Vandachu". 

Day 5 (20th Sep) - Back to singara chennai as early as 6:00 AM, we headed straight to Kernel' s house to remove the mala (mala to be removed by Guruswami) and had arrangements made to drop people in vantage places. Got down in Nungambakkam station waving good bye to fellow ayyappans and malikapurams which was tough because we stayed together and it was like one large happy family (akin to hindi movie)

By Lord Ayyappa' s grace and blessings of Guruswami, parents and other well wishers the Sabari 2014 ended very well with lingering memories of Lord Ayyappan' s darshan which stays etched in heart for long. Swami Saranam Ayyappa

My Visit to Vijay Nursery

                                          My Visit to Vijay Nursery, Sembakkam

After a long hiatus, went to visit Vijay nursery located in Sembakkam. This nursery is located in Tambaram, Velachery Road. If you are driving from Tambaram look out for MJL Swimming pool towards the left and take the right turn near the Swimming pool signal. If you go further on this road for 100 m approx this nursery is on the left. It is a decent sized nursery specializing in flowering plants and has quite a good collection. If you are Hibiscus (Chemparuthi) lover you will be loving this. It is a family run business and their thatched house is inside the nursery itself. 

I was looking for Arali plants (Oleander) for couple of reasons. One it is fairly drought resistant and two there is no specific season for this and flowers throughout the year. Remember seeing rows and rows of Arali when i visited last time and expected the same during this visit. But alas only found few Aralis and after looking for some short and sturdy ones bought 3 of them (dark red color) for Rs. 30 each which is OK if not cheap. Once i got them i was browsing through the collection and asked for a Fig cutting which i was hoping that it will not be there. But to my surprise they had one and got for Rs.50 which i thought was OK. Rain lilly was included as part of this deal and i was happy. 

I was searching for few herbs like Adathoda, Nochi etc and was i least expecting these would be available there. Adathoda nope but Nochi yes. I was given a small sapling of Black Nochi (Vitex Negundo) which barely looked and smelled like Nochi and i was sceptical about it. But the gardener who seemed knowledgeable promised this to be Nochi and was given for Rs.30. 

In Chennai, we see lot of Light colored medium sized tree in many houses as ornamental with large leaves. This is called Nanjundan keerai/Lachakkotta keerai also called as Tree Lettuce (Botanical name Pisonia Alba). The leaves are tasty and can be used like any spinach (palak). I was told that the leaves are good for knee pain though i am not sure about this. After attending Permaculture course in Auroville, was looking for plants which can give us back in abundance with very little care and this tree lettuce fits in the bill perfectly. Known to grow well in sandy soils with very less care this was perfect and can harvest the greens once a week once it grows to a certain size. Got one with sturdy stem with quite a bit of leaves. Was charged Rs.100 which i thought was expensive for this tree. 

Happen to see in one of news paper article that herb saplings are available in Irula Tribe Women's Welfare Society (ITWWS) located in Thandarai Village, Chelgelpattu - Thirukazhukundram Road. I was told that they have quite a good collection of medicinal herbs. I am yet to visit and will update all once i make it. Till then have a great month ahead.