Anticipating the arrival of spring cheers you up in the cold and depressing days of winter — three or four days of bright sunshine and a change in the weather saw the beginning of signs that spring is in the air and to prove it, the yellow ‘chambeli’ (jasmine) was in full bloom — one of the first flowers to herald the season. It can be seen here and there and is a welcome sight after the long and very cold winter we have experienced — the coldest in many years that can be remembered by people living in the area. These days when it is dull and gloomy outside, catching sight of these pretty flowers can definitely lift your spirits, especially after the political shenanigans which are apt to put your mind in a spin. Thank goodness politics is far removed from beauty and nature! The rain — which by the way was most welcome despite bringing winter weather again — will see the yellow jasmine bloom more profusely — not as much as before the widening of roads and other developments — but definitely noticeable wherever it grows because of its cheerful yellow flowers. The flowers last about a month or six weeks and are a harbinger of the large variety of flowers and shrubs that make spring such a delightful part of the year. While this pretty flower has no scent as such — its cheerful colour makes up for this deficiency. Thereafter the bush remains green and is still good to look at, — especially if it is allowed to grow freely — and it makes a nice backdrop to other flowers if you have a big garden and need to cover the space in a pretty and aesthetic manner. Another place where this so called ‘common’ flower was once found in abundance was along Garden Avenue but here too it is not as profuse as before, since many bushes have been removed because of security concerns — their long, drooping strands make a good hideaway! Anyway, there are still enough bushes to make a gorgeous display when they bloom, enhancing the beauty of Garden Avenue, along which hectic activity is going on to get the parade ground ready. Wherever this bright flower is spotted it is a cheerful and and uplifting sight, especially as other plants and trees are still quite bare and give a faded look to the green belts.
