A ‘garden’ for city folk in India conventionally has to have exotic plants. But sustaining temperate plants in an different climatic zone is not only burdensome but unfriendly to the soil and inhospitable to the local fauna.
Vandana Krishnamurthy, a PhD holder in Botany wondered why can’t plants native to this region be grown for ornamental purposes. She began making it happen in Bengaluru homes through UrbanMali, a network of migrant farmers, about four years ago.
“It began when a tomato plant grew luxuriantly in my balcony from a seed that I had dropped unknowingly. Growing plants is that simple and less-intensive and can be carried out by anyone who wishes to have a garden in their backyard or terrace. We at UrbanMali cater friendly neighbourhood gardeners who help households in the city grow native plants,” she adds.
The UrbanMali Network has, since its inception, set up 350 gardens across the city and maintains 200 of them. Native plants form ‘garden’ in the true sense of the word as they attract butterflies and bees and play a role in conservation. But what can be termed as native when many foreign species over the centuries have become our own?
“We choose plants originally from this part of the country and those that are from similar climate and naturalised here. We prefer Chendu Hoovu (marigold), Kanagile (Oleander), Mallige (Jasmine), varieties of tulasi and are open to spider plant, peace lily, cactus etc. Anthuriums and certain varieties of roses and hibiscus are usually avoided,” she says pointing at plants in her nursery that she recently set up in South Bengaluru.
The nursery is built with available resources and conceptualised in an eco-friendly way by architect Ashish Bhuvan and designer Charanya with mentors Radha Ishwar and Krish Murali Ishwar. The flower garden at the entrance is outlined with discarded, dried coconut shells. The office space is carved out of a room that already existed in the plot and an open workshop area is built under a tree shade next to it.
Are Bengalureans welcoming the idea of having native plants in their garden? “Many customers we’ve worked with are disappointed with plants that don’t do well here. For the rest, we had to explain the purpose — environmental impacts and advantages of growing indigenous varieties. Awareness is certainly growing,” says Vandana who employs around 35 workers to set up and maintain these gardens.
Workers at UrbanMali are largely farmers from neighbouring towns and villages who have migrated to the city seeking jobs. “Gardening is not unfamiliar to these farmers and many of them are masters of their craft. As we ensure good pay and a weekly off, they wish to have a long association with the network.”
Head to UrbanMali nursery, 9th phase, JP Nagar or opt for UrbanMali services on www.urbanmali.com.
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