LEND ME A HAND , WILL YOU ?

' Lend me a hand, brother, and I shall reach new heights  !'
the Gourd vine establishes new bonds with bio-systems of the neighbourhood to remind us how Evolution works......

WORKING WASP .

               'Work  Work  Work'  says  the  working  Wasp
                I  came  in  Spring  and  now  its  the Rains
                Making  the  two  ends  meet  -   its  one  tough  job  !
                 

HUNTER ON THE LOOKOUT .

 The Garden Lizard is on a prowl.  
 There is much variety  around. 
 Food that creep and crawl and fly... abound.

DAYS OF SMILING GREENS .

How is the weather these days in Delhi n' around ?   
It rains a bit  and leaves a trail on leaves.
It cools a bit  and wets the undershirt.

THE BETTER HALF ?

The other half of the avian couple.  This one is quieter, more laid back and in general pretty satisfied with their summer sojourn this year. 

the house holder .

Doyal - that is how one friend identifies her.  The other names her as  Khajjan.  At home in these surroundings,  She is happy with the nest she has made.  She also exudes the  confidence of a ramp-model everytime I point my lens at her.

An Owl in The Neighbourhood .

I had heard its nocturnal cries from atop the roofs of buildings.  Then around dusk one day from the window of a shaftwell appeared its head. Then the eyes fixated on me. And the Owl was just as surprised to find me as his new neighbour as I was to find him  !

VIGIL OF THE NESTMAKER .

She has made a nest in the vicinity.  And now on is the job to keep the unwanted at bay.  My attentions, she has decided to overlook as a passing nuisance !

THE PRINCESS OF SUMMER .

the Gulmohur is the saving grace in hot Indian Summers.   As the multi-hued presentations of Spring begin to die out one after another the Gulmohur suddenly comes alive in glorious reds.  a bunch of Squirrels excitedly runs along the branches,  leaping at times from one to the other,with  the lush green leaves giving it a perfect backdrop the sparkling red trophy indicates the peak of summer and a season of rains to shortly follow it.

LORD AS A PAINTER (GOOD OR BAD ).

And here come the forerunners of our Rainy season.  Poets call them messengers.  Singers address them to make God pay heed.  And they cause farmers and their cattle to smile.

SUMMER'S WINGED VISITORS .

friend  Aflatoon  informs that the bird here is called Ghughuti Basuti.  Perhaps.  Fascinating is how the birds camouflage themselves among the earthen flower pots. ....apart from picking on its dry clay....!

THE COLOURS OF TIME .

Life is a sequence of arrivals and departures.  We choose not to notice them. As travellers in the interregnum our intent should be to celebrate the bounty as long as it lasts.

DAYS OF PINK.....

I can't name the species but this lovely plant with the red buds would have grown into a tree if it had not been turned into a Bonsai.  (perhaps some friends can) .

AN EAGLE'S EYE-VIEW.

the Eagle settles down on the highest perch around (Doordarshan's broadcast dish)  to  help him assess the selection of prey available in its vicinity.

JOURNEY OF A BEETLE.

the  Spring  that has gone  by  has left behind  pleasant  memories.  Like this Beetle  clambering  up  the stem of a blooming  flower  to  locate  the  nectar.  He  succeeded  !

AN INDIAN WEDDING.

Jayamala, the garlanding by the Bride and Groom of each other,  is a social declaration by the two parties that they marry each other of their own volition.  the Bride's sister acting here as Bridesmaids are witnesses to the ceremony. 

HAARIL ON THE NEEM.

This  pigeon  sized  bird  has been identified  by  my  friend  Aflatoon  as  a  migratory  bird  called  'Haaril'  which  comes  to  India  for  nesting.  More  fascinating  for  me  is  its  recognition  of  the  medicinal  properties of the 'Neem'  whose  fresh fruits  I  spotted her  feasting  upon.

IMAGE OF THE WIND !

the Wind they said was invisible...and so I believed.  And yet I persisted in my attempts to photograph the element. and the above is proof that you can catch it, in image !  The big idea is that, that  which is unseen is still discernible...if you focus on the object it impacts  !!

YOU &%#@$......&*#@$...!!

This violently angry bird happened to notice the new visitor to the avian-haven.  Bonds of camaraderie prompt her to alert all in the neighbourhood. The intruder is seen below...

ONE FINE MORNING AT THE VIGIL.....

Through the window of the shaft this magnificent creature surveys the world around him.  This is all I could get of him.  Wildlife enthusiasts could help me in naming the species.

FOR LIFE... FOR LOVE !

A strong spring breeze hardly deterring our seasonal lover,  this Beetle hung on to the petals and finally made it to the well of nectar ! ( there's a message here for all lovers )  

HOLI IN THE PARK

Holi, the spring festival of colours, is much awaited at the end of winters.  Celebrations too are easy to follow.  You start by dirtying yourself and others...you sing a bit and dance...and go a bit Dionysian.  Then you clean yourself and binge on forbidden foods..  Its also a time for the distinct sexes to party together and be a bit irresponsible...   Happy Holi  !

THE FIRST VISITOR !

                                This tiny Beetle has made it to the well of plenty in search of the Nectar.

 From a breeze to the wind nothing deters the adventurous little guy.

DEDICATE ME A VERSE OR TWO...!

The new moon is acquiring shape.  Its luminosity is all borrowed from the Sun - the master of our universe.  and yet it never fails to enthrall and arouse the poet, the prophet, the artist inside us !

a happy anniversary to you all !

Here's one more.....can't help it...they are blooming gloriously everywhere. Someone somewhere must be celebrating....so this one is for all those who believe in reincarnation ....of nature....of joys.....of beauty  !!

the Brits were right.  They told us the Butterflies no longer visit their gardens and that was some 2 years back.  In these tropical parts of the world too the Butterflies are getting rarer. would the plants too stop their annual beaming welcome for the winged visitors ? a different Spring in future ?

DID YOU MISS ME ..?

with the onset of Spring the yellow bodied wasps are streaming in through every door and window and crack and opening into the cooler shadier and safer rooms of the house. The Real Estate options here for them are mind-boggling.  They also carry a benumbing sting....that reminds one of a break-up with an old lover !

SPRING OF 2013

a few rays of sun splash across the fresh blooms and the magic of spring captivates my senses....ephemeral ?..yes...but the memories will remain for the rest of the year !

Its Spring once again !

the Spring of 2013 is here in all its glory.  the potted plants that were refusing to open up their buds have let in. Nature's game of seduction, with butterflies (fewer these days) landing atop the fragile petals, has just begun. For a month or so of pure bliss....let us celebrate Life.....!