A one-acre garden at Rusi Mehta Chowk at Grant Road that was once a haven for drug addicts is now a veritable Eden in the concrete jungle with more than 150 varieties of flower and fruits - all thanks to the award-winning efforts of a doctor.
But the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, that showered Dr B S Chowta with five consecutive awards in best (individual) maintained garden category, is yet to renew the contract that expired three years back.
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But the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, that showered Dr B S Chowta with five consecutive awards in best (individual) maintained garden category, is yet to renew the contract that expired three years back.
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Tell a friend
Bury
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One has to appreciate the dedication and patience of this man.
But i guess dedication and patience are the basic skills required for gardening.
Unfortunately i seem to be lacking in both :-)
I wonder how many of us on katta have gardens in their society / balcony ?
I consider myself lucky on both points. We have a big garden in our society and lot of potted plants in the balconies of almost all the flats in our building (including mine).
There were lots of coconut trees in front of my building, they all are taken away by JVLR link road, now a four lane street runs with round the clock traffic.
There were lots of mango and coconut trees again back of my building, they were taken by few builders, there use to be favourite tree for us where we use to stand have beer and vada pav after cricket. Now they have a small bar there called Cafe Garden. We don't play much cricket now instead we go to cafe garden and have beer.
I think i have too much patience.
On one hand BMC gives 5 consecutive awards to Mr Chowta,but doesnt renew the contract for the garden.Double Standards on the part of BMC.
There used to be two ponds,one near my society and the other one a little further.The second one was really beautiful & picturesque.It was a perfect circular pond surrouned by mango,tamarind trees and felt like a complete encapuslated enclosure.The Naka guys used to call it "Diwaan e Khaas" as it was the favorite hiedout for a quick cigarete.
Both the ponds dont exist today,The one along my building was completely filled with sand & Debris, The other place was converted into a big water park.It is called Club Aquaria in Borivali now & they use it for beauty pageants like Femina Miss INdia where they have the swimsuit round.
Do you watch cricket on the telly in Cafe Garden while having your beers :-)
About 12 potted plants in my home... all thanks to my enthu Dad (retired civil engineer) who fancies himself to be a gardner.
There are 3 roses, 1 tulsi, 2 bluebells and others flowering plants which i never bothered to ask about.
About 18-20 coconut, 2-3 jackfruit, 4-5 mango, 2 gulmohars, 4 papayas, 2 guava and 1 unknown tree (it is huge but i don't have a clue what it is) in our society of 7 buildings. Then there are lot of bushes with variety of decorative plants like the usual jai, juhi, ferns ....
The trees are in constant fight with the ever increasing number of cars & bikes of society members. The bushes are in constant fight with members who claim they breed mosquitoes.
I fear that the cars and the mosquitoes are going to win the war.
I stay near chickoowadi. So lots of chickoo trees and lots of maara-mari between the kids and the bageecha guards.
Then there are the usual coconut and tamarind trees. Somewhat unusual and uncommon are the drumsticks trees.
As for potted plants there are roses and others types.
Also cactus, which is something i donot understand.
How can people can find cactus attractive to keep in homes ?? :-)
I have trees and plants only as nature scenes on my windows wallpaper/screensaver.
And they are frequently replaced by Katrina, Bipasha, Lindsay, Scarlet, Maria, Anna...