It is all over. About three months of preparation,bit by bit, little by little, advancing to the final day – all just for one day, or maybe two, of glorious celebration.
I call it the one-day-kalyanam (wedding) tree. Its real name is unknown to me. If any of you can identify it, do please enlighten me. When it is in bloom, it looks like a pale golden haze from afar – the effect of leafless branches bearing the blossoms.
I noticed it first in 2006. A few years ago in one of its environment conscious moods, the city corporation had planted a seedling on the pavement outside our compound wall, (as well as other places on the street) which grew little by little, and became large enough to block the view from our first floor balcony, with its green leaves.
I was happy to see it grow, but was amazed one March to find that I could see right across the street. Where had the leaves gone? I worried that the tree might have started dying. But no, there appeared little dangling vines, bearing tight yellow buds, and waving in the breeze like streamers. I waited and watched, and watched, till one fine day in May it burst out in all its golden glory. I had almost missed the great blossoming. For about a couple of days the blossoms hung on the delicate vines, before falling on the ground and covering it with a fine gold dust. And then back to square one. The new leaves grew in a week, and I had to wait another year to see this glorious tree flowering.
This year I decided to record its blossoming, but I found that other trees inside our compound had decided to grow higher – the coconut palm had after 10 years suddenly decided to grow (that is another story), and so had the Asoka trees. Still I looked for the suitable gap between these and managed a few pictures.
March 12
April 1
April 17
May 5
May 13
May 16
May 25
I call it the one-day-kalyanam (wedding) tree. Its real name is unknown to me. If any of you can identify it, do please enlighten me. When it is in bloom, it looks like a pale golden haze from afar – the effect of leafless branches bearing the blossoms.
I noticed it first in 2006. A few years ago in one of its environment conscious moods, the city corporation had planted a seedling on the pavement outside our compound wall, (as well as other places on the street) which grew little by little, and became large enough to block the view from our first floor balcony, with its green leaves.
I was happy to see it grow, but was amazed one March to find that I could see right across the street. Where had the leaves gone? I worried that the tree might have started dying. But no, there appeared little dangling vines, bearing tight yellow buds, and waving in the breeze like streamers. I waited and watched, and watched, till one fine day in May it burst out in all its golden glory. I had almost missed the great blossoming. For about a couple of days the blossoms hung on the delicate vines, before falling on the ground and covering it with a fine gold dust. And then back to square one. The new leaves grew in a week, and I had to wait another year to see this glorious tree flowering.
This year I decided to record its blossoming, but I found that other trees inside our compound had decided to grow higher – the coconut palm had after 10 years suddenly decided to grow (that is another story), and so had the Asoka trees. Still I looked for the suitable gap between these and managed a few pictures.
March 12
April 1
April 17
May 5
May 13
May 16
May 25 |
| After 5 years, I managed to catch the tree in full bloom today, (April 24, 2014). |
Do click on the other pictures for an enlarged view.
33 comments:
i guess some trees have a mind of their own.. as JC Bose found out...Sometimes plants rebel, sometimes they are happy...So maybe it is a good idea to figure out if Bose was right..
oh wow, they're amazing! I've never really observed such trees before...so wonderful of u to actually record the progress of the trees until that blooming day! must congradulate u for the patience! :)
I've seen this tree and the characteristic gold dust on the ground that you have mentioned, but I had never noticed the growth cycle of the flowers.. Nice pictures too!!
What a fantastic record of the flower cycle of this tree!It has been a very long time since I was in Madras in May, and so had forgotten about this tree. Thanks for reviving old memories!
I don't know about this tree Raji, but I admire your perseverance in observing and documenting this over so many days.
Hello,
The name of your tree is a Cassia Fistula, also known as a yellow cassia. I have the pink growing in my garden. There is also a peach coloured one as well. They are very beautiful trees. I have recently done a posting on the pink. The link is to my blog benthamshouse.blogspot.com Another blogger friend has done a posting on this tree in northern India. Her blog is terra farmer.
Looks to me like 'kanni konna'/ Golden Shower. A much sought after flower around Vishu (April 14) in kerala.
Hi Rajiakka,
It is golden shower tree. 'Kanni konna' in malayalam.It flowers by april mid, for vishu. The flower used for Vishu kanni by keralites.
Great shots!
Excellent series capture! That's a good display of patience, I think. No go hug that tree for me :)
Oops that should have read Now go...
Wow... Wonderful... Every year I love to see my Sarakkondrai like this...
Have to thank Ramakrishnan Sir to find this great blog...
Some time, if u find time, do drop into my blogs...
Yes,'ve seen the tree, delightful sight.
All the more commendable that it came out of a concious decision to plant seedlings and that it actually survived the rough and tumble of the city.
That is a fantastic series of snaps through the changes. I also see here some trees shedding their leaves, but they are growing back again slowly. I do not what is their name
what a treat ! I love the story of that tree ... golden blossom !
Raji, great effort and fantastic post
That's following up nature....and I LOVE you for that, Raji :)
Nice reading, and good photos...Thats KaniKonna...Amaltas
see these close-up pictures as well, so you may confirm, Raji :)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/21635756_bc0f0420c5.jpg
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Amaltas.jpg
wishes,
devika
Your patience and love for nature is admirable.
Lovely pictures. Thanks to some whose comments have thrown some more light on the type of tree it is. I don't remember observing such a tree before...
looks like kanikonna! beautiful.
Good job on capturing the step by step process. It looks like
it's the 'kanikonna tree'.You can find the picture here http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2400168390053868048kifFDA
Those yellow flowers are one of the important things that we keep for vishukani before lord guruvayoorappan(I hope you know abt Vishu)
Maddy - nice to think that plants are like us !
Lakshmi - it was fun.
Sreejith - thanks for visiting.
Kamini - Madras flowering trees are simply glorious in the summer.
T and S - i only wish I could have got better shots.
islandgal246 - thanks. Your post is wonderfully colorful with all those flowers.
Anonymous, Vidya, Devika, meerasworld, Lakshmi - actually slightly different from Kani konnai
Indrani - wish there could have been close ups
Swarna - I did!
Mitr-Friend - welcome here, keep visiting.
Anil P - that it did.
Rajesh- the miracles of nature
Namaki - golden it was, really.
Kallu, Kat - thanks.
Capt. Anup Murthy - thank you for the nice words.
We liked the content and the article. Worth the time.
Nice to see the picture of the whole tree in full bloom. It is called in Tamil odhiyan, or odhiyamaram. I googled and found the English name is Indian Ash tree. It blooms late in April. A week or two later all the flowers turn to fruits, all green beads that is also a delight to watch.
Some other commenters have called it Amaltas or konna that is incorrect. This tree can grow real big. But it is not considered strong; its timber can't be used in house construction. A Tamil saying I have heard many times in villages says " odhiyan perththaalum uththaraththukku udhavaadhu" (However big odhiyan tree might grow it can't be used as a beam).
Thank you for that. Someone else told me that it is odhiyan, as opposed to kani konnai etc.
It was a lovely treat to read it, in the middle of winter and with snow all around .
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