Gardening is essentially a most beautiful art that gives happiness, peace, and satisfaction to our heart, body, and soul. In this new series, “Gardens around me”, we are going to explore different gardens every month. In this episode, we are going to visit my granny’s garden. I would call her as ammamma. In short, this post is about my ammammas garden tour.

Gardens around me

“If you want to be happy for a lifetime, be a gardener.” – chinese proverb.

Hey folks, I welcome you to the part 2 of the ammammas garden tour episode. I hope you read the last post (part-1). If you are new here, I have written 2 posts previously about my granny’s garden. The last post (part-1) is all about, the flowers, fruits, and vegetables growing in her garden. Here is the link. Make sure you take a look over there. Ammamma’s garden tour part-1.

Also, the third and the final part of this episode went live. Check it out. It covers the interesting interview we had with her. Link: Ammamma’s interview.

Episode – 1 Part -2

Her name is Mrs. GOVINDAMMAL JAYAVELU. She is into gardening for more than 20 years. I got inspired by her, to do gardening. Since childhood, I enjoyed watching her watering the plants, pruning the branches and dried leaves, composting the kitchen waste and harvesting much fresh produce each day. No wonder, how I fell in love with gardening.

Ammamma’s Garden Tour.

In this post, we are going to explore the green part of the garden. That includes the herbs, medicinal greens, and crotons.

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To make, this garden visit easy, I categorized the plants into the following groups. Next time when you come back to this post for a particular plant, just click the group. You will be directed to the particular topic.

1. 1. 1. 1. HERBS
         2. MEDICINAL GREENS
         3. LOW MAINTENANCE PLANTS

Without any further do, let’s start exploring.

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HERBS / GREENS

Here are some of the herbs and greens growing in her garden.

1. MINT

A very easy to grow herb is mint. In Tamil, it is called as “புதினா”. Mint grows all year round. My ammamma always indulge to grow mint, if you are very new to gardening. As they never fail to grow with less attention.

I have already written a detailed post on Mint. The link is here, check out the post – All about growing MINT. 

 

2. MUDAKATHAN KEERAI

This green is called, Cardiospermum halicacabum or “முடக்கத்தான் கீரை” in Tamil. It is a climber. Mudakathan keerai is rich in calcium, minerals, and vitamins. 

This herb,

• used for treating joint pains,
• as a relief for cold,
• Has Anti-inflammatory properties,
• Treating arthritis.

Here is the video version of this post! Check it out and subscribe “Diarytale” if you love watching youtube videos rather than reading blogs.

 

3. CURRY LEAVES

“கறிவேப்பிலை” or Curry leaves are mostly used for tempering or as seasoning food. It is mostly used in South Asian Countries.

I have already covered in brief about this curry leaves. If you are interested, check out this post: Curry leaves.

 

4. AGATHI KEERAI

The other names of this spinach are the Vegetable hummingbird, Hummingbird tree, August tree leaves. The scientifical name is Sesbania grandiflora. In Tamil, it is “அகத்தி கீரை”.

Agathi keerai is rich in Vitamin c, calcium, iron and phosphorous.

 

5. RED PONNANGANNI

Alternanthera prostrata or Sessile joyweed is called “சிகப்பு பொன்னாங்கண்ணி கீரை”.

I have discussed this plant briefly in the previous post. Do check out if you are interested. Link: Ponnanganni.

 

6. SAKKARAVARTHI KEERAI

Chenopodium album or “சக்கரவர்த்தி கீரை” in Tamil is also called as Fat hen or Lamb’s quarters.

This green is rich in vitamin A, c, Potassium, calcium, iron and amino acids. Sakkaravarthi keerai is good for

• Curing constipation,
• Purifies blood,
• Improves hemoglobin level,
• It helps to cure all kinds of stomach ulcers,
• Improves appetite

7. MURUNGAI / MORINGA TREE

I guess everyone knows about this plant/tree. This “முருங்கை கீரை” / drumstick tree leaves or moringa leaves are recommended by many doctors and nutritionist and even by my mother for its rich nutritional value.

I have discussed this plant in the earlier post. Check this link: Moringa

 

8. MANJAL KARISALANKANNI

“மஞ்சள் கரிசலாங்கண்ணி”  or Eclipta prostrata or Bhringraj is rich in iron, calcium, and micronutrients.

This plant is known for curing Jaundice. If you want to know more, check this post – Manjal karisalankanni.

MEDICINAL GREENS

Now let us explore some of the medicinal greens growing in her garden.

1. TULSI

The other name of “துளசி” / Tulsi is “Holy Basil”. It is very easy to grow with no attention needed. Its scientific name is Ocimum tenuiflorum.

This herb

• Detoxifies our body,
• Effective in treating skin disorders,
• Is great for dental health,
• Helps in relieving fever, cold, cough, and sore throat,
• Has some antibacterial, antiviral properties.

 

2. ALOE VERA.

Who does not know this great plant variety?  Aloe vera / “கற்றாழை” is very easy to grow under low maintenance. Wanna know more, check this post. – All about aloe vera. I have covered in detail about its uses, how to grow in pots or containers, some added tips too. Do check the post.

 

3. KARPURAVALLI

“கற்பூரவள்ளி” / Karpuravalli is a Mexican mint. Its scientific name is Plectranthus amboinicus. The other common name is “Indian Borage”.

This medicinal herb

• Helps in relieving cold and cough
• Used to heal a sore throat
• Helps healing body pain.
• For treating asthma and bronchitis
• Helps in digestion and stomach upset.

Usually, this old ayurvedic plant is grown in tropical and subtropical countries to keep the mosquitoes away. This medicinal plant is cooked and eaten raw. The leaves of this herb are tender and soft.

 

4. HENNA

Marudhani / “மருதாணி”  or Mehandi is a dye paste prepared from the plant Lawsonia inermis. This plant is called as henna.

This paste is used for temporary body art by staining. Mostly used in India and South Asian countries. Also used in Middle Eastern countries.

      5. BETEL LEAVES

“வெற்றிலை” or Vetrillai or the betel plants are commonly grown for decorative purpose in many places. But the leaves of this plants are having some medicinal values.

The betel leaves,

• used as a mouth freshener
• helps in digestion
• eases constipation
• treating cough
• for Treating respiratory problems.
• Heals wounds and infections.

 

     6. PIRANDAI

Veld grape, Devil’s backbone, adamant creeper are the other names of Pirandai or “பிரண்டை”. Its scientific name is Cissus quadrangularis.

This herb,

• Used to strengthen the bones
• Stops the bleeding gums
• Increases the memory power
• Reduce or prevents gastric related problems
• Also helps in the removal of blocks in the blood vessels and regulates the blood circulation.

LOW MAINTENANCE PLANTS

Now let us see some of the low maintenance or the showcase plants.

Some of the low maintenance or decorative plant in her garden are money plant and its varieties, snake plant, etc. They can survive in any climatic situations.

They can be grown in both indoors as well as outdoors. They do not require frequent watering. For the beginners, she always recommends lo maintenance plants as they never fail and disappoints us.

I hope you all liked this episode of the brand new series. Do let me know in the comment section if you liked this post. Here is the complete playlist of “Gardens around me” series.

If you have any questions regarding gardening, do write us below, in the comment or email us or you can also ask via any social media.

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