Growing up with a botanist mother in Thiruvananthapuram in the ‘70s (lauded as clean and green by Our Father of the Nation) was exciting and a little boring too. It was exciting because you would return home from school to be abruptly asked to join her on a plant collection trip the next day. Boring because you would have to remember scientific names of plants like Euphorbia thirukkalli and Cassia fistula .
Growing up with her also meant being sensitive to her way of looking at trees and plants. For her the Myrobalan (Thanni) tree growing in Martyr’s Column in Palayam with flowers that spread the scent of honey was always ‘handsome.’ The Tree Jasmine near Saphalyam complex with its fragrant white flowers appeared ‘petite and tender’ to her.
Years later when age arrested her movements, she would eagerly ask me as summer started if the Cat’s Claw Vine had enriched the city with its floral bonanza in yellow — the location would be specific — either on the Raintree in Corporation Office or in pre-primary section of Model School. True to her sense of time and season, I would find this vine in full flower in one of the locations. This year too, by end of March one saw blossoms high up in the vine that was atop the tree.
Raintree
Once, during a vacation programme for children, my mother explained the significance of Vishu as the New Year expected to bring prosperity, abundance and luck. All icons associated with the festival have the colour yellow — the golden yellow of gold, of the flowers, of the cucumber, the banana, the off-white ethnic attire with golden border. Many plants too have blossoms that are yellow in colour.
Copper pod
The yellow of the Indian Laburnum or Kanikonna overshadows the yellow of the Yellow Flamboyant tree called Charakonna. One can see a line of trees in flower and seeds the colour of copper along the Kowdiar-Vellayambalam road.
The fragrant carpet that the Fiddlewood creates in the Museum garden attracts birds, bees and butterflies. It reminds us of the song Parijatham thirumizhi thurannu. The Fiddlewood, incidentally, belongs to America.
The loud yellow of the Yellow Trumpet Bush (Subrahmania Kireedam plant) is in sharp contrast to the thin green leaves and subtle yellow flowers of the Yellow Oleander that has become a rarity. One of these bushes grows quietly in the University Men’s Hostel campus in Palayam. If you are on the lookout for another yellow creeper then the Golden Trumpet can be seen growing in houses that line the road that leads to Chakka bypass from Pettah. All these three yellow beauties are from Central and South America. We can see our own Peacock Flower (Rajamalli) in yellow and red inflorescence in many a garden and wayside.
Jacaranda
The purplish red flowers of the Orchid Tree (Devamandaram) that adorn the Vellayambalam-Sasthamangalam road is a must-see summer sight. This does not in any way reduce the delicate glory of the Dwarf White and Yellow Orchid ( Vellamandaram and Manjamandaram ) in many houses.
Museum compound
The amazing diversity of trees and plants in the Museum compound also draws attention to the homes of the trees. The Bitter Oleander Tree with creamish yellow flowers from Africa and India is in full flower now. The Candle Tree with its yellow flowers came from Panama.
The Museum compound gives one a fresh visual treat in red — the Venezuela Rose, the Shimsipa, the Pride of Burma and the Ashokam in flower.
An endangered native tree whose flowers have a tinge of yellow in it is the White Dammer, which can be seen in the Tagore Theatre area, the Government Women’s College and on the Museum grounds too. The yellow trumpet shaped flowers of the exotic Nile Tulip has a prominent position in the footpath on the road from AKG Centre to St Joseph’s School. The fragrant flowers of the Indian Bullet Wood in flower tempts you to sing the Malayalam melody Ilanji poomanam ozhukivarumbol as it weaves a floral carpet in the Museum and the footpath outside Raj bhavan.
African Tulip
However, the summer attire of Nature is not just yellow. It would be unfair not to mention delicate pink flowers of the Pink Cassia now being grown as an avenue tree, especially along the General hospital-Pattoor road. The bright orange red of the Gulmohar is endemic to Madagascar. There are some in flamboyant abundance in General Hospital compound and Kanakakunnu Palace. It is worth a walk into the Museum gardens to see India’s own Flame of the Forest or Plash or Chamatha in a floral mood. How can one ignore the bright orange blossoms of the African Tulip (Poombathiri ) in flower by the side of the Forest Office gate at Vazhuthacaud and or on the footpath beyond the Public Library entrance at Palayam?
The Roble or Trumpet tree (Tabebuia sp ) from the American tropics has become a gardener’s delight. The light violet/mauve shade of its flowers hides among the leaves in Museum compound and the footpath in front of TRIDA office, en route Vazhuthacaud. The huge Tabebuia tree in Kanakakunnu Palace grounds welcomes many a weary morning walker to sit in its shade.
Yellow Tabebuia
The delicate violet flowers of the Jacaranda or Fern Tree will catch your attention from the heritage Christ Church campus in Palayam.
Pink Tabebuia
The tender red, pink and yellow Oleanders take the brunt of heat and dust as they are now chosen to be planted in the road dividers. Not to speak of the Red, White and Yellow Frangipani (Plumeria) i n many gardens.
Franjipani
Though this summer, our trees have adorned themselves in various colours, in this season yellow ranks best. Yellow is the colour of the life-giving rays of the sun. Yellow indicates abundance and health bringing in prosperity along with sunny thoughts and actions. Yes, yellow certainly is the warmest colour in Nature at this time of the year, as exemplified by the flowers.
As we worry about shrinking water levels and failing monsoons, the flowering trees speak to us of hope and life. Says Tagore: “Trees are the Earth’s endless efforts to speak to the listening heavens”. Let us listen to what the trees have to say and reconnect to the Earth by nurturing and planting more.
Ecologist Anitha S is coordinator of Tree Walk —Thiruvananthapuram started in memory of her late mother Dr C Thankam. She can be contacted at anithasharma2007@gmail.com.
