Arjuna - Terminalia arjuna - fruiting



In telugu, these fruits are called Kobbire Kaya...Sure u have tasted them.

Methodologically, Arjuna tree is considered Sita's favourite.

You can see this tree lining NAL campus( Opposite Britannica office)

Fully grown Arjuna tree link - 

Banyan Tree

Banyan leaf
Image source: Wiki

Banyan tree is our national tree.

Banyan tree grows to become an enormous tree. The Big banyan tree which is about 200 years old( i need to verify) occupies more than 3 acres. Banyan belongs to family of fig trees.

It is considered the holiest of the trees.


I am not perticularly sure if we should be planting one of them in our estate. It may make sense right outside on the road behind the estate.

Banyan attracts variety of birds( and including monkeys). Banyan grows to big to accomodate different species. Fruits of banyan tree is popular with birds.


Biggest concern i have is its size:


Nevertheless it is magnanimous in its appearance. It is said that banyan tree has the most life energy flowing. It is considered most auspicious to prey below this tree. If we plant a banyan tree, it is likely to outlast every other tree in the estate

Sampling are available -  i expect to find even grown saplings in the forest nurseries.

External links: http://thegreenconcept.blogspot.in/2010_08_01_archive.html

Tabubia



Like Jackranda, Tabubia is another summer flowering plant which is hard to miss in bangalore.

Come summer, all leaves disapper and tree is filled with flowers.  More interesting is the flower bed under the tree.

Saplings: Available at nurseries.  Grows fast and start flowering in about two to three years.

Where to plant them:

• Along the road to the estate( trees on either side). Flower carpet is a welcoming right?
• On either side of the road, inside the estate at frequent intervals( mixed with Jacranda and tabubia)

Jacranda



A Non Native species, one can see blue flowers lined up all through summers -  sort of welcoming summer gesture.

It grows to be a big tree.  You may have seen this pretty much in every park in bangalore.

Sapling - Avilable in lalbagh and also in forest department nurseries.Flowers can be seen in the first few years of planting. I know that these plants need support during early days.

Suitable location ideas:

• Jacranda shines whereever it is placed.
• Small sections of the road( could be named Jacranda section)
• Areas around the borders in each plot calling it Jacranda plot

Flowering Trees of Bangalore

Read this eBook from award winning naturalist from Bangalore - some of these trees i have seen are truly outstanding. Link to the book: http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/trees-bangalore.pdf


Note from introductions of the eBook

Bangalore’s charm as a Garden City may have diminished. However, some of the trees that perhaps earned its name are still to be seen and cherished. For those of us who would want to simply immerse ourselves in that moment appreciating the beauty of each of these flowering trees that dot Bangalore it really does not matter …we will continue to do so. For those who would want to have more information about these trees, I have tried to put together some, along with pictures for 56 species that are often seen. This includes similar / related species that are dealt under a main species. Hope you find it useful.

Temple tree



A tropical tree, commonly found as an ornamental tree, the flowers come in many varieties. It grows as a spreading tree to 7–8 m (20–25 ft) high and wide, and is flushed with fragrant flowers of shades of pink, white and yellow over the summer and autumn. Its common names include red frangipani, common frangipani, temple tree, or simply plumeria.

Tree when fully grown, spreads itself  and in the bloom time, is a delight to watch. With slendar branches, this tree can grow in dry tropical regions and can be planted even in rocky areas.

It makes a good choice for center piece or a strategically placed corner plant.

Saplings: Available in nurseries. Expensive( 500-1000 INR per grown sapling )...Watering is not essentially.


Suggested areas:
This one is best planted in spacious front of the estates. Other areas include:

• Corners of the roads 
• Near the gate on either side
• Small streatch of road on either side ( call it the temple street ) - It would be beautiful to see it bloom of all colors..in season
• Consider this tree is the border of karab land
• Consider this tree for outside border facing the entry area( Bharat's property  - Provides color to entrance view)

Sampige - Champaka

Telugu-Sampangi

Sampige flower - Sweet fragrance that spreads wide

Recall sampige road in malleswaram. Once upon a time, the entire road stretch had tree lines of these champaka trees.

They grow to become trees of large size with medium sized trunk and large leaves. The flowers bloom though the year and the fragrance of the flowers can be felt far and wide.   Generally it may take few years before the tree grows to become a big tree.

The sampige flower  comes in few colors. I know of white and saffron. 

Saplings: 

Available in the forest nurseries around here.

Recommended locations:

• Fence areas
• Common Area
• Playground area.
• Along the road locations where we move around

Neem Tree

Hindi - Neem , Bengali - Nim, Nimgachh, Konkani - Beva-rooku, Marathi - Kadunimb, Gujarati - Leemdo, Tamil - Vembu, Vempu, Punjabi - Nimb, Malayalam - Veppu, Aryaveppu, Aruveppu, Kaippan, Veppu, Vepa,Simhalee - Nimu, Oriya - Nimo
Telegu - Vepa, Kannada - Bevinmar, Kahibevu

Neem is a very useful tree. Every part of the tree, from its roots to leaves is laden with medicinal properties. Neem tree’s bitterness is its biggest merit. Because of its bitterness, it remains green even in summer when other trees become dry.

Neem or Margosa is a botanical cousin of mahogany. It belongs to the family Meliaceae. The latinized name of Neem - Azadirachta indica - is derived from the Persian:

Neem is extremely beneficial to save the environment from pollution; since its in-florescence is purifying ‘with its feathery crests tossing fifty feet into the sky’ neem is a veritable “Kalpataru” for giving healthy environs. Like other trees, it exhales out oxygen and keeps the oxygen level in the atmosphere balanced. Like other trees, it also brings other environmental benefits such as flood control, reduced soil erosion and less salination. Neem can avert environmental crisis in India and other tropical countries as it can be successfully used for rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and waste lands. Neem is highly recommended for reforestation of semi-arid regions in India and tropics of the sub-Saharan region, Asia and Central America. Neem is extremely useful in urban forestry because it has remarkable ability to withstand air and water pollution as well as heat. Neem also helps in restoring and maintaining soil fertility which makes it highly suitable in agro-forestry.

Neem is a natural resource to keep environment clean. In villages and cities as well as on farms, it is useful as a windbreak. As a source of shade, it is excellent for parks, roadsides etc. Because of its so many qualities, it is a common practice in rural India to have a neem of tree within the compounds of most of the houses. Neem is also a regarded as a valuable forestry species in India. (back to top)

Ayurveda says: Normally it has insecticidal properties. Chewing 5 very soft neem leaves daily keeps all diseases at bay, purifies blood and helps prevent chronic diseases. Its regular consumption prevents teeth related disorders and improves voice. Regular brushing with neem stub keeps teeth white, shining, strong and free from diseases. Applying a paste of neem leaves has been one of the fastest ways to heal a wound from time immemorial. Neem oil is used in many medicines. In Ayurveda neem is known to destroy all the three doshas (vaat- pitt and cough). Taking juice of neem leaves helps a lot in skin diseases, diabetes and allergy. If one or two drops of neem oil is put in nose it can prevent hair fall and greying. Neem oil massage at night prevents dandruff. ( Source: Ayurveda of Neem)

Neem trees along a walkway

 Neem tree is the official tree of the Sindh Province and is very common in all cities of Sindh, there are projects underway for planting this tree in all over Sindh Province

Planting them: Well grown saplings are avilable with forest department nurseries. They grow fast. They become big trees and hence considerations for where to plant them is important.

Neem is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15–20 metres (49–66 ft), rarely to 35–40 metres (115–130 ft). It is evergreen, but in severedrought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are wide spread. The fairly dense crown is roundish or ovular and may reach the diameter of 15–20 metres (49–66 ft) in old, free-standing specimens( Source: Wikipedia  )

Neem Flowers

My research showed me that it also attracts birds and found many supporting materials for the same. It grows big and hence can support many forms of birds. Some of the species may not be very common to harmonynest area.


“Birds that feed on the Neem fruit in our garden include:
1. Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier analis)
2. Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
3. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
4. Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis strigata)
5. Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans)
6. Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata hodgsoni)
7. Common Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea)
(Source: Yellow-vented bulbul feeding neem fruit )

Suggested areas for planting them

• Portion of road leading to Gate.
• Karab land lining
• Consider naming a small segment of cross road as Neem road and plant Neem along.
• Along borders of the land.
• Near the common areas...cool, healthy tree around the common area

External Links
All about neem - http://www.neemfoundation.org

Under a Neem tree: Orignially a telugu story by Anuradha. Translated -  link

HONGE MARA ( Avenue Tree)

(English: Avenue tree, Kannada: Honge, Telugu - Kaniga, Bengali: Karanj) 

Botanical name: Pongamia Pinnata.

This elegant tree is useful in many ways. It is a very good shade tree as it gets thickly covered with shiny green leaves in summer. Traditionally oil was extracted from its pods to lit lamps. Now it gives us `bio-diesel' with many uses. . The leaves form good manure. Bees are very fond of its small white mildly fragrant flowers.

I use the honge hindi( what is left over after oil is extracted from seeds) as a manure in my garden.

Notice this tree along the entrance to mahadevapura village and there are few along the path to harmony estate. Very cool shade is so valuable in summer. In villages, cows are tied under this three to protect from scorching heat.

Saplings are available in plenty in the forest nurseries. it is one of the popular avenue trees.

In its early years, it needs support of sticks to hold it straight or else the branches sag and grow laterally.

It does not grow very tall. It may grow to be about 10-15 feet tall. But the it spreads out with branches growing laterally.

I have this grow even in rocky areas. So, it may be good plant to put down in the rocky common areas.

Generally since the shade is very good, under the tree not much grows. 

Watering needs: 

I don't believe it needs to be watered. However, watering in the early years would accelerate its survival.

Rate of growth:

If we plant this rainy season, i expect the trees to reach height of 10 feet in about two years

Recommended areas for planting: 

• Roadside from Mahadevapura village to Gate.
• In the karab area( if we put a play ground of any sort, this shade is good to sit under).
• If we plan sit outs, along the road inside the estates, it is best to sit under this tree.
• Particularly the common area( provides shade for the watcher house) and sit out.

External links: 

http://www.svlele.com/karanj.htm

http://www.goodnewsindia.com/Pages/content/discovery/honge.html (on bio-diesel) 

http://www.essential-oil-encyclopedia.com/essentialoil/encyclopedia/essential-oils-d/Karanj-Seed/(On medicinal properties of Honge Oil) 

http://www.seabean.com/guide/Pongamia_pinnata/ (Pongamia pod as a `sea-bean' ) 

http://oisat.org/control_methods/plant_extract_formulations/pongam_tree.html (as harmless pesticide ) http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/mount_annan_botanic_garden/garden_features/blooming_calendar?p=2145 

http://hast.sinica.edu.tw/english/plant_e/Pongam-e.htm