Small wonder: Ordinary size of garden, but creativity is the key

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 16

A school teacher by profession, Priya Puri has a garden of an ordinary size at her place but it is the overall arrangement and creativity that she has added to it is making a whole lot of difference.

The lawn area is all lined by pots kept on a raised platform covered with synthetic grassy mat. The corners of the lawn have been especially designed to look attraction. These are lined with white fencing and stones to make the edges. On one corner is a huge cycas palm and on the other corner are bushy plants like bamboos and asparagus.

The third corner is the most fascinating one. This one has a waterfall made of earthen material. The fall lands into a small pond where water lilies are growing. The pond is surrounded by cacti and shrubs of succulents and the whole set up has been done with near perfection.

The windows of the rooms facing the garden have been especially decked up. “I and my mother Priscilla Bhatia have done a lot of upcycling in the garden area. We have used plastic bottles and covered them with jute and used them as planters, hanging them down from a ring like a chime. We have painted a drug thorny twig and fixed various items to it including dry pine cones, dry coconut shells, diyas, small pots and made it to look attractive. An old ring shaped table is acting as a nice plant stand. On an old chair, we have tried to create a dry garden by putting up some corals collected from here and there along with some creepers. All this keeps us occupied,” said Priya Puri.

The hind side of the lawn, too, is designed to look attractive. A long moss stick has been hung vertically and branches of turtle vine hang down from it. “Recently we also bought some ceramic pots and some pot holders as these things are in. We have illuminated the garden with small night lamps fitted here and there and strings of lights twined around the shrubs. We really enjoy sitting out these days as the weather is really cool and the ambience makes us feel fresh,” added Bhatia.

The mother-daughter duo is also in swapping of plants in the neighbourhood. They have also set up a system for compost making using the kitchen waste and dry leaves.