tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54555470980375610962024-03-14T22:40:34.789+05:30Native Place GardenNative Place is the name of our holiday home in the hills of western India. It is also home to Nirvana Adventures, a paragliding school, run by my husband. My gardening adventure began in 2003 when we finished building Native Place and moved in. It is an all consuming hobby that I juggle along with paragliding on weekends. During the week I’m back in the city and gardening onlinenativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-33785982126181919222019-03-13T19:33:00.000+05:302019-03-13T19:34:15.098+05:30Valentine's Weekend at Native Place, Kamshet <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">This Valentine’s day
weekend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NativePlaceKamshet/?ref=bookmarks" target="_blank">Native Place</a> hosted “Color’s of Love” an event where people came
together to celebrate Love of nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The </span>event attracted a beautiful set of
people looking to escape the city, immerse in nature and have a change of scene. The highlight of the weekend was the Natural Dyeing workshop
conducted by <a href="http://anushree_la/" target="_blank">Anushree Chitnis. </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Besides, there was rooftop
music performance, a bonfire, nature walks and simply chilling out in the
flower filled <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NativePlaceKamshet/?ref=bookmarks" target="_blank">Native Place</a> garden, harvesting veggies and making flower
mandalas. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt;">People
were blown away by the beautiful Jade vine, a gorgeous sunset and then there
was a music performance on the roof where B Mohanty charmed us with her
beautiful voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Anushree Chitnis a Landscape Architect and Permaculture Designer
with a penchant for plants and all things natural took the eager participants
through the history of plant-based dye making transporting them to the times
when colors were all natural made of ingredients from one’s kitchen or garden.
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Participants collected palash flowers, sorted onion peels, tore up
purple cabbage and pounded turmeric. The ingredients were brewed in the
outdoors on a wood fired stove that added to the feeling of stepping back in
time. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Another
great weekend <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at Native Place - learning
new things, making new friends, rooftop party, bonfire, nature walks and great
food. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From insane blue/green Jade Vine
flowers, to the beautiful indigo and ochre shades we made, from the beautiful
sunset to the vivid greens - this weekend was truly colourful :)” Roly Saraswat,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>participant <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">About Anushree
Chitnis<br />
A landscape architect by profession, Anushree is a gardener at
heart. Her observations and experiments have led her to design spaces that
encourage not just people but also, birds, bees and insects to spend time in
these eco-niches!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Her
love for nature also extends itself towards her art work including murals,
sketches, up-cycled objects and recently, paintings with natural dyes and inks.
She believes the world of natural dyes is a complete sensory and unwinding
experience, always full of surprises when embraced with an open mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Anushree
currently runs an independent design practice, Studio Folium, offering
landscape and permaculture design, interior design and art commissions
representing bio-diversity. </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Follow her Instagram Page: </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">@anushree_la </span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/anushree.chitnis </span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Linked In : https://in.linkedin.com/in/anushree-chitnis-b2212234</span></span><br />
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-91805701122179319672019-03-06T12:21:00.000+05:302019-03-07T09:40:09.176+05:30Yoga teacher and organic farmer Teruko Maehara from Japan visits Native Place.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Yoga instructor and
practicing organic farmer from Hiroshima, Japan visited us in February. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shares her experience:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">My yoga friend <a href="http://www.ivanstanley.net/" target="_blank">Ivan Stanley</a> from India told me Native Place was definitely
a nice place to visit. Its India but not the India we imagine – people find
India crowded, chaotic and noisy but that is the city – this place is a
tranquil space. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Being close to Pune – Iyengar centre she found it convenient and
practical to visit the <a href="http://bksiyengar.com/" target="_blank">Iyengar Yoga Center</a> in crowded Pune and return to the
peaceful atmosphere at <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Its good for permaculture, meditation and yoga.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Local food, garden veggies good for yogis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One can also have a paragliding experience<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">My travel</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a plane to Delhi
and a domestic flight to Pune. The guesthouse organised a taxi to pick me up
from Pune airport – one hour’s drive. So, it was all very convenient. Not
difficult at all for a single traveller. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">I hour from the crowded city of Pune Native Place is a fresh oasis
of green. Filled with many beautiful native trees and lots flowers, birds and
overlooking has lots of greenery. It is dry and brown outside but a fresh green
oasis here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">What to do here</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> - If you wish farming, cooking, <a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/" target="_blank">paragliding</a>, swim in the lake,
enjoy the sunset by the lake or from the terrace, join a workshop is one is
going on. There are many hidden places to spend quiet time and be alone. To
read a book or meditate when you need Or enjoy conversations with other guests
from all over the world and local people . The air is fresh and unpolluted,
there is lots of place for kids to play so it’s good for families as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Most can speak English, so it makes it easy to converse with
guests and staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would think /
recommend it as a good place to escape the winter for people from Europe and
Japan. I came end of January and it was sunny in the day time, dry weather, I
could walk barefoot. In the evenings and early morning its cool and fresh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6NmHo64hs1Mm-J9TV47asuMotMU6SSM5a7v7Fcvekne9cNFYSpqU4C2RVqv5sruxb2bSsIKan5vVvtG58WNp5dNshwH8q9358pb8c5tGkUdXyO6Dl023zkTNnVP4K9SuwxmVBnjJpJc/s1600/IMG-20190127-WA0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6NmHo64hs1Mm-J9TV47asuMotMU6SSM5a7v7Fcvekne9cNFYSpqU4C2RVqv5sruxb2bSsIKan5vVvtG58WNp5dNshwH8q9358pb8c5tGkUdXyO6Dl023zkTNnVP4K9SuwxmVBnjJpJc/s1600/IMG-20190127-WA0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">I found people visiting the Native place to be like a family –
Saturday night reunion of paragliding pilots and friends, a community atmosphere,
chill out, catch up with each other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s definitely a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>nice place to meet people as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">I’m really happy I came and spent a quiet week here – my next stop
is the <a href="http://www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schvipula" target="_blank">Vipassana center</a> in New Bombay after which I travel back home to winter
in Japan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-50013252318414935922017-04-24T11:17:00.000+05:302017-04-24T11:17:59.917+05:30Native Place Easter Special <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This Easter weekend we had a fun Easter Egg Huntat the <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place Guesthouse</a> followed by
a special ‘East Indian’ Easter lunch. We had invited children from Palegaon (
the nearest village) to take part in the hunt. </div>
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The children arrived at 10.30
and sat shyly in a group. We invited them to join us blowing up balloons. This
worked as an icebreaker and soon they were all running around helping with the
decorations. </div>
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To continue the mood of excitement we played a game - anyone
heard of ‘Mamachya patra haravla’ ? It’s the local version of ‘a tisket a tasket’
a kindergarten game I’ve played myself as a child. Such a simple delightful
game – one could feel the nostalgia as our garden crew and the paragliding crew
spontaneously joined in the fun. </div>
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Before we knew it chairs were being called for and musical
chairs was next on the plan – have to say it was so much fun that the Nirvana
Adventures paragliding students and guests also wanted to play </div>
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Next came the Spoon and Lime race – Vinod won hands down –
he seemed to have a cheat code of some sort but we never figured it out <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> . </div>
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Finally it was time for the Easter egg hunt but i have to say that it did not last too long – the kids were so sharp eyed that within 10 minutes all the goodies were in the bag or should i say basket.<br />
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It was a fun morning and everyone had a great time – we are
inspired to do it again next year</div>
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Mark the dates and see that you show up. </div>
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Astrid Rao </div>
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info@nativeplace.com</div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com3Unknown location.-3.8642546157213955 48.8671875-33.359419615721393 7.5585935000000006 25.630910384278604 90.1757815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-11365078470441358102017-01-18T15:23:00.003+05:302017-01-18T15:29:53.119+05:30Native Place Off Site <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week we had a young energetic group of people from the IT field visit the Native Place guesthouse for a weekend of team adventure, bonding, fun and relaxation. House of Code comprised a 45 strong group.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnOERuC_o4Er_fFzyu_dEwmmCjqtQpsK2N5GUOrM_5uOc7mDN5WmxznK-s_yFavKAnKK6MddlVTsHroujTrG_vdDjua-MoTRu6jJtjdaPCSyY5NBW3uDBKnPkGtm5Gchyphenhyphen-W32BDHOJsg/s1600/1-DSCN4249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnOERuC_o4Er_fFzyu_dEwmmCjqtQpsK2N5GUOrM_5uOc7mDN5WmxznK-s_yFavKAnKK6MddlVTsHroujTrG_vdDjua-MoTRu6jJtjdaPCSyY5NBW3uDBKnPkGtm5Gchyphenhyphen-W32BDHOJsg/s640/1-DSCN4249.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zip Line Demo </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgih0hcvLcTbw0Wb081N59OLyr9tnR7GoBIkqOShqI_gaU_NXITAQjRMFJk4vOBnJpl74_apA2XKEIdFeUQbWKLbbrPjS0iD-zfOQDu-DbvAaFx_gIPEuhCgtz5EM9z_bcYzuArSGcS5p8/s1600/1-DSCN4286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgih0hcvLcTbw0Wb081N59OLyr9tnR7GoBIkqOShqI_gaU_NXITAQjRMFJk4vOBnJpl74_apA2XKEIdFeUQbWKLbbrPjS0iD-zfOQDu-DbvAaFx_gIPEuhCgtz5EM9z_bcYzuArSGcS5p8/s640/1-DSCN4286.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Smiles on the Zip Line </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzJKFiSxirxZz3DzWwvvtVm6Dz3KVgKWqxDiyVUiWk8NJMTwNdAp-A4wafkPgfUcPAgunrW7C729o4Bhd1KXwKlzfcEeQ_20e1o3BdHFbLax0ZknvTIgnSE3-L7Raxe_K542FBRQo6yA/s1600/1-DSCN4320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzJKFiSxirxZz3DzWwvvtVm6Dz3KVgKWqxDiyVUiWk8NJMTwNdAp-A4wafkPgfUcPAgunrW7C729o4Bhd1KXwKlzfcEeQ_20e1o3BdHFbLax0ZknvTIgnSE3-L7Raxe_K542FBRQo6yA/s640/1-DSCN4320.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low Ropes Course Team Building Activity </td></tr>
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They arrived mid morning to be led through the zip line, valley crossing, and the low ropes course by the Nirvana Adventure Crew. The day flew by with a small break for lunch – Led by the Nirvana Adventure Crew, the participants got into the mood and enjoyed each activity.<br />
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By the evening they gathered around the bonfire and entertained themselves with a bunch of fun party games, and BBQ followed with dinner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioltm6mKCezTLMFHNlkuTqN_WVzA5mt6rXDYLYSb58VnuiqZWsibJefcvwxcUpzWRICY4ZhcS1VDUQ6Gxg9wOXya-bLrW233CZP0sqeqfjoWtcQhbYOe7ENIvsoLIRGTnAG-s-iMfbd-o/s1600/1-2017-01-09-PHOTO-00000145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioltm6mKCezTLMFHNlkuTqN_WVzA5mt6rXDYLYSb58VnuiqZWsibJefcvwxcUpzWRICY4ZhcS1VDUQ6Gxg9wOXya-bLrW233CZP0sqeqfjoWtcQhbYOe7ENIvsoLIRGTnAG-s-iMfbd-o/s640/1-2017-01-09-PHOTO-00000145.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic Views from the hill top </td></tr>
