This Ixora plant in our front garden flowers for most part of the year. The few others in other parts of the garden are not so yielding, may be because they are in the shade.
What strikes me about the Ixora flowers is its longevity. Each blossom might last about three months. There are flowers in the above bunches which are yet to open even after four weeks since the first buds opened.
On the occasions when the Sunbird come seeking for nectar, these flowers bear the weight of the bird, although the flowers look fragile.
The above photo is an illustration of different bunches of flowers, some about to open and some about to fall off. A plant symbolising its function of flowering all the time!
It occurred to me yesterday while walking in the garden that, while I have hundreds of photos of rose bushes and rose flowers in our garden, I had just a few photos of the Ixora plants and flowers. Although the Ixora plant above is in a prominent location in our front garden, it escaped my attention often as it appeared less 'attractive'!
The medical value of Ixora, its resilience against pests, capacity to withstand summer heat, ease to sprout its cuttings, and its nectar supply to Bees and Sunbirds should have ordinarily made this plant noteworthy. But it got sidelined.
I confess that I had a preference towards roses. Such biases although appear innocent represents a variant human mindset. We like and choose at the cost of ignoring some things, although they are equally valuable.
The strong like that the president of the United States of America demonstrates towards one race and makes derogatory remarks about races of other nationalities resident in the USA is a disheartening mind set. The Israel's attitude towards the Palestinians is too painful to bear. There is antagonism towards certain religious communities in India.
A garden is a home for all plants and flowers, with each one distinct and valuable!
Until two decades ago, men sidelined women. Some countries like Switzerland granted rights for women to vote only in the late nineteen fifties and early sixties. There were differences of pay for the same job in the professions of nurses, teachers, etc even in Britain.
I pause and ask myself ! Are my opinions factual or biased!
I gave only peripheral attention to the Ixora plants and flowers. They too need a fair approach of appreciation!
A garden is a place to receive instruction to revise thoughts and attitudes!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment