Author: admin

Categories
Residential Building Work

Landmark, Carmichael Road

Transform

Residential Building

Landmark,
Carmichael Road

work I do        Hardscape • Irrigation • Lawn • Flower Beds • Pathways • Reflexology Garden

Located at one of the most coveted addresses in India, this renowned residential building had several garden spaces that were under-utilized. Old trees and plantation were reimagined and repositioned. Experiential elements were added in the garden. Sensory gravel floor, lush lawn, stone pathway, garden beds with layered native plants and much more.

A mammoth exercise to reclaim and retrofit the spaces was undertaken. Integrating every individual space into one, unanimous landscape was the key. From pergola seating on an exposed water tank to reclaiming a wasteland for fruiting trees, several terraces and layers were created to ensure functionality while enhancing aesthetics.

More Similar Works

Categories
Residential Building Work

Gold Cornet, Breach Candy

Sun rays illuminating the terrace garden

Private Terrace Garden

Gold Cornet,
Breach Candy

work I do        Terrace Garden • Indoor Plants • Outdoor Green scape

A private terrace garden spanning over 1000 sqft in a prime upscale neighbourhood of South Mumbai. Being a secondary home of the residents, the garden had to be low-maintenance and self-sustaining while being high on aesthetics.

In line with the brief, native plants were chosen very carefully that could withstand the monsoon’s gusty winds as well as the harsh summer sun. A natural green wall with climbing plants was made to maintain privacy from neighbouring buildings. 

More Similar Work

Categories
blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

The Times of India: Can a balcony garden actually reduce indoor heat? Here’s what science says

Balcony garden plants to reduce heat

Plants cool their surroundings through a process called evapotranspiration, essentially, they release moisture through their leaves, and that moisture draws heat away from the surrounding air as it evaporates. On a sun-baked balcony in the middle of summer, that process matters more than most people realise. And the research backs it up quite clearly.

A study, published in Energy and Buildings, examining residential greenery in a tropical apartment found that a combination of potted plants and a living wall on a balcony reduced indoor air temperature by 2.5°C, with balcony surface temperatures dropping by as much as 5.5°C. That’s not a trivial difference, especially in cities like Mumbai, Chennai, or Delhi where summer temperatures regularly push past 40°C and air conditioners run nearly all day.

“Summers are getting unbearable, lethal year-on-year in India. While external climatic conditions such as the El-Nino effect are often blamed, day-to-day lifestyle choices are overtly overlooked. A man-made health and well-being catastrophe, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, is rapidly painting our city grey depriving us of our most basic survival necessity, the greens. This is further fuelled with the frenzy of bringing exotic plants home that serve very little towards cleaning / purifying, reducing urban heat, helping biodiversity while being high on maintenance,” Dipti Agarwal, Founder and Garden Designer, Peepal told Times of India.

Tackling this issue at a city’s infrastructure level is a gargantuan task but, one can address this issue with smart and sustainable greening efforts at their disposal, home gardens, she adds.

For Indian homes specifically, the evidence is encouraging. A study in Greater Noida found that terrace gardens can reduce ceiling temperature by 2°C to 3°C in winter and 5°C to 7°C in summer.

Agarwal says native and hardy species create a quick, thick green cover of leaves and provide a cooling effect. “Popular exotic plant choices such as Bougainvilleas are often opted in home gardens. However, one must distinguish plants that are heat-resistance with plants that can reduce heat in the environment. Bougainvilleas, while being globally-loved, often fail to maintain a thick, green look with their small and scanty leaves, thus being counter-productive for reducing urban heat,” she suggests.

