Saturday, 20 August 2016

PENNIWORT/ VALLARAI/ BRAHMI

Vallarai keerai is not easily available in the markets. Adding vallarai keerai in our regular diet will render great health service to our body system.

Botanical name of vallarai keerai is Centella Asiatica. People refer it as Centella and gotu kola commonly. Saraswati Aku in Telugu, kudangal in Malayalam, bhrahmi in Marathi and Brahmi booti in Hindi, ondelaga in Kannada.

Vallarai is a brain booster. It improves memory and our parents never forgot to feed us these leaves regularly as a tonic or by sneaking them into other diet items.

This  not only strengthens the nervous system entirely but also improves the digestion and sperm count.

When I bought the vallarai keerai from a street vendor, last week., I notice one leaf with a fine root system.
I plant it in a pot and I am watering the sapling regularly. After one week, only one leaf which laid down in the soil is now erect with freshness. One baby leaf is popping out from the soil now. I feel very happy and excited much. Just like a Mother gave birth to a child. I am sharing the images of that baby herb with you friends in this posting.

It needs less space and a very little care and maintenance. It treats skin problems miraculously.
It enhances memory. It has rich health qualities.But it is said that the pregnant mothers, small children and lactating mothers should not consume these greens.

It prevents aging and  maintains the youthfulness of the skin.
It  provides vigour and strength, it improves the receptive capacity of the mind, voice and stamina. It is said to help in improving complexion. It is also advised by the sidda medicinal experts as the best food and medicine for the diabetic people and the people suffering anaemia. The extracts of these leaves are used in cosmetics such as face creams and anti wrinkle creams.

Here are the images of vallarai herb which I am growing in my kitchen balcony. Do you notice the baby vallarai leaf is popping out!





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Friday, 22 April 2016

MODAKKATHAN KEERAI/CARDISPERMUM HALICABABUM

Mudakkathan keerai is very familiar herbal greens which are known as Kanphatta in Hindi. In English , it is known as Balloon wine plant. In Sanskrit is is called as Indravalli

This plant is identified with the leaves and balloon shaped fruits. It is used for the treatment of joint pains in Siddha vaidyam. Normally in the kitchens of Tamilnadu, it is frequently used as a periodical dish in various versions. We can easily grow this plant in pots or soils. This is a climber and highly appealing ornamental plant.

During our childhood days we enjoying this balloon shaped fruits by bursting it on our forehead.
Actually, we do not know this traditional value at that time. In olden-days it is widely grown in the fence of the garden.

This plant is named as Cardiospermum halicababum in botanical world.  When you visit villages, you can see this herbal climber almost all over the areas.

in Tamil, it is known as Modakkaruthan keerai. Tamil people are highly knowledgeable and their knowledge in herbal medicines are miraculous. They named the plants because of its medicinal use.
Their nomenclature of the herbs is truly meaningful. Modakkaruthan keerai prevents and cures the joint pain like arthritis, joint problems and hence the name modakkaruthan.
It cures dandruff, constipation  also.

In my home garden, I grow this plant in pots.
I use the leaves for making soup, rasam, paruppu kootu.





This herb can be consumed as in the versions of dosai, thuvaiyal, sambar, rasam, kootu or just having it fresh with half cooked twice in a week.

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

CITRUS SAPLINGS

GUIDANCE OF CITRUS SUCCESS:

Abundant sunshine, quick drainage soil, infrequent water supply, seasonal feeding are the main factors to grow citrus successfully.
Open up the centre of the citrus so that the free airflow will be there to comfort the tree.
Pruning of the young shoots make the tree into a bush. The citrus should have four branches.
Citrus trees don't need pruning to bear fruits but it must be fit in your home garden. Never use alkaline water or bore water. Fresh water is the best for abundant citrus growth. organic fertilizers like neem cakes, earthworm fertilizers should be fed to citrus.
Main key is copious irrigation of fresh water.

I have two saplings of citrus  and two young trees of lemon. I satisfied with above conditions. All the citrus varieties are being grown healthy with dark green leaves.   Let me see how they yield...





Sunday, 10 April 2016

RED ROSE












Red rose is looking silky in morning sunlight. But the leaves are pale I think that the plant needs some nourishment. Earthworm organic manure must be needed. I applied today. Let us see how it turns out..!

ANDRA RED ROSES WITH RAIN DROPS







Roses with rain drops...
Posing with smile dews...
Choosing me to live with...
Thank you rose, my comrade..!

GORGEOUS ROSES






Gorgeous roses in home garden... blooming in the morning. such a sweet fragrance...
Mind blowing smell spreads all over the garden..! love you buddy..! 

Monday, 4 April 2016

MARI KOZHUNTHU IN MY HOMEYARD

I grow marikolunthu plant in my home yard. It grows healthy upto two feet. When we pluck and rub some leaves it gives an amazing aromatic fragrance.

Scientific name is Artemisia Pallens.

I gathered some information about this Marikolunthu:

This plant has its native of Tamilnadu. Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. This plant is a small and aromatic herb and xerophytic in nature.
In the regional languages the Marikolunthu is known as Thavanam, marikolunthu in Tamil, Thavanamu in Telugu and davana in Kannada.
It is commercially cultivated for its aromatic oil.
The flowers are small racemose panicles bearing numerous flower heads or capitula but the silky which covering down gives the appearance of foliage of grey color.
It has pinna sect and alternate leaves (the leaves divided into opposite pairs of lobes combined at the bottom gives the flower like appearance.
The most commercial by-product manufactured from Davana plant is Davana perfumery oil.
The oil is not much popular in India but famous and exported to America, France, Germany and Netherland for its aromatic perfume
Davana leaves and flowers are used to make bouquet, flower garland and flower arrangements.
Its cost is high.
The plant seeds are very small and small and tender seedlings should be taken an extra care to cultivate.
When applied to the skin, it will give different smell in different persons.