| Week 40 | September 29, 2014 | October 5, 2014 |
1. Preamble:
The rains have not yet altogether ceased and the remnants of monsoon keep still returning with vengeance. Accompanied by hale, thunder and lightening, it rained without any warning on the night of Eid ul Adha. Our sacrificial animals were out, in the open. There was no cover for them and as such it was much too frightening for them as it was of concern to us. The goats could be pushed into the garage but the lone poor bullock (yearling) could not be helped much to our dismay.
We are now in transition from a brief period of fall into winter. This transitory phase sees a lot of climbing bushes and vines in bloom. Last week we talked about the blue (Thumbergia), the golden (Allamanda) and the orange (Hummingbird) trumpet vines. This week we will look at the Garlic and Rangoon Creepers, which too are blossoming these days. Previously these vines respectively were erroneously mentioned as 'Beauty Vine' (actual name: 'Garlic Creeper') and 'Panoramio Vine' (actual name: 'Rangoon Creeper'). (Ref. Blog of Monday 9 June (Week: 24). The error is amended here under by describing these two bushy creepers in detail.
As Eid ul Adha was celebrated in Pakistan on Monday the 6th of October, the blog of this week has been overly delayed, which is regretted. As usual all our sons and their families minus Omars, who were with us on Eid ul Fitr, assembled at the the farm for the celebrations. It was a joyous occasion as Tahas too came from Toronto to be with us. There was much feasting and joyful partying to our immense happiness. We enjoyed as did every one else. This blog as such also contains a pictorial of the get to gather under the heading family matters.
2. The Garlic Vine (Mansoa Alliacea/Pseudocalymma Alliacea):
The Garlic Creeper (Other names of this plant include - Mansoa alliacea, Pachyptera hymenaea, Pseudocalymma alliacea and Cydista aequinoctialis) is native to Amazon rain forests. The name is derived because the leaves when crushed smell of garlic. The smell is because it contains sulphur compounds like alliin and allyl sulphides that the garlic has. The natives of Amazon call it Ajos Sacha and use its leaves as a condiment to flavor their food. To the indigenous tribes of the Amazon basin it is a well-used and well-respected plant. Most consider the plant to be magical or spiritual, capable of driving off evil spirits, and bringing good luck. Leaves of this stunning tropical vine are The entire plant is used in nature medicine as a treatment for colds, flu, fever, arthritic and rheumatic pain and smokers cough. Crushed garlic vine leaves are also considered as an effective mosquito repellent.
The Garlic Creeper planted at the edge of of our front lawn along the boundary wall is a beautiful ornamental vine with opposite leaves divided into two ovate leaflets. The flowers are funnel shaped and purple to pale lavender to white, which become lighter as they age.The showy flowers are a real draw, they start off as a deeper purple, then get more pastel, so there is a nice combination of different shades on the blooms at one time, which is pretty indeed.
Read more:
http://www.itslife.in/gardening/creepers-gardening/garlic-creeper
http://www.itslife.in/gardening/creepers-gardening/garlic-creeper
http://www.jagtapnursery.com/plants/climbers/garlic-creeper-lasun-vel-480.php
http://truthneverkills.blogspot.com/2010/10/garlic-vine.html
http://nurserylive.com/buy-climbers-creepers-plants-online-in-india/garlic-creeper-mansoa-alliacea-plants-in-india
http://www.orchids-flowers.com/tropical-flowers/garlic-vine-mansoa-alliacea/
http://www.rareflora.com/cydistaaec.htm
3. The Rangoon Vine (Quisqualis indica):
The Rangoon Creeper is also called Burma Creeper and Chinese Honeysuckle. It is an extremely spectacular vine that blooms throughout the summer. When in full bloom, it is covered with large trusses of tricolored flowers that are very showy and pleasantly scented. The flowers have many variations of color, depending on how old they are. Over about a 3 day period the flowers starts out white, turn solid pink then dark pink and purplish red, then bright red on maturity.The foliage itself is also very attractive - bright green elongated leaves fill in to form dense lush greenery covered with flowers.
Read more:
http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/Rangoon%20Creeper.htm
http://www.jaycjayc.com/quisqualis-indica-rangoon-creeper/
4. Family Event:
4.1. A Pictorial of Eid ul Adha Congregate:
,
We are now in transition from a brief period of fall into winter. This transitory phase sees a lot of climbing bushes and vines in bloom. Last week we talked about the blue (Thumbergia), the golden (Allamanda) and the orange (Hummingbird) trumpet vines. This week we will look at the Garlic and Rangoon Creepers, which too are blossoming these days. Previously these vines respectively were erroneously mentioned as 'Beauty Vine' (actual name: 'Garlic Creeper') and 'Panoramio Vine' (actual name: 'Rangoon Creeper'). (Ref. Blog of Monday 9 June (Week: 24). The error is amended here under by describing these two bushy creepers in detail.
As Eid ul Adha was celebrated in Pakistan on Monday the 6th of October, the blog of this week has been overly delayed, which is regretted. As usual all our sons and their families minus Omars, who were with us on Eid ul Fitr, assembled at the the farm for the celebrations. It was a joyous occasion as Tahas too came from Toronto to be with us. There was much feasting and joyful partying to our immense happiness. We enjoyed as did every one else. This blog as such also contains a pictorial of the get to gather under the heading family matters.
