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Setting up a colony park is the perfect way for creating lung space in concrete jungles
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GO green A `shared garden', maintained by the Methodist Colony residents in the city
Another Hyderabad summer is beating down on us and will do so for the next few weeks.
No more are we in a city of Baghs and Bowlis. The keywords have changed to `Apartments' and `Shopping Malls'.
But how many know of the concept of shared garden space? Yes! This is indeed a reality in some parts of Hyderabad. The concept itself has been the brainchild of the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad since 2000.
Faced with the problem of asserting its rights over open spaces strewn around innumerable housing colonies, as well as maintaining them, the Corporation hit upon a plan of delegating the task to the beneficiaries themselves, namely, welfare groups and citizens who have a sense of civic responsibility and proven ability to take up park maintenance.
During the last five years, residents from colonies in different parts of the city came forward to take up the MCH's offer to develop parks in residential areas.
Following several discussions and visits by civic officials to the colonies, the residents were made to understand that their applications for "park adoption" would be considered provided they could demonstrate the capacity for continual maintenance in accordance with set guidelines.
The result? A transformation of several neglected open spaces into well-maintained and illuminated landscaped gardens and tree parks.
Today, such colony parks are the equivalent of shared gardens, especially for apartment dwellers who yearn for a bit of open space and fresh air - Methodist Colony, Srinagar Colony, Model Colony and Mathura Nagar Colony, to name a few. The well-maintained parks not only present a neat appearance to passersby and neighbouring buildings but also attract birds and butterflies.
The early morning choir of innumerable birds serves as a wake-up musical alarm for residents nearby.
As for the flora, Bottlebrush and Bamboo make excellent border plants for they can reach great heights within three years. Ficus plants too are easy to maintain and come in a wide range. The taller varieties, such as Ficus Benjamina and Ficus Panda lend themselves very well for trimming into exotic topiaries. Firebush (hamaelia patens) in dense shrubberies tinged with tiny red flowers attracts butterflies of unusual patterns and hues. Song of India, Chlorophytum and Dracaena (red and green) are shade-loving ferns and can provide stunning contrasts in height and colour.
Golden duranta, the popular border plant, comes with a lot of criss-crossing and can be trimmed to make interesting patterns.
Cacti and succulents have made a winning combination at a "rock park" in Methodist Colony, which is filled with boulders interspersed with very old plants including Gulmohar, Bougainvillea, Bahunia and Tekoma - all of which provide splendid colours in different seasons.
Minimum maintenance gardens that have an optimal ratio of hard and soft landscaping have a better chance of survival in all seasons.
Granite and stone benches can be used since they are easy to clean. Bamboo fences and granite walls can be made to sparkle with an annual coating of varnish. Kerbs and eco-friendly tiles add touches of grey and terracotta to the greenery that they surround. Lawns, borders, hedges and shrubberies need regular trimming and weeding.
The dry leaf waste accumulated during February-April can be composted in a pit at the corner of the garden.
In summer time, watering is the most crucial task for plant survival. In addition it cools the earth and air and makes the park a haven for evening visitors.
GITA DENDUKURI
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