Blooming beauties

It's a sleepy Saturday afternoon when I first see Matunga's sprawling VJTI campus, basking in the wintry sunshine. Wide, leafy gardens, soaring colonial buildings…the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute deserves a story by itself. But I was not there to gawp at the architecture; I was there to gaze at flowers, fruit and vegetables as part of an initiative by The National Society of the Friends of the Trees.

Skirting one of the vast VJTI buildings lay a trail of happy potted shrubs and flowers, dancing in the gentle breeze. Blush-coloured bougainvillea, fuzzy calliandra, sunshine yellow galphimia, Christmassy poinsettia, brightly-coloured gerbera—they were a feast for jaded city eyes. Bees buzzed busily around them. As the afternoon waned, the crowd swelled. A crocodile of school children snaked its way through to the VJTI hall. Sprawled within were botanical riches—arrangements of cut flowers, floral rangolis, rows of glossy vegetables (including an enormous broccoli) and fruit and a smattering of bonsai plants. All were labelled with their classifications, but perhaps not as clearly as a non-botanist might like.

A separate section housed a litany of stalls for gardening and farming products. Everywhere, ladies and gents were staggering under the weight of newly-acquired plants. But amongst the caboodle of nurseries, horticultural and agricultural centres, there lurked a few surprises. Sheelatai's Food Products (with oil-free pickles) was doing brisk business, while a willowy lady was busy demonstrating the marvels of the chhota tandoor set. It was a startling but delightful end to the visit.

The National Society of the Friends of the Trees (FOT) held its 54th Annual Vegetable, Fruit and Flower Show on February 7 and 8 at VJTI, Matunga.