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The next morning there was a trek to the hills above to spend some time in the wilderness and enjoy a panoramic view from above. They returned lounged around in garden and departed after lunch happy and rejuvenated.<br />
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Native Place offers corporate groups a range of adventure and nature activities to choose from<br />
<a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/packages-group-activity.php#" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more details<br />
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Astrid Rao<br />
<a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">www.nativeplace.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/">www.flynirvana.com</a><br />
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-70274972591971950642017-01-16T14:29:00.002+05:302017-01-16T15:02:58.189+05:30The Palash Tree Cafe at Native Place is now open<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu81BmLWv9KdKc0H6ImsszI_X1chR1mk59By1TAQmMl40byUGXL8CpeViEhLIQACuSWneXcfGq78o9yE0agnxSsP8XgvXDKQ5VY-iG0BmbORsdRWyY2brdo5PBHxY1TbxWeJCx6J1iik/s1600/1-DSCN4197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu81BmLWv9KdKc0H6ImsszI_X1chR1mk59By1TAQmMl40byUGXL8CpeViEhLIQACuSWneXcfGq78o9yE0agnxSsP8XgvXDKQ5VY-iG0BmbORsdRWyY2brdo5PBHxY1TbxWeJCx6J1iik/s640/1-DSCN4197.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">This year our Palash tree has flowered in January – a curious
thing because it usually flowers in March. Another significant thing for us is that it has flowered
vigorously – the whole canopy is aflame with its blossoms making a striking picture. Is
our late bloomer making up for its tardiness or is this also a result of global warming - one just isn't sure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVy4W0j0HKAXIr-2TFZeteGa7FBFCgHt-euiPGUM9bzyMUZNEa9V1eq6xWA3HCogIkd3F9_u4Zp6lKBQCPsXwSQEsMBcpqw-6ft4QngqIXJJ_gcR6TfFI486t5rDMkHOdOVMnsFLcIUPE/s1600/1-DSCN4384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVy4W0j0HKAXIr-2TFZeteGa7FBFCgHt-euiPGUM9bzyMUZNEa9V1eq6xWA3HCogIkd3F9_u4Zp6lKBQCPsXwSQEsMBcpqw-6ft4QngqIXJJ_gcR6TfFI486t5rDMkHOdOVMnsFLcIUPE/s640/1-DSCN4384.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXFvHKOmz-S3IpPS4i7gbYgD_agrP2wFXxcOQTF9uu6okBVw_s3Uo4DiTFCzMHsKMwvmvf8bMcY6iSBhOcVbKaAdGuniFv3ujZ3xf_ApNIk55FlWQuz1GEAEKnRVqAuu8S6DEPueNsFg/s1600/1-DSCN4183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXFvHKOmz-S3IpPS4i7gbYgD_agrP2wFXxcOQTF9uu6okBVw_s3Uo4DiTFCzMHsKMwvmvf8bMcY6iSBhOcVbKaAdGuniFv3ujZ3xf_ApNIk55FlWQuz1GEAEKnRVqAuu8S6DEPueNsFg/s320/1-DSCN4183.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Each day the flowers drop onto the steps that lead to the
main door adorning them as though someone has painstakingly strewn flowers to welcome the <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place Guesthouse</a> visitors and <a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/" target="_blank">Nirvana Paragliding</a> students. . </span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I went up to the terrace to get a better view and spotted a
number of birds and squirrels attracted by the nectar full flowers. As i sat
there i also smelt the Madhu Malati flowers and </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">realized</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> that the fragrance is
quite strong in the early mornings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Pasaba has started to use them in her floral urali decorations </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Coming back to the Palash tree – we are collecting the
flowers to make a holi color – again this year. Did you know that the flowers
were used to dye monks’ robes? The
flowers can also be used to make a drink
a herbal tea that helps one beat the heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">For the next few weeks the terrace is going to be my morning
go to place . It is delightful to
watch the soft early morning sun’s rays turn the canopy into a fiery orange
thereby signalling the birds that the cafe is open. Cause soon after this the
birds and squirrels arrive to feast on the sustaining morning beverage (nectar)
their antics lead to the dropping of the flowers onto the steps. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">All this while
i breathe in the crisp morning air scented by the beautiful flowers of the Madhu Malati vine </span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sheer </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">bliss :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Astrid Rao </span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">www.nativeplace.com </a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/">www.flynirvana.com</a></span></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-6443741785015756452016-12-08T17:04:00.000+05:302016-12-19T09:17:10.889+05:30The Permaculture Patshala comes to Native Place, Kamshet <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif";">December 2<sup>nd</sup> 2016, a varied group of 28 eager participants converged at <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place</a> for a 3 day
Introduction to Permaculture Course. Attracted by the opportunity to learn
the basics of growing their own food , mangling soil fertility, setting
up regenerative systems, water harvesting, biodiversity regeneration etc and to understand the
inter-relationships among all of these.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under the guidance of Narsanna Koppula, India’s
pioneering permaculture practitioner, with his decades of experience in this
field, this 3 day course turned out to be a power packed learning experience
fulfilling the needs of the various participants - some were working on their
land, some had plans to buy land, some were involved in urban terrace farms and
some were simply curious.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz3u7vCzNJDBrQq9xsJc5UQlmC0Oz7eeXeZjzdoZntpi9fauboV01UWp0hkhyphenhyphent6PtxsE6fX6h9GyCQdssnTvESAYMqdeN8XN3pWHXS9LGuC0lWHffD1SY1dbQI51gntIQukb65JuSH3Q/s1600/1-1-DSCN3699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz3u7vCzNJDBrQq9xsJc5UQlmC0Oz7eeXeZjzdoZntpi9fauboV01UWp0hkhyphenhyphent6PtxsE6fX6h9GyCQdssnTvESAYMqdeN8XN3pWHXS9LGuC0lWHffD1SY1dbQI51gntIQukb65JuSH3Q/s640/1-1-DSCN3699.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif";">Narsanna skilfully guided the participants though the
fundamentals , the basics of permaculture practices and principles.
