The Micky Mouse plant in our garden is now in full bloom.
The plant bears bright yellow flowers in spring or early summer. The flowering season lasts for a short while.
When the petals fall, the sepals and the receptacle become enlarged into a bulbous bright red fruit, which when open would have small green fruitlets.These grow to become glossy black berries, one of which is noticeable in the last photo.
Native to Southern Africa, this plant grows in forest margins and grasslands.
It is an ornamental plant because when it is in bloom, it has colours of yellow, green, red and black giving it a glowing appearance in the morning sun.
The plant has regular visitors, the bees and sunbirds for honey and Bulbul birds and squirrels to pick the black berries.
This plant has a history of about forty years in our garden. Every year once sometimes twice the plant bears flowers and fruits. It is a plant that stays in the garden needing little attention, unlike most other plants tending and manuring regularly!
This is quiet presence to bear flowers and fruits. Their small flowers and fruits blend well in the garden to give a gentle presence.
While visibility and prominence is the way the social life is woven in the public space, there is another way of being present to do good and share goodwill with others. Mindful living, and not self promoting presence!
Knowledge needs dissemination for public good. But if drawing attention to oneself is a hidden motive to become popular and prominent, it looses the flavour of altruism.
The Micky Mouse plant is an abundant illustration of quiet presence, but vibrant and colourful to bear flowers and fruits!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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