This one is all decked up and ready for the wedding party ๐
For Becca’s Sunday Trees 289
For Becca’s Sunday Trees – 287
There are some beautiful trees around the campus where we stay. And on the rare occasions that I do overcome my (overwhelming) laziness I invariably manage to find new trees to drool over. This one is my latest favorite. I couldn’t help marveling at her impoverished state and yet she was so generous in her support to the others. Creepers grew on and around her with impunity whilst she held up her bare arms, undeterred, patient and waiting for her time in the Sun.
She looked so sure that I clicked a photo and waited (impatiently) for what was to unfold in less than a month. Take a look at nature’s miracle in less than a month ๐
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โI must be willing to give up what I am in order to become what I will be.โ Albert Einstein
This is the Amaltas or Cassia fistula and aka golden rain tree that is native to the Indian subcontinent.
Linked to the Weekly Photo Challenge – Reflecting
“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable” – Christopher Reeve
Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees – 286
Spring is Delhi is strange – on one side flowers bloom and on the other trees begin to shed leaves in apparent anticipation of the imminent heat. And yet when it is hot, really hot amaltas bloom a fiercer yellow, challenging daring. Or perhaps it is just inspired by the blazing Sun. Watch out for a glimpse of the amaltas, they have already begun to flower ๐
For Becca’s Sunday Trees 285
“I don’t see myself as extremely handsome. I just figure I can charm you into liking me.” Wesley Snipes
For Becca’s Sunday Trees – 284
There are three mango trees right outside my window.
This one is at the left corner and its branches intermingle with the middle one – almost as if they were one. If you visited my earlier post here you would remember that I commented on theirย apparent overnight transformation. One fine day I noticed that the leaves were no longer dark or stiff and dusty. They wereย lush, tender green, brown and yellow shiny leaves! No striptease, shedding old leaves, baring arms and all that โ just a magical instant make over. I promisedย to catch them in the act the next time. But that was a whole year away. That’s when it struck me – there was no need to wait for so long.
They were both here, right under my nose. That’s the middle mango tree on the left and the third one on the right. I don’t need to ask you if you can see the difference between the two mango trees.
One is lush green and yellow, overloaded with fresh luscious leaves, heavily pregnant so to speak, just waiting to pop out mangoes. And the other, stuck in a time warp with its dark sparse leaves, stagnant and unchanging through the seasons. As if it had given up on life, barely hanging on – a gust of wind would be enough to snap it, end it all.
I looked once more at the dying tree and blinked.
What was that?
Within the dry hard winter leaves nestled tender, fresh shiny leaves, lime and brown.ย Canย you see?
By the way, how many mangoes did you count?
It’s never over until you say it is over – and sometimes not even then.
For Becca’s Sunday Trees 283
I just finished reorganising my wardrobe – putting away all the woollies and digging out my summer cottons. Quite a monumental task and I couldn’t help envying the trees. They seem to have their own go as you like dress codes. Some shed leaves in winter and green up during summers. While yet others wear shaggy punk hairstyles with impunity. The mango tree outside my window is a real sneaky one. Right under my nose, without any warning or prior intimation, almost overnight, it just went from wearing dark, crusty and dusty leaves to lush, tender light green and yellow shiny leaves! No striptease, shedding old leaves, baring arms and all that – just a magical instant make over. Will catch it in the act, next time ๐
For this time, here’s are photos of the same tree, two months apart
Perhaps you remember this photo, I had clicked it on a cold dreary winter eveningย in the first week of February this year. Seems to have taken to renouncing the world and completely internalising herself, meditating and contemplating on the meaning (or meaninglessness) of life…
And in just two months, she’s back all refreshed and rejuvenated ready to spread some cheer and oxygen ๐
Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees – 282
It is technically the Spring season and Delhi is awash with colors as you may have seen here. Yet funnily enough, the streets and lawns are strewn with fallen leaves. I cannot but help thinking of it as symbolizing the simultaneous coexistence of the rich and poor, that if it is spring for some, it is fall for others. And if it is fall, can spring be far away?
Finally, I managed to find the perfect foil for spring.
Bougainvillea overgrows a lush green Gulmohar tree with the (almost) bare Peepal tree (I think) towering in the background. Hmm I wonder what color flowers this Gulmohar tree will turn into – red, orange, yellow, purple, pink…
Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees – 279
Have a great week ๐
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