A Morning with Flowers

Last Sunday, I decided to take it easy. So, around nine in the morning I carried a stool and placed it in the bright sunshine. It was pleasant to sit in the sun’s warmth and slowly sip the steaming, sweet, frothy coffee. The sparrows hopped from branch to branch of the mango tree and then pecked at the white chrysanthemums and yellow marigolds.

Their chirping was so restful. I made no efforts to shoo them away and prevent them from destroying the flowers. I watched the squirrels scampering over the wall and leaping onto the trunk of the Neem tree. A naughty baby squirrel decided that he wanted to play a game or two before he made it to the pillar where my mother kept a bowl of rice and bread crumbs for them and the birds. He hurried onto the now almost bare Chinese honeysuckle and raced up, towards the terrace. Within minutes he came running down, judged the distance and squeaking loudly made a flying leap onto the pillar. With his feet firmly planted there, he called out jubilantly for a few seconds looking at his family relaxing on the Neem tree branch. I wondered if his mother thought him to be tiresome child and chided him. Soon, he walked to the bowl and helped himself to the boiled rice. He nibbled for some time with appetite and then took off once again.

I looked around with pleasure at the splashes of colour and inhaled the fresh air contentedly. The calendulas, gerbera daisies, pansies, chrysanthemums, marigolds, cockscombs, poinsettias, dahlias, gazanias, hibiscus and bougainvillea were in their element. A riot of colours – bold reds, pretty pinks and purples, sunny yellows, demure whites, bright oranges and subtle maroons drew my attention and I marvelled at their beauty. Two yellow and one black butterfly flitted about from flower to flower. Tiny bees seemed to stumble from one blossom to another, apparently drunk on the heavenly fragrance and the nectar. I couldn’t help but admire God’s beautiful creation and thank Him for His love. The soft fragrance from the chrysanthemums and marigolds brought back happy memories from my childhood days.

The sparrows by now were hopping on the fine wire mesh covered flower pots and I laughed at them as they curiously peeped through the minute holes of the gauze. The gardener it seemed was successful from preventing these naughty winged creatures from making a meal of the freshly sprouted tiny saplings. If all goes well soon these saplings will bring forth lavender flowers, ornamental chillies and coriander.

Ahh... the coriander reminds me of the breakfast my mother prepared that morning. The delicious poha sprinkled lavishly with finely chopped onions, coriander and some namkeen was a delight, for the eyes as well as the palate. And, enjoying a quiet meal surrounded by flowers has its own charm.

As I sat there, all at once, the following words came to mind, ‘sometimes sitting and doing nothing is the best thing you can do’.