Red Puff Tree- Calliandra - Puffing colors and warmth during mid-December

Red Puff Tree- Calliandra haematocephala

• It is an evergreen shrub commonly found in house landscape. Parks and golf course do adore this plant. It is conducive to Lahore weather (USA Z 9a- 11). It can grow in a range of soils. Can be contained in containers. 

A showy flower. Color is of red stamens.
Photo by Rashad

Raspberry like flower buds. Photo by Rashad.

New copper pink leaves mature into dark green color.
Photo by Rashad

Touching neighbors with flowery branches.
Photo by Rashad.

Take a brush and paint to your delight. Photo by Rashad.

Attractive to bees, birds and butterflies.
Photo by Rashad.

• Happy reading and viewing, readers!

Candleberry Tree- Coloring the Autumn

Chinese Tallow Tree, Candleberry Tree, Brightening the Fall

• Has many names like it's autumn colors of the leaves- Chinese Tallow Tree, Candleberry Tree, Chicken Tree, Popcorn Tree, Florida Aspen. Botanical name is Triadica sebifera and Sapium sebiferum. Family is Euphorbiaceae. A highly ornamental, shady and hardy plant. Thrives well in Lahore (USA Zone 8a- 10b).

Fast growing tree up to 40 feet. Photo by Rashad.

Turning to glory of its colors. Photo by Rashad.

Leaves are toxic. Photo by Rashad.

Local name Makhan Charbi. Tree in Jinnah Garden Lahore.
Photo by Rashad.

Nectar is non toxic. Sought after tree for bee keepers.
Photo by Rashad.

Count the colors and shades. Photo by Rashad.

Rival of maple colors during Fall. Vegetative oil is of high value.
Photo by Rashad.

Adding colors to the grass. Photo by Rashad.

• Happy reading dear readers!

Bael Fruit Tree (Bilgree)- Enjoy drinks of golden stone wood apples

Bael fruit tree- Local name (Bilgree)

• Botanical name is Aegle ( aey Glee) marmelos, has many other names as Bengal quince, golden apple, stone apple, wood apple and bili. It has  medicinal and food values besides religious significance among Hindus. Can tolerate water logged areas and extreme temperatures. It thrives well in Lahore (USA hardiness Zone 9- 11). 

A magnificent view in the Compound of Historical Jahangir's Tomb. A Mughal emperor.
Photo by Rashad. 8 Dec 13.

Stone or wood apple. Pleasant and refreshing flavor.
Photo be Rashad. Botanical Garden Lahore

Branches droop. A leaf wit three leaflets.
Photo by Rashad. Jahangir's Tomb. 8 Dec 13.

Fruit can be eaten dried of fresh,  leaves as  green salad.
Photo by Rashad. Botanical Garden Lahore. 22 Nov 13

Shady tree, grows up to 40 feet tall.
Photo by Rashad. Jinnah Garden Lahore. 26 Nov 13.

View of skull- rotten fruit. Usually broken with a hammer.
Good for locomotion of fatigued animals- horses.
 Works well with knee pains of humans.
Photo by Rashad. 22 Nov 13.

Buy some from Jinnah Bagh, Photo by Rashad,

Not ripe as yet. Wrap them in a paper to turn the outer coat into yellow color. Photo by Rashad,

A painted view of Bilgree tree. Bloom is creamy and fragrant.
Photo by Rashad. 8 Dec 13.

• A happy reading and viewing, Readers!

Washingtonia Palm- Easy care

Washingtonia Palm- Stays Aloft

• It is popular ornamental palm. it has many names like California Fan Palm, Desert Fan Palm, Petticoat Palm, Cotton Palm. At local nurseries, it is called (wall palm Punjabi wall means thread/ Hair) as its leaves have threads. It has good resistance to wind pressure. A cold hardy plant and can grow in most of the soils. Locally found is washingtonia robusta.

A fast growing plant and can attain height up to 100 ft.
Photo by Rashad

Needs a little water when planted. Usually water not required when mature.
Photo by Rashad

Adds to home landscape. Fertilization rarely necessary.
Photo by Rashad

Has good number of leaves- Photo by Rashad

Petticoat of dried leaves adds charm
but could be harboring place for birds and pests.
 Photo by Rashad

View of leaf- called costapalmate. Photo by Rashad

Adoring Pakistan Park. Group planting. Photo by Rashad

A painted view. Photo by Rashad

A choice for golf course. Thrives well in extreme heat.
 Photo by Rashad

• A happy reading, readers!

Saccharum munja- Sarkanda/ kana add different dimension to a landscape

Saccharum (sacKer- Um) munja- Sarkanda/ kana

• It is a common plant in the suburbs of Lahore since ages. We are in touch with Sarkanda/ kana in our daily life but now it may be shrinking. Has medicinal value. A perennial grass. Can grow in most types of soils. Used to firm erosion of land.

Inside a compound. Natural growth.
Photo by Rashad.

 Inflorescence-  an open and branched  flower cluster.
 Photo by Rashad.

Lance type leaves are visible in the green color in foreground.
Photo by Rashad.

Can lift the sun? Surely used for neat ceilings for living.
Its shade is cooler than other types of ceilings. Photo by Rashad.

Watch it by the moon. Can be added to a house landscape being a grass.
Photo by Rashad

Grows along water lines. Carrying home for various uses including Basketery.
Photo by Rashad

Reflection in the pond. May we use it along a water feature in the house.
Photo by Rashad

Infloresence against the red sun. Who is gracing whom?
 Photo by Rashad. Along Khaira Disty DHA Lahore

•  Have a nice reading and viewing!

Fox Tail Palm- World's most popular palm is popular in Lahore too.

Foxtail Palm, Wodyetia (wud yetee Ah) bifurcata

• It is a common house landscape plant in Lahore as well as in Parks around. Weather is amenable for its growth  (US Zone 9b- 11). It can attain a height up to 30 feet. It has been named after the appearance of its foliage which resembles the tail of a fox. See it for yourself. Belongs to Arecaceae family.

Likes sun but can thrive in partial shade. Photo by Rashad.

Adds life to commercial landscape. Photo by Rashad.

Bloom repeatedly. The fruit is green initially which turns into red.
Photo by Rashad

Trunk is smooth and self-cleaning. Photo by Rashad

An evergreen palm. Color shades from dark green to lighter one.
 Photo by Rashad

An evening glow and foxy foliage. Photo by Rashad.

Young palm. Ready to be painted. Try it.
Photo by  Rashad

• Happing reading and viewing, readers!

Bauhinia/ Kachnar- Enliven the souls with repeated Blooms

Bauhinia- Kachnar- Many colors

• This ornamental plant is a common sight in Lahore.  It has many colors of flowers to charm you. It can be a good container plant. It belongs to Family of Caesalpiniaceae. Conducive to weather of Lahore. It is presently in bloom. Do find it for enjoyment sake. You may find Kachnar at a vegetable shop.

Sending the best to others. A common name is Orchid Tree.
Photo by Rashad 

Has medicinal value for humans.
 Leaves as a fodder for domesticated animals.
Yet coloring sky, souls and earth beneath. Photo by Rashad

Pick the buds and find a good ingredient for your food. Kachnar curry.
Photo by Rashad

Pink color. Both evergreen and deciduous varieties.
 Photo by Rashad. 

Notice the color. Can grow in sun and partial shade. Photo by Rashad.

Add ornaments to the house and delight for the passers by.
Attains a medium height 15- 20 ft. Photo by Rashad

Swinging the open sky. Flowering now is of  late summer/ early fall.
Photo by Rashad. Nov 2013.

On left is a melange of Bauhinia pink mixed with Bougainvillea. Right shoulder is matched by Buddah tree.
Enjoyment for Nature Lovers. Jinnah Garden, Photo by Rashad. 

Another view of mauve flower. Beautifies the golf courses.
Photo by Rashad.

Will bring butterflies, birds and bees to you. Photo by Rashad.

• Happy reading and viewing,   folks!