In search

International Mountain Day is being celebrated the world over today especially by the Darjeeling Himalayan Initiative (DHI) and The Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI). This year's theme is 'Biodiversity of Sikkim Himalaya' and a broad range of issues was discussed by the expert panelists.  The major question or questions were "How do we mainstream/ bring discussion on Biodiversity in our day to day lives? Where and when did our disconnect with nature happen?" The panelists provided really great insights on the role of education, media, and social media in bringing back this connection. I think there is no easy and quick answers to these really difficult questions. Maybe there is a greater need for reflection and analysis. That wedge of disconnect with nature is growing into a gorge. Who is to be blamed? What is to be blamed? Or is blaming enough? Are there any solutions and would they work? The disconnect is there in how we live, what we eat and what we grow...

2020 has been a harsh year even for my flowers. It rained so much this year. It's not just me, everybody feels that it rained more than any other year.  The blooms of my Lilliums and Begonias did not last because of the continuous rain. The dianthus died of a fungus attach and even my jade plants have fungus all over them.  I don't use any chemical sprays and only use my home made vermi compost. My marigolds also did not survive the rain and we had to buy Marigolds this year for Dusshera or Dasai as we call it. But, I have saved the seeds from those flowers so I am expecting a great bloom next year.  The chrysanthemums also bloomed late but they have lasted throughout November. They did bloom in their full glory and brought cheer in my heart. My wife is not very fond of Chrysanthemums though.    Geraniums are perennial hardy plants and can survive humid or dry conditions which makes them easy to grow. The geraniums are good flower for beginners-their success rate is high which