The expert shares few guidelines on this:
 
  • Choosing the right species of plants that provide shade with their canopies, cool and purify air with their large leaf structures or create a natural green curtain can go a long way in reducing urban heat.
  • Simple garden design elements such as a trellis for balconies or terraces can help create a natural green wall or a vertical garden coupled with fast-growing climbing plants such as Thunbergia Grandiflora, Madhumalti (Combretum indicum), Aparjita (Clitoria ternatea), Chameli (Jasminum officinale), etc.
  • Another effective technique is layered plantation that uses different plant height combinations in descending order. Much like forests, this cascading effect helps in creating overlapping canopies and filtering sunlight before it reaches the bottom. For example, one could pair a tall palm or Champa plant with medium flowering shrubs like Ixoras or Jasmines to create a layer of visual and heat relief.
 

What practical advice would you give homeowners or apartment residents who want to create a balcony garden specifically to combat indoor heat during summer?

“Opting for native plants that have broad leaf structure, deep root systems, dark green foliage colour, can help cool the environment through evapotranspiration process. Releasing moisture, increasing air flow, blocking sun rays, thus reducing internal temperature are just a few of the several benefits of creating a well-planned balcony garden,” she suggests. “The wider leafy surface area you can add to your garden space, the better cooling effect you eventually create. At an individual home level, this cooling effect can be gradually felt with the right plant mix and low-maintenance gardening materials to maintain the garden’s health and look.”

Few examples:

For balconies, says the founder, decks or terraces that receive direct sunlight, exotic foliage plants should bereplaced with native flowering plants. Few examples of medium heighted shrubs include Ixora (Ixora coccinea),Son Champa (Magnolia champaca), Nag Champa (Plumeria Pudica), Parijat (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis), Hibiscus(Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), Kaner (Nerium Oleander) among others. Even edible plants like Lemons, Curry Leaves,which tend to have thick foliage could serve the purpose. Such plants not only help elevate your internalenvironment but also support biodiversity. On the other hand, for spaces which receive partial direct sunlight(indirect bright light), one can opt for palms (although most of them are non-native) for Areca Palm (Dypsislutescens), Rhapis Palm (Rhapis excelsa), and Ficus varieties.

So yes, a balcony garden can genuinely reduce indoor heat. It won’t replace an air conditioner on a 45°C afternoon. But it will take the edge off, cut your cooling load, and make your home more liveable through summer. Plants that you grow anyway, doing something useful all day long. 

Categories
blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Plant of the Month – Parijat

Botanical Name: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

A marriage of beauty and benefits, Parijat, popularly known as Harsinghar and Prajakta, has many surprises in store.

Native to India and rest of Southeast Asia, this plant has been revered in several walks of life. From blooming in the night to being used as a key ingredient in food, Parijat is integral to India’s rich traditions from medicinal, religious and landscaping uses.

It is known by many names across the world – Night-blooming Jasmine, Tree of Sadness, Tree of Sorrow, Coral Jasmine, Sephalika and the list goes on. A small, deciduous shrub, Parijat produces striking orangish red and white flowers that are highly fragrant in nature that open at dusk and finish at dawn.

In addition to beautifying any garden or recreational space, Parijat offers a host of other benefits too. The orange dye from the corolla, nyctanthin, is used to dye silk. Traditionally, the native people of Eastern India used the plant to help predict weather and rainfall as the flowers were deeply associated with the autumn season. Being a sacred tree, this divine flower is widely used in India for making garlands, and other forms of worshipping.

Talking about medicinal purposes, the leaves have been long used in Ayurvedic and Homeopathy medicines for treating several bone related illnesses.

Religious and mythological stories around the flower are abundant too. It is being said that this flower has the bark of gold, leaves of copper colour and bears a fragrant, rejuvenate fruit. In Hindu mythology, Parijat was one of the five trees that emerged during the legend of the Samudra Manthana as described in the Mahabharata and the Puranas.  

Parijat can be easily grown at home in pots, provided the plant receives full sun – 4-5 hours of direct sunlight. It does wonders in an outdoor environment, if planned well.

Categories
blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

3 ways to transform your terrace

Let’s be honest. To have a terrace space in a space-starved city like Mumbai, is a blessing and privilege, both.

Beyond serving as a hang-out zone or an unused corner, a terrace can fulfil several lifestyle goals for its users, be it a personal or society space. With a burgeoning concrete jungle around us and rampant felling of trees, creating your own green sanctuary could be a good idea for your long-term health & well-being.

Here are a couple of ways in which you can transform your terrace into a multi-functional garden space:

1) Edible Garden

To have a sun-kissed space and not utilizing it to generate your own organic food, can be a big oversight. While several experts may argue that a vegetable or herb garden doesn’t meet the aesthetic goals of a terrace landscape, the fact is that there are ways on which it can accomplished.

From creating neat garden beds around the walls to raised beds which can serve as a central courtyard, an edible garden can be wisely integrated with the other elements. All you need is the intent of plucking your own food, at your convenience, at your doorstep. Be it a herb garden or your favourite fruits or the daily veggies you consume, such a terrace garden can become the purest source of your health journey.

2) Fitness & Wellness  

If the idea of an edible garden seems overwhelming, then you can consider balancing it with something more suitable to you. If you’re a fitness enthusiast, imagine working out in an open environment which is free of pollutants, fresh air and perhaps a degree or two cooler than its surroundings.

Yes, this can be made possible by integrating nature thoughtfully in your space. For instance, in place of using exotic hedging plants, one can create a border of tall, dense fruiting and flowering trees. Just the corners while keeping the central space free for your gym equipment or yoga mat. This way you can ensure two things a) create optimum shade in the central space while ensuring privacy from the surroundings b) maximize therapeutic benefits with the fragrance of fresh flowers in the mornings and fruits, edibles that you can relish. 

3) A Green Extension 

Still looking for something simpler? Then, consider having a simple green space which could be an extended space of your interior. Sometimes having even a smaller patch of green is good enough. Several studies show that people who spend time gardening or in garden, tend to have a better quality of life with improved physical, mental and social abilities.

From selective potted plants to an open lawn space with a comfortable outdoor seating, a water feature or just simply a green carpet, are a few ways in which this minimal green space can be created.

However, before you embark on this green journey, there are a few thumb rules to follow. Fundamentals of setting-up a terrace garden starts from waterproofing, drainage channels, structural strength and weight-bearing capacity are paramount to creating a low-maintenance gardening effort.

Categories
blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Plant of the Month – Thunbergia

Climbing plant that produces blue bell like flowers

Thinking of creating a vertical garden? Then, ditch the commercial systems and bring home Thunbergia.

While the green walls look beautiful from the outside, they often require heavy maintenance. Even the initial set-up costs for a vertical garden can be daunting as much as the post set-up maintenance. Moreover, the constant upkeep that’s required to keep the plants healthy in the small pocket-sized planters can be discouraging.

On the contrary, setting up a vertical garden with the help of natural systems can not only bring down costs but also enhance aesthetics and sustenance in the long-run. Plants such as Thunbergia grandiflora can fulfil this desire with ease.

An evergreen vine, Thunbergia is a fast-growing climbing plant that produces thick green foliage and vibrant bell-shaped lavender coloured flowers. It is best to create a green façade anywhere in no-time with negligible maintenance. All you require is a trellis or chain-like fence or arbors for the plants to climb on and they will do the rest without your intervention.

Native to Asia, this plant is known by many names in different regions. From Bengal Clock Vine, Bengal Trumpet, Blue Trumpet Vine, this plant can be easily grown in any region in India.

Besides the beauty, Thunbergia also finds its place in spiritualism and medicine. Symbolizing the colour of Lord Krishna, it is known to create a calming effect on the mind. In ancient medicine, several parts of the plants were used to treat headaches, piles, and early rectal cancer, depression, skin problems, joint pain, etc.

Being an indigenous plant of India, it is very hardy in nature, requires very little maintenance and can survive the worst of all seasons. One can easily grow this plant in balconies, terraces or larger outdoor landscapes.

Categories
blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

3 garden trends to follow in India

Terrace garden set-up for growing organic food

A garden has limitless possibilities when it comes to creativity and functionality. 

It can be a space which you can share with your loved ones or spend your quality me-time. It can be a space where you can pluck your own food or flowers that fill your room with unadulterated fragrance. It can also be a space where you invite and integrate nature – be it the symphony of birdsongs or the sight of fluttering butterflies. A garden has many things on the menu to offer you beyond just greens.

In this age of rapid erosion of our natural environment, you can look at these emerging trends which are now taking centre-stage in landscapes worldwide: 

Foodscaping

Contrary to popular beliefs, kitchen gardens or orchards can serve your individual needs but can also integrate well with your landscaping aesthetics – if designed ad planned well. Imagine plucking your own organic food straight from your front-yard or backyard. By incorporating edibles into an ornamental garden, one can transform your perception of the gardening experience.

Be it everyday vegetables, fruits or the rare, seasonal crops, your garden can be the source of your well-being and health. If maintained organically with sustainable farming principles, this small investment can prove to outweigh every other option.

Rain Gardens

Keen to do rainwater harvesting and worried about the associated costs? This simple and most effective technique to capture rainwater run-off on your land, can be your answer. Rain gardens can help in recharging groundwater with beautifully designed plant beds.

A rain garden is a landscaped area that collects, adsorbs, and filters stormwater runoff from roof tops, driveways, patios, and other hard surfaces that don’t otherwise allow water to soak in. It is the most cost-efficient and aesthetic way of channelizing stormwater and recharging your land’s groundwater easily. Every year, the intensity of storms keep intensifying and rain gardens can be your solution to address the flooding in a controlled way.  

Water bodies

No, I am not talking about fountains. Water bodies are not just an interesting feature of any landscape but can help regulate the micro-climate of your land. Aspects such as lotus & lily plantation, fish, natural rocks can add so much value to your garden design.

There are several types of aquascaping that fits a landscape design theme. From a natural or jungle design that mimics a natural habitat such as a pond or river stream to a more detailed Japanese or Dutch design that its symmetrically defined. However, while designing any such aquascape, one must pay attention to regulate water flow at all times.

The next time you want to add any garden element, think of the above that might help you and our planet both.

Categories
blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Plant of the Month – Shatavari

Closeup fresh green bush of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus Willd.)

Botanical Name: Asparagus racemosus

Creating a low-maintenance and beautiful garden is an ambitious combination for many. But not when, one chooses sustainable gardening practices, starting by choosing native plants.

However, a constant challenge is to find native plants who can help us in fulfilling this vision. Today, commercial plant nurseries are flooded with exotic species and information about our native plants is minimal, if not rare.

If you’re thinking of landscaping your large outdoor spaces or greenscaping your smaller indoors such as balconies or terraces, then one such plant that can be easily found is Shatavari aka Asparagus racemosus – “the plant with hundred roots” in Sanskrit.

Often confused with Foxtail Fern (Asparagus aethiopicus), Shatavari is one of the most underrated and underutilised plant in the world of landscaping. Packed with medicinal qualities, it can add both environmental as well as aesthetic value to any garden. It’s beautiful, pine-needle-like foliage coupled with its pretty little white blossoms makes it a winner almost everywhere. One may use this humble plant as a filler in hedges to add that touch of glamour while balancing simplicity among other plants.

In several walks of life, Shatavari is known to be associated with something. For instance, it derives its name owing to its ability to increase fertility and vitality among females “who possesses a hundred husbands or acceptable to many”. In Ayurveda, it is known as the ‘Queen of Herbs’ as it promotes love and devotion.

A native plant of India, one can use Shatavari not just for greenscaping but also for its rich medicinal properties. From treating serious illnesses to enhancing moods, Shatavari is known to a remedy for almost 100 types of diseased conditions. 

If you’re thinking of adding greens to your garden, don’t miss out on this green gold.

Categories
blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

How to start and maintain your own organic kitchen garden

Terrace garden set-up for growing organic food

What is luxury living?

To different people, it may mean different things. From home, car, décor, apparel, other exclusive lifestyle choices, the word ‘luxury’ has several connotations. However, in this rapidly changing environment, where nature is increasingly getting out of reach, luxury would be soon measured with the way we grow, consume, and interact with our food.

Growing your own food organically without using chemicals and plucking what you need, when you need epitomizes luxury today.

Now, one may argue that you would require acres of land to make this a reality. The fact is that even the smallest corner of your home, can be a potential kitchen garden. All you need to consider are the following factors:

Plants: Depending on the available space viz. window, balcony, terrace, or farm, decide the size and type of your kitchen garden. For instance, in window gardens, one can grow edibles that are smaller in size, tend to grow vertically and won’t require much space as compared to a terrace or farm. A few examples include day-to-day herbs and leafy veggies such as pudina, basil, oregano, methi, spinach, green chilies, lemons, et al. The size of your space will determine the type of edibles you can grow.

Materials: In balconies and terraces, one can create a more elaborate set-up to grow veggies v/s a window. From larger pots, fabric grow bags to raised vegetable beds, there are several ways in which an easy-to-maintain vegetable garden can be set-up. For instance, an open terrace can be more fitting for raised vegetable beds to grow space-consuming root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, beetroots, among others. Combined with the use of trellises for climbing veggies such as gourds can even add an aesthetic appeal to the garden.

Light & Air: While a lot of emphasis is laid upon the sunlight availability for a successful kitchen garden, we often miss out on the ventilation and circulation of fresh air. Even in the absence of direct sunlight, it is possible to grow certain kind of edible plants with the help of artificial, spectrum lights. If the space receives direct sunlight, it is important to keep the are clutter-free. For instance, often ornamental plants are thrown in the mix which tend to overgrow and overtake the kitchen garden space. This may not only invite pests but also reduce the overall growth of your produce.

Preparation: Once the above factors have been considered, it is important to get the fundamentals right. Quality and type of soil, efficient drainage & easy access to watering with drip irrigation as well as organic fertilizer such as vermicompost or cow-based manure will eventually make or break any garden. For terraces and balconies, it is important to ensure waterproofing as well as easy drainage from pots, raised beds.

Schedule: Above all, keeping a calendar of crops and herbs to grow as per the season can ensure a steady availability of produce in your kitchen. Practices such as crop rotation, mulching, timely use of organic pesticides and fertilizers can ensure good soil health and a bumper harvest for your own consumption.

As someone wise once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Rethink your space and start your own kitchen garden in the space available today.

Categories
blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Plant of the Month: Aboli

Botanical Name: Crossandra infundibuliformis

Who doesn’t like a perennial, bountiful garden! In this quest, selecting the right set of plants that balances both seasonal and perennial outcomes, is paramount. At the same time, ensuring that it’s hardy, lesser-prone to pests, and vibrant, could make this task a bit harder.

But not with Aboli! Crossandra infundibuliformis easily checks all the boxes with ease. Native to India, it has rightfully earned its position in our botanical heritage, owing to its abundance of bright orange blooms. From embellishing hairstyles of Indian women to becoming an integral part of daily rituals, this flower continues to win the hearts of many.

Once a state flower of Goa, Aboli is gradually and sadly evading the Indian landscape and botanical heritage to its foreign / exotic counterparts. Interestingly, this plant is also called Firecracker flower since its seed pods tends to explode onto the ground like a firecracker when nearing high humidity or rainfall. 

Also being high in medicinal properties, Aboli’s extract is widely used to treat minor headaches, aperitif, fever, pain, and also wound healing. This plant is best suited for people who are looking to create a low maintenance, perennial garden.

Being native to our environment and surroundings, it is better placed to fight pest attacks or diseases. Like any other flowering plant, Aboli likes direct sunlight of at least 3-5 hours to produce those vibrant flowers.

Maintain your garden’s perennial beauty with Aboli!