Why just Monet. Or Van Gogh. It could also be a word from a sonnet, a beat from a musical composition, a story by Haruki Murakami, or find even Howard Roark dreaming of his creations. It is here that one may stumble upon an inspired moment that created any kind of art anywhere in the world. Gardens are places where imagination flows to anyone who cares to enter and pause.

Wait a bit… if you think gardens and parks are where gardens and parks are supposed to be, you must know that they go well beyond places that we know so well. A terracotta pot with Peace Lily, a small strip in the backyard with only Aloe Vera, a grassy patch around Leh, succulents surrounded with imposing sand dunes, and an excited babble of seasonal flowers in a nursery are just as inspiring as a walk in Kew Gardens in London. Well, moments spent inside an art gallery looking at the mesmerizing works of Miro or Monet jog along equally well. Pacing with all these could even be the pages of a book with photographs of Mughal Gardens. What matters is allowing your world that buzzes around scales of success to stand still for some time to direct your gaze towards the only wonder that has and will survive all other wonders of creation. A garden of your choice. If you can do this every day, you may have stepped into the definition of life.

At the Gallery of Modern Art in Bengaluru

It is true that stepping into a corner florist is as much a mood stabilizer as serotonin claims to be. This is why so many bouquets are bought or arranged and then gifted. A walk around Talkatora Garden in Delhi is as satisfying as going out for dinner and spending a fortune at an expensive restaurant. Parks and gardens are secret sanctuaries that serenade seasons and dreams bloom in the arms of nature. A waltz of wildflowers is the dance of diversity that the heart forever yearns for.

Nature is unbeatable. If one persists one can easily find an answer to even the most intriguing questions. Religion could be the opium of the masses, economics could be the link to prosperity, politics could define the success of a nation, and history could bridge eons but a walk in a park lights up your eyes. Gardens fascinate me. Not just the beautifully manicured lawns around the Taj Mahal or the sprawling botanical gardens in Singapore or the lovely blooms in Mrs. Johnson’s home garden by the river Ouse in York… as I have already written, the entire universe of even the loveliest garden can very well be found in a single flowerpot in your home. Every little petunia has the magical power to turn life into lines of poetry.

Yes, there is so much joy in bringing back an almost strangled Harsingar or Night Jasmine beside the driveway of our home. This tree is also known as Parijat which is a small ornamental tree that has light yellow or white flowers that bloom at night and fall in the morning. It is such a joy to watch people visiting temples come and pick up these lovely flowers… and one may pick these flowers from the ground before being offered to the Gods.

Talking about gardens and parks is possible only if one is fond of walking. The surprising fact is that every time we go for our walks, we see interesting facets of human nature as well. For instance, there was this walker in Talkatora garden in Central Delhi who was forever talking to his son somewhere abroad and explaining to him the intricacies of mathematics. Now if you can imagine walking and observing both nature and people in other countries, you will know what these posts are going to be like.

I know I am going to love writing this series and hope you love what you read.

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Arvind Passey
01 April 2024