Lectures & Interactive discussions, plenty of hands-on practicals, <a href="http://nativeplacegarden.blogspot.in/2016/07/the-palikade-permaculture-project-phase.html" target="_blank">Palikade Farm</a> site visit and tree identification walks.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif";">The <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place</a> garden, a permaculture project in
progress, spread over many levels, packed with bio diverse plantings and an impressive
list of native trees - provided the perfect setting. After the initial
talk in the yoga room a semi open meeting space at the bottom of the garden,
Narsanna led them out into the garden where he preferred the many shady seating
areas in the garden much to the delight of the participants. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif";">Each day the program went on till late in the evening
followed by dinner, a short film on permaculture, singing and
bonding. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif";">They were a lovely bunch of people from Mumbai,
Pune, Nasik, Bangalore, Germany and Canada. They came together as
individual participants but emerged into a cohesive group bound by common
interests and the promise of growing sharing and supporting each other in the
journey to apply permaculture in their lives. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cheers to the Permaculture Patshala and all who energize it</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Astrid Rao & Sneha Shetty </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">www.nativeplace.com</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/">www.flynirvana.com</a> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://permacultureindia.org/founder-team/" target="_blank">Narsanna Koppula</a> is a permaculture pioneer
in India. Along with his wife Padma Koppula, he founded the organisation <a href="http://permacultureindia.org/" target="_blank">AranyaAgricultural Alternatives</a> that works with rural farming communities in Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana in applications of permaculture and natural resource
management. In recent years, through his Permaculture Patshala, Narsanna has
also been sharing the wealth of his 30 years of experience with urban folks
from across India and the world, who are attempting to return to land and live
in harmony with nature. His organisation is also hosting the <a href="http://ipcindia2017.org/" target="_blank">13th InternationalPermaculture Convergence in India in November </a>2017. </span></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-48249728309397067562016-08-28T18:03:00.000+05:302016-08-28T18:41:43.847+05:30Millet and Traditional Cooking Workshop at Native Place with the ' Cooking Pilgrim' <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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She is passionate about cooking traditional dishes and using fresh organic produce and this sentiment led <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CookingPilgrim/" target="_blank">Latha Sagi</a> to become the Cooking Pilgrim, wandering about the country visiting organic farms where she can harvest fresh local seasonal produce and turn them into into balanced nutritious tasty dishes. She shares her knowledge and her passion with generosity and her ability to feed and to serve led to her being fondly called 'Latha Devi'.<br />
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Monday morning 4 excited women arrived at Native Place for a 3 day cookout only to find that the kitchen had been cleared out. It was a classic Oops moment but after an initial shock we settled down and began to see the plus points of cooking on hte tandoor terrace ( temporarily set up as kitchen) the place was a mess but the big bonus was it was like cooking in the outdoors, we had lots of space and great views of the garden. We even had some cheeky bulbuls come by to share a few crumbs.<br />
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3 days of popping grains other than corn ( that was a whole bunch of fun) experimenting with various grains and oilseeds and pulses , making dosas , idlis, khichdi, payasams ladoos, a variety of chutneys, cool refreshing and warm beverages. We made use of many ingredients from the garden including flowers, , local grains and oilseed – so much to learn so much to taste – it was a sensory feast..<br />
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Our 3 day cooking bonanza did not stay just that – we found time to explore the garden, walk in the rain, visit Palikade, admire wild flowers and wade in the monsoon streams. An idyllic time it was.<br />
Thank you Sneha for organising it all, thank you Latha Sagi for your generosity and warmth , thank you Tejal for your unflagging exuberance and thanks Anushree for finally coming by <br />
Was a great weekend girls, lets do it again soon<br />
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To see more pictures check check the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/astrid.rao/media_set?set=a.10210264319112501.1476371078&type=3&uploaded=39" target="_blank">Native Place Facebook Album</a><br />
<br />
Astrid Rao<br />
<a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">www.nativeplace.com</a></div>
nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-837988142390496592016-07-29T10:50:00.004+05:302016-07-29T12:10:37.749+05:30The Mahua Yatra comes to Native Place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-family: "benton sans" , "serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">A while ago i was talking to my friend Samiksha
Agarwal who lives in the buffer zone of the Kanha National Park and she
mentioned to me that she had a visitor over who was on a trip around the
country visiting places where mahua grew, interacting with the local people
sharing recipes on cooking mahua flowers and fruit in an attempt to revive the
wild food foraging habits that are fast dwindling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-family: "benton sans" , "serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">I was instantly intrigued - Mahua is one of my favourite trees and although
i was aware that alcohol was distilled from the flower and until not long ago the villagers collected
the seeds and expressed oil to use for cooking purposes, I was not aware of it being used as food in
our area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-family: "benton sans" , "serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">A series of coincidences led to Aparna visiting
us and putting Native Place and Kamshet on the Mahua Yatra Map - but that’s a long story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-family: "benton sans" , "serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">What I’d like to share with you here is that we discovered that in one village in our area
the tradition of storing the fruit and
eating it as a vegetable still persisted albeit by a few.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-family: "benton sans" , "serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">We had a wonderful two days of sharing recipes –
Aparna introduced us to the art of cooking with Mahua and guided by Pasaba we
showed her a few wild edible traditions in our area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: "benton sans" , serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 16.6667px;">A wonderful time it was! </span>The beginning of new
food traditions, a celebration of the
forests and the abundance of nature.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-family: "benton sans" , "serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">The Mahua Yatra travels through 10 states interacting with farmers and tribal communities to learn and
share and celebrate Mahua <strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">(</span></strong><em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">Madhuca longifolia)</span></em>,the tree of
life.<em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;"> <o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
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<a href="http://nativeplacegarden.blogspot.in/2008/04/mahua-trees-in-garden-are-clothed-with.html" target="_blank">For more info on the Mahua tree click here </a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/astrid.rao/media_set?set=a.10209994657011117&type=3&pnref=story" target="_blank">For more pictures check out this the Native Place facebook album</a><br />
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Astrid Rao<br />
<a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">www.nativeplace.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/">www.flynirvana.com</a><br />
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-53307658152838308932016-07-02T20:55:00.000+05:302016-07-05T09:51:42.026+05:30Palikade Permaculture Project – Water Harvesting & Soil Conservation (WH & SC)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place guesthouse </a>and garden is a labor of love that we have tended to since early 2000. Today the garden comprises a delightfully diverse group of flora and fauna. a paradise for tree lovers and birders and everyone who loves nature and gardening. It is exactly what we had envisioned it to be and more but being just an acre and a half in area we soon ran out of place to accommodate the plant palette (our wish list of trees). Palikade, (an 18-acre plot of land in Thoran Village) that we acquired for this express purpose, is where we intend to manifest this dream. The vision is to develop Palikade as a self-sustaining farm & tropical food forest aimed at facilitating harmony amongst all stakeholders in the habitat (the birds, insects, microorganisms and other animals as well as us humans).<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">We were aware that it was very important to work on Water Harvesting & Soil Conservation (WH & SC) structures as a priority before planting trees on a large scale. These are also called ‘landforms’. The land at ‘Palikade’ comprises two fairly flat areas of land divided by a huge gully running in between. The slopes and high rainfall combination in this region meant that significant soil and water was running off the land every monsoon. Also, rain is the only source of water on this land, so, the sooner we undertook the work on landforms, the lesser would be the loss of precious soil and greater the gains of water retention.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The Permaculture Design Course (PDC) that we attended in March 2016 gave us significant confidence with respect to the understanding of WH & SC. We undertook practical work at the PDC, designing and creating WH & SC structures like contour trenches, percolation tank, gully plugs and brushwood. Our two gardeners at Native Place, Anil & Eknath, attended two days of Water Harvesting sessions at the PDC and thankfully they too learnt the basics and were able to support us in this effort.</span></div>
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Our journey of implementation started with
inviting Narsanna to Palikade when he gave us some crucial inputs regarding WH
& SC work. Thereafter, we invited Osman Baig, a watershed expert who we met
during the PDC, to guide us with the location for different WH & SC structures.
Osmanji, came in April for two days and helped us mark the area for a
percolation tank, a pond, trenches & bunds and some gully plugs. We asked
him plenty of questions so that we understood the logic of all his inputs.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Thereafter, we got down to detailed marking
of all the structures on the land. We then did rough measurements around the
entire land & drew out the plan and designs on paper. This helped us get
greater clarity of the overall picture. The next step was actually making these
structures with the help of a JCB and manual labor.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We also figured the details from local
sources that annual rainfall in this area was about 2,500mm, number of rainy
days was 82 and the highest rainfall in 24 hours was 176 mm. This helped us
decide factors like the depth of the trenches to be dug and the distance at
which contour trenches needed to be dug. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Some details about the structures are
provided along with the individual pictures <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NativePlaceKamshet/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1335558836473810" target="_blank">in this album</a>. Need to specially
mention here about the Percolation tank (PT) and pond. Part of this property
(about 1 acre) is on the other side of a road, towards the South. It has high
slope. At the bottom of this sub-plot, there is the possibility of accumulating
water from a catchment of about 7 hectares. Hence a PT was created right there.
The water that is likely to accumulate there is being routed to another pond on
the farm, through a pipe running across & under the road. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">On his subsequent visit, Osmanji also
identified the scope to route more water to the pond by creating a rainwater
diversion trench. He also suggested developing a micro-pond in the Western side
of the plot – this area was quite rocky and was sloping towards a small gully,
which further met the main gully. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">By end of May, we had completed all the
landforms work. The structures we created have the capacity of holding about 34
lac liters of water at one time. </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Structures</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Capacity
- Volume<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">About 1,200 running metres of deep
trenches and bunds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1200 m<sup>3<o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">12 lac litres<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Percolation tank<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">350 m<sup>3</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
3.5 lac litres<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pond<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1700 m<sup>3</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">17 lac litres<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Micro pond<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.4pt;" valign="top" width="91"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">100 m<sup>3</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
1 lac litres<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Staggered trench<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">14 m<sup>3</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">14,000 litres<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Capacity / Volume</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(approx.)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">3,407</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">m<sup>3</sup><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">33.64 lac litres<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Simultaneously, in April & May, we were
working on designing the plantation on these WH & SC structures, collecting
seeds directly from trees & from friends & networks, growing saplings
in our own nursery at the Native Place guesthouse & also scouting nurseries
for plants that we were not growing ourselves. By second week of June, we were
all equipped to start planting - the story of which you may have read in our
previous post regarding the plantation </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This has been the first phase of WH &
SC and plantation. We intend to take this forward step by step and attempt more
intricate permaculture applications. The aim is to conserve & impound
rainwater, raise aquifer levels, enhance soil health, create micro climates and
an abundant habitat! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We’ve never felt we had completed anything
very significant until now. But the amount of inquiries we received from our
farmer friends for a detailed account of the work pushed us to do this write
up. Feeling humbled & grateful. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In Solidarity,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Astrid Rao & Sneha Shetty</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">www.nativeplace.com</a></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/" target="_blank">www.flynirvana.com</a></span><br />
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WH & SC Photo Album: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/147992775230428/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1335558836473810">https://www.facebook.com/147992775230428/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1335558836473810</a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Plantation Photo Album: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/147992775230428/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1333965536633140">https://www.facebook.com/147992775230428/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1333965536633140</a></span></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com10Pune, Maharashtra 4, India18.826742261444757 73.51760029792785618.825802761444756 73.516339797927856 18.827681761444758 73.518860797927857tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-60683588957975872812016-07-01T17:23:00.000+05:302016-07-05T09:52:14.502+05:30The Palikade Permaculture Project – Phase 1 plantation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkYKfkOP0Wci1Lb9h2-lY_QByWgXj_OvcdPugXgfs48XetGZt5rJqMN7hKBKYzscOdl21yskhWxInHyd0pItM7mXK9gnHJpJtz70ZG-rjcZn0UYEVDsHGXcXzkN04riF7GQ-W75zkB0M/s1600/DSCN2033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkYKfkOP0Wci1Lb9h2-lY_QByWgXj_OvcdPugXgfs48XetGZt5rJqMN7hKBKYzscOdl21yskhWxInHyd0pItM7mXK9gnHJpJtz70ZG-rjcZn0UYEVDsHGXcXzkN04riF7GQ-W75zkB0M/s640/DSCN2033.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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In March 2016, we (Astrid Rao and Sneha Shetty) attended a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) organised by Academy for Earth Sustainability and conducted by <a href="http://permacultureindia.org/founder-team/" target="_blank">Narsanna Koppula</a> , where we were introduced to the intricacies of water harvesting and soil conservation (WH & SC) among many other themes of permaculture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAXwIl8rcxhgIRMoQV2VKlqZKf11gmHpTPQhQAl_Ydqb51N8CbZVnN2fscZu0bILaGoTvJqsowxKZwYNqQvqF_2BERqZL_P_1p_IhHzFEX9M7k4KEXaHDUVmyCG4V0wJRccexb1JYzL4/s1600/13532943_1333970119966015_5682005466582355623_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAXwIl8rcxhgIRMoQV2VKlqZKf11gmHpTPQhQAl_Ydqb51N8CbZVnN2fscZu0bILaGoTvJqsowxKZwYNqQvqF_2BERqZL_P_1p_IhHzFEX9M7k4KEXaHDUVmyCG4V0wJRccexb1JYzL4/s640/13532943_1333970119966015_5682005466582355623_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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In WH & SC, we learnt about “vegetative consolidation” of water harvesting structures i.e. consciously designed multi-level planting of trees, shrubs and ground cover on the water harvesting structures. The purpose is to strengthen the structures, increase biomass, enhance soil health, create micro-climates and many others. The loose soil of the newly created bunds also provide a good base for new saplings to grow in.<br />
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At our 18-acre farm in Kamshet, which we call ‘Palikade’, we decided to start with designing the land forms for WH & SC. We have only the rains as a source of water here, so we decided to grow indigenous/ native, hardy, rain fed trees as well as quick growing leguminous shrubs that would fix nitrogen into the soil, provide us loads of biomass and create microclimate. We started growing saplings of the latter in our nursery in April. Then we made a plant palette of what would grow well in our area, choosing species that would serve many functions. It would be a tropical food forest that would provide for food, clothing, shelter and other needs of not just the human residents but all the stake holders including the birds, insects and micro organisms (in Narsanna’s words). This was a great opportunity to grow native trees that have been on my wish list for years (yes, i am a serious tree lover).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWS-k3J9b3fQutJb4Je7Rg-5U2p48HXXj3O4lGvF8LHyaKs-VFN8TtiDj264GotOnOh4ihhf2gFXGfXfParMybDwkf5knxPlO2iKvjWlaq4wlxMHzAIxxAjNgldrtlLtc3THiaMOvKvM/s1600/1-DSCN1644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWS-k3J9b3fQutJb4Je7Rg-5U2p48HXXj3O4lGvF8LHyaKs-VFN8TtiDj264GotOnOh4ihhf2gFXGfXfParMybDwkf5knxPlO2iKvjWlaq4wlxMHzAIxxAjNgldrtlLtc3THiaMOvKvM/s640/1-DSCN1644.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
We began the water harvesting structures in April - boundary trenches, contour trenches, a couple of ponds and a percolation tank at the highest point in the property with the hope that they will hold the water and let it percolate into the subsoil, thereby using the soil itself to hold water. We also intend to grow a mix of cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds and green manure on the land meant for growing annual crops & orchards in future. This is to regenerate the soil (‘make the entire land a compost pit’ – Narsanna’s words). In the coming months, we will continue to plant a live fence on the boundary, comprising of various plants serving multiple functions.<br />
Permaculture has the answers people – and Narsanna Koppula (founder of<a href="http://permacultureindia.org/" target="_blank"> Aranya Agricultural Alternatives,</a> Hyderabad) is a leading light of our times.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMhQS_09wNzZS1Th1hpQlU3X2G_YfNENiBxI8m1Vp6b80ZaxE5qcHmyogKJ5eYHD1qTQZEn3w5Zzc_7Pg1OLtYHF7kt0iPApMQ9Xoc4_ROkkoWxtb2ZCQJYMMBCVDmMZWHb5cYoQ0JoA/s1600/13510828_1333970723299288_6874472050984306614_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMhQS_09wNzZS1Th1hpQlU3X2G_YfNENiBxI8m1Vp6b80ZaxE5qcHmyogKJ5eYHD1qTQZEn3w5Zzc_7Pg1OLtYHF7kt0iPApMQ9Xoc4_ROkkoWxtb2ZCQJYMMBCVDmMZWHb5cYoQ0JoA/s640/13510828_1333970723299288_6874472050984306614_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
In the last one week, we have planted more than 2200 saplings and cuttings (of about 90 species), sowed hundreds of seeds and will continue to populate the bunds with ground cover (grasses, climbers and shrubs) of various types that will all do their bit to contribute to the fertility of soil and up our sustainability quotient.<br />
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Wishing you a very Happy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Mahotsav" target="_blank">Van Mahotsav</a> – we at Native Place and Nirvana Adventures are happy to contribute to the mammoth task that the Maharashtra govt has undertaken to plant 2 crore trees by the 1st of July 2016. We are grateful that we could source about 1,000 plants from Government nurseries (Forest Dept- Shirota, Social Forestry - Pune & PWD- Pune) at very affordable rates. Thanks a ton, guys!<br />
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Peace Bliss & Happy Landings<br />
Astrid Rao & Sneha Shetty<br />
From <a href="http://www%2Cnativeplace%2Ccom/" target="_blank">Native Place</a> and team & <a href="http://www%2Cflynirvana%2Ccom/" target="_blank">Nirvana Adventures</a> , Kamshet , India<br />
www.nirvanaadventures.com<br />
www.nativeplace.com<br />
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WH & SC Photo Album: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/147992775230428/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1335558836473810">https://www.facebook.com/147992775230428/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1335558836473810</a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Plantation Photo Album: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/147992775230428/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1333965536633140">https://www.facebook.com/147992775230428/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1333965536633140</a></span></div>
nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-8576548306925889142016-06-15T09:43:00.002+05:302016-06-15T13:59:05.419+05:30Cormorants Galore!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Last week at Native Place i happened to go up
to the terrace after breakfast and was rewarded by the sighting of a huge flock
of cormorants hunting for fish. A whole swarm of them were encircling an area presumably
there were lots of fish there. From the distance they made a magnificent sight
– the surface of the water was disturbed with their flapping wings as they
swirled around creating a huge circular cauldron, diving in, running on water
and flapping about. A few straggler egrets added to the drama creating a black
and white canvas against the blue waters. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I checked out this new phenomenon that seemed
to be unfolding right in front of us for the next few days just to be sure and
yes – it was happening every day. Wow!!!
Such a wondrous sight!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">For the first time one can see what seems to
be the entire colony fishing together and it makes quite an impact on the
senses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cormorants have been a common sight by the lake
shore at <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place</a>. Through the year one could spot the odd group in the
mornings by the lake shore, diving for fish and perching on tree tops and
bushes by the shores wings spread out to dry in the sun. During summer evenings one had these
exhilarating sightings where one looked up by chance to suddenly spot wave upon
wave of V shaped flocks akin to migrating geese as they flew back to their
roosting spots for the night (or so i believed) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In the recent years an entire colony has taken to roost in a grove of acacia trees on a
narrow spit of land that juts out into the lake
just a few years ago becoming our </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">neighbors</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 14.0pt;">J</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvWhb052i0KcSUYwrbyqIriCUHfRT2pCdH1zR6KKEFD0hQlXie4NM4WrlMbEOEgeC0s2DNq3Krvl6n4OmrNNu0yCWzGx3_ii73WWIyxJ2HUtU5X0szKG8JG0A80szkOWrvJOZNMWNhfs/s1600/DSC03616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvWhb052i0KcSUYwrbyqIriCUHfRT2pCdH1zR6KKEFD0hQlXie4NM4WrlMbEOEgeC0s2DNq3Krvl6n4OmrNNu0yCWzGx3_ii73WWIyxJ2HUtU5X0szKG8JG0A80szkOWrvJOZNMWNhfs/s640/DSC03616.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Since then we have had the pleasure of watching
them at sunset time as they circle around the area and then head for a tree.
Lots of squawking and shoving goes on at sunset until they go quiet for the
night.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s lovely to have a pristine water body
before you and spot lake shore birds but to see an entire colony intently at
work circling low over the lake is surely special!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
The pictures above simply don't convey the largeness of the phenomenon - you have to see it to feel it ! Come connect with nature at Native Place.<br />
<b style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></b>
<b style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: justify;">More about Cormorants: - </b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2px; text-align: justify;">Cormorants are large black, fish eating birds with a long, hook tipped bill.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: justify;">They are daytime feeders
that hunt alone or in flocks. Cormorants feed by diving and swimming underwater.
They can dive to depths of 5 to 60 feet below the surface and stay under water
up to 70 seconds. They eat mostly fish and sometimes small invertebrates.
Cormorants use their webbed feet to propel them underwater. Cormorants run along
the surface of the water to gain enough speed for flight. Watching these diving birds by the lakeside is
a wonderful way to spend time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Connections</b>: <i>- Recently i came across an interesting piece of info relating the
presence of cormorants to tarpon fishing -</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "californian fb" , "serif";">When you eat like a
cormorant — which is a lot — you poop like a cormorant — which, again, is a
lot. This potent concoction falls from the cormorant's precarious perch,
entering the food chain only a few feet below. Bacteria then grow in this
enriched, (let's call it fertilized) water. Soon the plankton count their lucky
stars while feeding on this heaven-sent bounty. Small invertebrates and protozoa’s
gorge on the plankton, and on and on it goes up the line. Shrimp, crabs and
sardines bless father cormorant before gorging on the millions of minute krill
or the collected organic detritus they leave behind. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "californian fb" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "californian fb" , "serif";">At the top of this food
chain are the tarpon. They come for the bounty the cormorant droppings provide
and, with the tarpon, come the anglers. It is simple math: more cormorants mean
more food for the tarpon's prey. More guano creates more food and more food
means more tarpon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "californian fb" , "serif";">Perhaps we shouldn't be
so judgmental about cormorants and their greedy eating and pooping habits.
Perhaps we should be glad these ancient avians do their digesting where they
do. Perhaps we should be glad they haven't better mastered the air. Perhaps we
should be pleased they only use flight to get to the fishing grounds and then
trundle home again, straight for the mangroves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "californian fb" , "serif";">Some guides in Mexico say
that they kill cormorants because they eat baby tarpon. Gentlemen … haven't you
learned by now that it is best not to mess with Mother Nature? Let her be. She
has things pretty well worked out, and her devices usually work to the benefit
of the angler. Mess with her, and you just may be killing the goose that laid
the golden egg. Although in this case it may not be a goose, but a cormorant,
and it may not be an egg, but a pile of … OK, OK. You get the picture. So
let's all bless the cormorants</span>. </div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> Astrid Rao </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.2pt; margin: 6pt 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">www.nativeplace.com</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="Systematics"></span></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-35871973159161686472016-06-13T09:45:00.002+05:302016-06-13T09:45:10.861+05:30Announcing the arrival of the Malabar whistling Thrush in the Native Place Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5Hhk7EbvwES60gy-7YHAXANeDJOWxuQYrcJj_93sxkH_MSOuPf2XMoDMKaXD1g5n9GckVdOlxPj4dM3Bur-DDTy9DHLqF366oIFORpVC8dMrgJ1Q7vJEHMsEJeP52ebLxGeu1WjZhpM/s1600/DSCN1844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5Hhk7EbvwES60gy-7YHAXANeDJOWxuQYrcJj_93sxkH_MSOuPf2XMoDMKaXD1g5n9GckVdOlxPj4dM3Bur-DDTy9DHLqF366oIFORpVC8dMrgJ1Q7vJEHMsEJeP52ebLxGeu1WjZhpM/s640/DSCN1844.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.8pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Folks – they have arrived! We spotted a pair last week scouting around the <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/Facilities-Accomodation-Guest-Room.php" target="_blank">Nirvana Cottage Wing</a> for a
nesting space. Heard the predawn song a few days ago a sweet whistling and had
an easy spotting soon after. Watched the pair happily at work – seems like they
too are happy to be back (they have been nesting here for a few years now) We
will now have the pleasure of watching them as they select a nesting spot and
build their nest, bring new chicks into he world and then work hard together to
feed the young chicks who have voracious appetites. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13CASB45xgrsIvzQuIMqO2BDSAW3PR1aW-x7_HWA0dignL2je7qC6D7vHJoCxH82QKEmVn8VxfBxS63Yu1WucHS1aCYCljJ-B20QwR9JaZpgNqIC26OllqS8UOj1dndpAlTlO35oKT6E/s1600/DSCN1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13CASB45xgrsIvzQuIMqO2BDSAW3PR1aW-x7_HWA0dignL2je7qC6D7vHJoCxH82QKEmVn8VxfBxS63Yu1WucHS1aCYCljJ-B20QwR9JaZpgNqIC26OllqS8UOj1dndpAlTlO35oKT6E/s640/DSCN1839.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px; text-align: justify;">Ah – so looking forward to this ! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 19.2px; text-align: justify;">J</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 13.6pt; margin-top: 6.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Also </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">known
as the <span class="apple-converted-space">‘Whistling</span>
Schoolboy’<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>for the
