A space beyond the word ‘garden’

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 20

Calling the outer space of the house of Col Mandip Grewal at Sofi Pind here a ‘garden’ would be an understatement. In fact, he has developed a whole natural eco-space for a variety of plants and birds at his place, which falls just adjoining the Jalandhar Cantonment area.

A visitor standing even 200 metres away from his house can hear out a continuous chirping of the birds from the frontal garden of his house. Raising a variety of birds, including budgerigars, weaver birds, quails, hens and some cocker spaniel dogs, he also has a variety of plants and flowering shrubs growing in helmets, buckets, mugs, wash basins, ponds, driftwood pieces, bamboo stems, rocks, troughs, wooden and iron stands, meshes, and fountain stands collected from various places.

A variety of roses, bougainvilleas, petunias, poppies, etc are growing in various corners, besides unique plantations such as sandalwood tree, chikoo, sugarcane bushes make a nice landscape on the sides and the backside of his house. Bonsais of various varieties of flowering plants readied by him recently and rose creepers with over 200 buds are other attractions which he enjoys talking about. Pointing to the flower beds, he tells, “I have never grown a hybrid plant in my garden. All of them are sown from desi seeds which re-germinate on their own in the same beds when it is the right season for their growth.”

A unique attraction in Col Mandip’s house is a tall, wide bismarckia palm in the front lawns, which has as many as 15 nests made by the weaver bird. “Every year, we spot the male birds arriving here and weaving the nests. The female birds follow later. It is such an interesting phenomenon to see how they create a cozy little space,” he shared, adding that his house is also frequently visited by a variety of snakes. “But having lived in the North East for 14 years of my service and being a part of the Gorkha regiment, this is nothing unusual for me,” beamed the Sena Medal awardee.

Seated in the garden furniture placed at the centre of the lawn, the Colonel said he has never had a gardener and does all work, including designing, making pathways, beautifying corners, creating shelters and cages for the birds, providing them feed, perching spaces, etc all by himself. “The agenda of continuously working to develop and beautify my garden keeps me busy all mornings and evenings. I do not go for a walk or exercise and spending two hours in the garden itself is a big laborious daily task for me,” he quipped.

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Milestones to remember…

The Colonel’s garden has designer woodwork done all around. He has got painted the names of all his family members, including domestic helps in a plate set up in the garden. The garden also has milestones directing the visitor to various corners. “My favourite spot in the garden is that stone which bears my name and that of my father and grandfather. I am yet to get the name of my son painted on it as he, too, has joined the Army and is the fourth generation fauji in our family,” he proudly remarked.