Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Entertainment | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Cropped to size

To live close to nature, Rao and Leela have sprinkled a splash of green around their house, says HARJEET KAUR ALLAGH

GREEN CARPET Regular pruning can do wonders PHOTO: RAJU. V.

A majestic house with a splendid garden is where K.Sambasiva Rao and his wife Leela live. Large vistas and patches of lawns stretch as far as one can see. Located in the Koganti lane of Patamata Lanka, lush green environs outside the compound welcome the visitors. Huge teak trees, branches of which are painted brick red and decorated with rangoli patterns, lend a colourful touch to the surroundings.

The smaller gate leads to a marble staircase with a marble balustrade. On either side of the path is colourful Bougainvillea, growing in abundance. The other gate is gigantic, painted in ivory and opens to a hexagon-stone path with the garden on all sides. At the far end a three-stepped structure holds unbaked terracotta pots with different blooms adorning each step. The lower step has a number of euphorbias in pink, the middle one has bright marigolds while the topmost step is a veritable potpourri of calliandra, asters, hibiscus, daisies in different hues, yucca and dracaena.

Intricate carvings

The periphery of the paths is lined with terracotta tiles, painted with intricate rangoli patterns. The whole courtyard is brightly painted with flowery Rangoli patterns. The boundary wall on the right side has a breathtakingly beautiful and intricately carved birdbath in marble, with storks, birds and an image of an angel carved on the top. On either side of it are structured plants growing on umbrella shaped trellis. Violets and other clinging creepers are pruned and structured. A hybrid mango tree provides shade to the tall birdbath. The hedging of lime green duranta is trimmed into a straight line and curved down.

The garden in the front has a pride of place with well-manicured lawns and perfectly trimmed hedging all over the place in different shapes. One patch has a dumbbell shaped cutting of alternanthera in green, white and yellow with the red amaranthus in contrast.

A contrast near the stairs is a circular rockery with marble chips and smooth stones interspersed with cactus and adeniums, lined at the back with areca palms. A hundred-year-old antique statue of the Virgin Mary is placed reverently in the center.

A cascading waterfall flowing with a backdrop of smooth pebbles embedded in concrete is the highlight of the garden. Beside it is an artistic view of a village scene, done up with chips in a mosaic pattern. The image of a thatched house and two women walking on the village path grabs attention. In front of it is a fountain like cycas, surrounded by a flower shaped boundary of alternanthera and amaranthus. Song of India grows at the four corners. Another patch in front of the waterfall has an edging in heart shaped leaves of a flower.

Inhospitable climate

Rao is a zealous businessman. Gardening is his interest while morning walks at the Vijayawada Club and socializing with friends besides charity work in a quiet manner form part of his life. Leela is the perfect partner for him, as she likes almost everything that her spouse is interested in. She is into reading religious books and spending most of her time in the garden. "The climate in Vijayawada is not conducive to grow flowering plants. This forces us to keep the garden perennially colourful with hardy bushes.'' The couple is blessed with three daughters, Sarita, Neelima and Tulasi. Sarita is the eldest who is married and settled in London. Neelima is in the US while the youngest of all, Tulasi, is pursuing MS in Detroit.

On the right of the smaller gate are rows of duranta and amaranthus, leading to the lush green lawns with a carved marble garden lamp at the center. Pink ixoras grow abundantly on three sides of the lawn.

Gardening is now considered to be a remedy for many illnesses. It is believed that the exercise brings a sense of calmness and relaxation to the stressed out nerves.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail