After many years, Delhi was blessed with an actual spring that lasted well into the first week of April. It was quite surprising considering there were almost no rains all winter and it was one long dry spell. Trees lost their sooty leaves and sprouted fresh ones. But even these were soon covered in dust. The western disturbances finally arrived after a long wait in the last week of April cleaning the hazy and dusty air. March though cool was never this hazy in recent memory. In the last few years, the late winter rains would keep washing the city. Well, these are the sign of the times. The whole greenery of the city is under onslaught of the development brigade with green patches and trees being devoured by concrete high rises. It is not a good time to be nature.

The first cheer of the season - Cosmos, blue skies and cool breeze

The Mid-Afternoon Beautiful Roheda Dream

Doggoneit - Spring is gone

So even as Spring actually visited Delhi this year, the flowering was underwhelming. You are not sure if it was you or if that wow factor of 2021 had actually gone missing. You did not get out as many times as you would have wished and even when you did, most of the time you did not feel like lugging the heavy camera with you. And since there was no Holi’Day’ run this time (hope it was an aberration or maybe an indication), you are putting this photo essay together. So, let’s go that flowery path!

January

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The Revenge of the Rose

The rumours of ‘Tulip killed the Rose Star’ are greatly exaggerated – The Buggles

Rose has been getting the short shrift for many years now. Imports are getting all the love and even Presidents now pose with tulips in the Mughal Garden. You have been seeing beds emptying out and the surviving ones seemed diseased and sad. Even you had stopped giving attention to the few flowers. It was only matter of time before the various rose gardens would be renamed. Rose rearing is an expert job that involves grafting and long periods of nurturing and apparently gardeners are choosing the easy flowery instagrammable plants.

All is about to change. After many years you finally see these happy dew laden roses in the BRICS Friendship Rose Garden. And now that you look around, the scanty rose beds seemed to have repopulated overnight. The story is same across the city – Nehru Park, Lodhi Garden, Noida parks; the rose is back! In Nehru Park there are more selfie takers in the rose garden than the Flower Park.

In a winter-spring season when the regular seasonal flowers underwhelmed, roses were the stars of the season. The book you are reading tells us about how trees talk and communicate with each other. It is quite possible the roses got together and decided that enough is enough – let’s show these new kids on the block what legends are all about.

In times when old is rapidly being replaced with flashy new, you are happy nature is giving us another chance to stop and smell the roses.

Wake up and smell the roses

Close your eyes and pray this wind don't change

There's nothing but screams in the field of dreams

Nothing but hope at the end of the road

Nothing but gold in the chimney smoke – Roger Waters

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The magic of dewed and frosty roses on a cold winter morning

February

Apparently, the whole might of NDMC’s horticulture department is now concentrated on Tulip. More parks and beds were brought under the import from Netherland. And because of tulips other flowers suffered and sulked. The stretch of Shanti Path that would look vibrant and meadow-like late into early summer with rows of yellow cosmos & coreopsis, red linums and purple moss verbena looked forlorn once the tulips dried. The inter-cultivated petunias looked sullen and refused to bloom. More disappointment will follow.

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Tulip Fever Rising

Last year in the record February heat, the bulbs bloomed early and all at once and soon they were all gone; the suffering of the glowy petals was swift and brutal.

The extended winter this year means the bulbs are taking their natural time to bloom. The white and burgundy ones are the first off the blocks. This time they should last a couple of weeks provided the selfie seekers don't actually perform padma er tulipasana on them.

While Shanti Path is the perennial crown jewel location, this year even new parks like Baansera and Asita will be glowing. These are the few pleasant days in Delhi - go enjoy the Spring!

NDMC Tulip Festival, 10th to 21st Feb 2024, Shantipath, New Delhi

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The early tulip bloomers

This year it seemed more people came out to see the tulips or maybe they were more visible and accessible on the Shanti Van stretch

Here is some welcome news. Delhi has just got two new parks - both on Yamuna Floodplains. The first is Asita East Park created around a lake that surprisingly has some water fed by Yamuna.

Winter birds have made their appearance while a guard is ready to shoo you away if you try to get close to get some clicks. The park extends towards east with some gravel and tiled tracks, expansive lawns and seasonal flowers. They need more trees here so that summers are bearable, otherwise visits are limited to cool hours. But then you are okay as long as hordes do not overrun the greens. In these wonderful weather days dahlias, cosmos, marigolds and some remnant tulips spread cheer.

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The Spa Recipe

Some rain to wash that grime, some breeze to blow away the haze, some blue skies, bunch of swaying cosmos, some Ruddy Shelducks.

Apply and wait for three months for the magic to happen and voila - Delhi is beautiful again!

Asita East Park, Yamuna Floodplains, New Delhi

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A cheery breezy flowery spring afternoon - Asita East DDA Park, ITO, New Delhi

The other park developed is the ticketed Baansera named after the bamboos planted. This park is on the western floodplains just across the Serai Kale Khan ISBT. You visit it again after the not so impressive Kite Festival in January. The park is reeling from the absence of rain with most winter seasonals withering. You are surprised to see the last Tulips blooming here. It is a good beginning here and hope they don’t go overboard with tiles and construction.

Baansera Park, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi

March

Shaheed Smarak Park in Sector 29, Noida dedicated to the Fallen Soldier is always immaculately maintained. In Spring, it gets pichkari full of colour. Stern looking retired army officers can be seen walking. The park is a little flawless gem military style.

The always pretty Shaheed Smarak Park, Noida

Sunder Nursery deserves a mandatory visit during Spring. But as elsewhere, the dazzle was missing. The regular seasonal flowers except maybe the dahlias were missing their mojo.

For the first time witnessing the peacock dance this close

Perfect place for soul spa - Sunder Nursery, New Delhi

You are back in Mehrauli Archaeological Park after many years. A lot of activity is going on here. Some good things are happening. Some not so good. You will give it a few more months to give a final verdict.

Chamrod sparkling on an early morning, giving company to Balban - Mehrauli Archaeological Park

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Love in the Time of Semal

These are the first and last few days of perfect days in Delhi. The air finally thaws after a miserable sunless winter. The sky finally breaks through the endless haze to reveal some blue and white. To celebrate, the Cotton Silk trees bloom in their brightest reds and oranges. The Charbaghs swoon, fragrant with lime flowers. The peacocks give in; they will dance to this appreciative audience of one.

Let this season of love continue forever.

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Have recently discovered the swoony fragrance of lime trees

Semal in all its crimson glory at Humayun Tomb

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About Time

After almost half a century, you are back!

Just the thought of heading out without your conjoined backpack and camera and having to deal with marauding crowds had made you put off ever visiting the Mughal Gardens. But then nostalgia trippingg takes you places. It is Holi weekend, the city has almost emptied out, these are the last few days before the Garden closes, and the weather is simply perfect - the ticket window has just sprung open to do some time-machine riding.

Last time you were here, we had the All-Access card and were perhaps the only visitors that lovely winter morning. Of course, a lot has changed in the intervening half century - residents have come and gone, the place has been locked down and this time you will go through the usual security paraphernalia. All in all, it turned out to be a pleasant walk in the park in the company of some majestic banyan trees, sweetly fragrant sweet peas and petunias even as semals are handing out the baton to the yellow tabs.

The next time you will not keep the garden waiting for half a century.

Mughal Gardens, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi

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The vibrant full of memories Mughal Garden

Rashtrapati Bhawan Museum, New Delhi

Never knew the Central Park is such a delight under the spell of fragrant petunia

Mandi House roundabout always gets a beautiful makeover even as play rehearsals go on unmindful of the streaming traffic from all sides

This Flower Park in Nehru Park is your favourite spring spot. On a perfect day the concentric rows and radial beds are perfectly lined against the yellow tabebuia trees at the far end. But again, the flowers here just did not seem to be happy and trees were scanty.

The Glass House area in the Lodhi Gardens is where the seasonal action takes place regularly that produces a burst of colour. This year the garland like bougainvillea was exceptional.

Almost surreal blooming of bougainvillea in Lodhi Gardens

You have just started to explore the potential of the spread-out Biodiversity Park in Sector 137, Noida. You hope to explore it more in the coming seasons.

The eye-catching Yellow Tabebuia in all its voluptuousness

The rampant Bottle Brush

The Shisham of childhood

April

Most winter seasonals have withered away except for a smattering of petunias. Petunias were a big disappointment this season. Maybe they did not like Tulips getting all the attention in their own backyard. Now is the time for the trees to bloom.