A Riot of colors

Earlier this year when spring clothed

February with a mantle of many hues,

the sun shone benignly upon us.

I visited the annual Horticulture Show

after a gap of several years.

We used to always go as a family and with no one around I had

stopped going.

Garden enthusiasts, horticulturists and plant

nursery owners from all over Allahabad participate.

They enter their flowers , vegetables and fruit for completion.

There is a baby and dog show

and there are competition for

cookery, flower arrangement and decorative designs.

My sister Anju won a prize for

flower arrangement when she was in school.

There are many stalls in the show

which takes place in the Alfred Park.

Here is one selling garden equipment, fertilizer,
seeds plants etc.

Of course there is an area for food stalls.

I bought several summer vegetable seeds too.

All of then sprouted and

producing okra, beans and gourd.

This little fellow is selling paper windmills

There were tables with herbal medicines, pickle

and preserves.

I bought some herb powder and a preserve.

This lad made a monkey

face at the camera. He was helping

his mom.

Senior citizens relaxing on a bench

"Happy is he whose heart

Hath found the art

To turn is double pains to double praise"

- George Herbert

Another view of the displays.

I love this terra cotta pieces.

There were garden ornaments and crockery.

Beautifully crafted lantern

Sail away with balloons

The lights coming on

The glory of God 's

creation seen in a microcosm

A lovely design made with flower petals.

They are quite popular in India on festive occasions.

Here is a peacock made with colored chalk powder

and sawdust.

Another kid selling paper toys.

The show was a means of earning a little cash

for his family.

I took pictures of flowers and garden produce

entered in competitions by

people.

Look at the giant marigold

These are the best of the gardens.

Here are the fruits.Guavas I think.

I love these Indian gooseberries.

On the left is the amla fruit.

A rich source of Vitamin C.

These are wing beans.

We also grew them from

seeds given to us by our

Australian missionary friends.

Dr Dennis M was an agriculturist.

The famous Allahabadi red guava.

Bitter gourd (karela)

and a vegetable called suran

We can' t do without potatoes.

and cauliflower

Home grown tomatoes

Turnips

Prize beet

Cabbage and lettuce

A huge bottle gourd.

I like to make a nice dish with it.

You can cook it with lentils, meat or plain.

I make balls with it mixed with chickpea flour.

Jonpuri radish.

You can have have them raw in a sald,

make paranthas with them or sir fry them.

People put their cookies for the bakery competition.

This couple was guarding the edible entries.

They wanted me to take their photo.

Namkeens or savory snacks.

Little iced tea cakes.

This fella was playing hide and seek

among the flower pots.

The park klit up with

a garland of lights.

Came away reflecting on the following scriptures -

(Jesus said) "And why are you anxious about clothing?

Observe how the lillies of the field grow;they do not toil neither do they spin, yet I say to you

even Solomon in all his glory

did not clothe himself like one of these.

But if God arrays

the grass of the field

which is alive today and is tomorrow

thrown into the furnace,

will He not much more

do so for you

O men of little faith."

Matthew 6;28-30