2. The Garlic Vine (Mansoa Alliacea/Pseudocalymma Alliacea):
The Garlic Creeper (Other names of this plant include - Mansoa alliacea, Pachyptera hymenaea, Pseudocalymma alliacea and Cydista aequinoctialis) is native to Amazon rain forests. The name is derived because the leaves when crushed smell of garlic. The smell is because it contains sulphur compounds like alliin and allyl sulphides that the garlic has. The natives of Amazon call it Ajos Sacha and use its leaves as a condiment to flavor their food. To the indigenous tribes of the Amazon basin it is a well-used and well-respected plant. Most consider the plant to be magical or spiritual, capable of driving off evil spirits, and bringing good luck. Leaves of this stunning tropical vine are The entire plant is used in nature medicine as a treatment for colds, flu, fever, arthritic and rheumatic pain and smokers cough. Crushed garlic vine leaves are also considered as an effective mosquito repellent.
The Garlic Creeper planted at the edge of of our front lawn along the boundary wall is a beautiful ornamental vine with opposite leaves divided into two ovate leaflets. The flowers are funnel shaped and purple to pale lavender to white, which become lighter as they age.The showy flowers are a real draw, they start off as a deeper purple, then get more pastel, so there is a nice combination of different shades on the blooms at one time, which is pretty indeed.
The above pictures were taken when the plant first bloomed just before Eid ul Adha. The change in colours and shades is clearly apparent and obvious in another set of pictures taken only a couple of days later as can be seen here under:
The Garlic Creeper, which actually is a shrubby vine, can grow up to 12 to 14 feet and is propagated from cuttings. It climbs with the help of its long tendrils. It is usually used to decorate the fence, trellis etc., The plant needs to be trimmed after each flowering season. The evergreen garlic vines bloom twice a year in Autum and Spring.
Read more:
http://www.itslife.in/gardening/creepers-gardening/garlic-creeper
http://www.jagtapnursery.com/plants/climbers/garlic-creeper-lasun-vel-480.php
http://truthneverkills.blogspot.com/2010/10/garlic-vine.html
http://nurserylive.com/buy-climbers-creepers-plants-online-in-india/garlic-creeper-mansoa-alliacea-plants-in-india
http://www.orchids-flowers.com/tropical-flowers/garlic-vine-mansoa-alliacea/
http://www.rareflora.com/cydistaaec.htm
3. The Rangoon Vine (Quisqualis indica):
The Rangoon Creeper is also called Burma Creeper and Chinese Honeysuckle. It is an extremely spectacular vine that blooms throughout the summer. When in full bloom, it is covered with large trusses of tricolored flowers that are very showy and pleasantly scented. The flowers have many variations of color, depending on how old they are. Over about a 3 day period the flowers starts out white, turn solid pink then dark pink and purplish red, then bright red on maturity.The foliage itself is also very attractive - bright green elongated leaves fill in to form dense lush greenery covered with flowers.
We have a couple of these vines at our farmhouse. Particularly attractive are those climbing in front of the pergola verandah facing our living area. Those provide the much needed sun shade in summer and allow the sun to come through in winters, when they shed their leaves.The name of the vine is from the Latin quis, "who", and qualis, "what". This name was given by the early botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius as an expression of his surprise at the variability of the plant's growth and flower colour.
http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/Rangoon%20Creeper.htm
http://www.jaycjayc.com/quisqualis-indica-rangoon-creeper/
4.1. A Pictorial of Eid ul Adha Congregate:
,
5. Point to Ponder:
During the week preceding Eid ul Adha, I started reading, 'Kim', a novel published by Rudyard Kipling over 100 years ago. The author's thoughts interpreted by Morten N. Cohen in the Introduction of the novel, are worth taking note of:
During the week preceding Eid ul Adha, I started reading, 'Kim', a novel published by Rudyard Kipling over 100 years ago. The author's thoughts interpreted by Morten N. Cohen in the Introduction of the novel, are worth taking note of:
'This is a brief life, but in its brevity it offers us some splendid moments, some meaningful adventures. Savor the moments as they come, enjoy the adventures and relish freedom while you have it.'
On this note, I close this edition of the Blog.
Godspeed.
On this note, I close this edition of the Blog.
Godspeed.
Beautiful vines.
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to mention the urdu name maalti of the vine..which makes the farm lounge scented.
Will check the garlic smell of the garlic vine on next visit inshalah..
The blog was Beautifully ended.
Good read
Thank you Sahar for your comments. There is so much to see and write about. I keep recording what we see. Thanks to instant photography, we can keep the record. Your comments about our Eid feasting are missing
DeleteWe are still too full to talk about the feasting:D...endless food...the awesome bbq stand for awesome food.....over eating..n the bbqed tea....!
ReplyDeleteAnd to add to barbecued mutton and beaf, we also enjoyed the barbecued fish and chicken, thanks to you all. Presence of Tahas made it a special Eid but the absence of Omars, we all fealt.
Delete