whistling calls that they make at dawn -
a slow soft mellifluous call with a sense of aimlessness about it. Sounds like a carefree schoolboy whistling to
himself as he strolls along. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The species is said to be resident in the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> Western Ghats</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> although
it visits the <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place Garden </a>to breed and raise its young. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have read that they can be spotted near rocky streams and in
riverine habitats either in the shady undergrowth or in a really difficult to <span class="textexposedshow">spot location and are usually most active at early dawn
or dusk</span> making them difficult to photograph <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">This large thrush appears blackish with shiny patches of blue
on the forehead and shoulders. It </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is omnivorous, eating a wide range of<span class="apple-converted-space"> insects. crabs, frogs, earthworms and berries.</span></span></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-44184402739701780222016-06-13T07:55:00.002+05:302016-06-13T07:55:24.188+05:30Which Kadamba Tree ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsayh-NrD8M2lKk4AbBqET0nTb6TtNQuJHV1JUlXJLhZZWsQDptSaE3vFm1Nq70a-eDLmP-c9cOgnGln0TzIr2PXo2YE8RAwKtaneAK3kC5zDbOtVomJEzanobh9loGSv6MkjzPxGRzws/s1600/1-DSCN1661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsayh-NrD8M2lKk4AbBqET0nTb6TtNQuJHV1JUlXJLhZZWsQDptSaE3vFm1Nq70a-eDLmP-c9cOgnGln0TzIr2PXo2YE8RAwKtaneAK3kC5zDbOtVomJEzanobh9loGSv6MkjzPxGRzws/s640/1-DSCN1661.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kadamb (Anthocephalus Cadamba/</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Nirmala UI","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">कदंब</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>or
The Common Bur Flower </b>is a large, handsome, umbrella shaped tree with
branches arranged in whorls around the central trunk. It is evergreen, fast growing
and has a graceful appearance. It produces
unique globular shaped flowers coloured a striking yellow to orange. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> In India the tree is mainly associated with
Lord Krishna and stories about him and his gopis prancing about in the forests
of Brindavan among the Kadamba groves abound.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> This tree is also
closely associated with the Mother Goddess (often referred as Kadambavana
vasini) </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">"She Who Resides in the Forest of Kadamba
Trees."</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
have a lovely specimen of this </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">legendary tree </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in the <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place Garden</a> that we planted
about 7 or 8 years ago having been intrigued by the lore of its beauty as well
as its mythological and ecological associations. You can enjoy its beauty and shade throughout
the year but in the month of May the tree offers a special sensory experience when
it flowers in profusion, showing off its quaint yet beautiful flowers that
attract a host of bees and exude a heady perfume. And as the flowers drop one
finds the curious golden globes scattered all around the tree waiting to dry
off and release thousands of little seeds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nbFgPtB95w_K70WFTC3MiAO_94V7352sGEha73Dtu0jNG8GFw_siAcscHpuIDG7Z-0PRORcV2jG2I1CN1_47YPVKQB3dtGrl6yrrtdj9Elt_dU6aOaReMPlQrcjeYu2l47EI-8TP-5Q/s1600/1-DSCN1904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nbFgPtB95w_K70WFTC3MiAO_94V7352sGEha73Dtu0jNG8GFw_siAcscHpuIDG7Z-0PRORcV2jG2I1CN1_47YPVKQB3dtGrl6yrrtdj9Elt_dU6aOaReMPlQrcjeYu2l47EI-8TP-5Q/s320/1-DSCN1904.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
have built a low wall all around our Kadamba tree. A silent invitation to you
to come sit under this tree and enjoy the ambience it conjures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Kadamba <b>Anthocephalus Cadamba</b> is often mixed up with the Kaim – Mitragaayne
parviflora a tree that is dominant in
the forests of Brindavan. Both spcies produce globular blossoms but the Kaim’s
flowers are not as striking to look at.
They also differ greatly in canopy and leaf shape. Where the Kadamba has a
straight bole and branches arranged in upward reaching whorls the Kaim has a
fairly meandering trunk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">i
came across the Kaim in the <a href="http://www.amazon.in/Trees-Delhi-Field-Pradip-Krishen/dp/0144000709" target="_blank">“Trees of Delhi” by Pradeep Kishen.</a> Pradeep sheds
light on this confusion/ puzzle on page 149 –
where he informs us that the REAL Krishna Kadamb of Brindavan is Neelamarcia cadamba ‘Kaim’ not <b>Anthocephalus Cadamba</b> ‘Kadamba’ which
is unique to moist forests in the
NE of India and would not survive
unaided in the hot dry Brindavan
area. Kaim on the other hand is not only
native to the remnant Brindavan forests but is their dominant tree. But in the
Brindavan region the Kaim is called kadamb
</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
no wonder the confusion !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Oh well !!! Our Kadamba may not
bring to mind the visual of Krishna playing his flute any more but it remains
the tree closely associated with the Mother Goddess - Kadambavana vasini </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">"She Who Resides in the grove of Kadamba Trees."</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The tree is said to be vanishing from Indian forests
and needs to be planted and celebrated once more for it its beauty,
functionality and usefulness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some Uses <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
beautiful tree is also known for its medicinal virtues. The tree has
astringent & antipyretic properties. It is believed to have cure
for ulcers, digestive ailments, diarrhoea, expectorant, fever, vomiting
etc.<br />
<br />
A yellow dye is obtained from the root bark. Kadamb flowers are an important
raw material in the production of <i>attar</i>, Indian perfume with
Sandalwood (Santalum Album). The tree is grown along avenues, roadsides and
villages for shade. The fresh leaves are sometimes used as plates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Permaculture <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Kadamba is suitable for reforestation programs. It
sheds large amounts of leaf and non-leaf litter which on decomposition
improves the physical and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_property" title="Chemical property"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">chemical properties</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">of soil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cultural aspects<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
is common belief among the natives of many villages in the state
Chhattisgarh that plantation of Kadamb tree near to lakes and ponds,
brings happiness and prosperity in their life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com0Pune, Maharashtra 4, India18.7242996450783 73.526000976562518.2434511450783 72.8805539765625 19.2051481450783 74.1714479765625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-74069803912386101442016-01-21T09:45:00.000+05:302016-01-26T09:33:16.425+05:305 Star Bird Watching in the Native Place Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px;">Doc was here on his annual visit. He has been spending the month of December with us (<a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place </a>& <a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/" target="_blank">Nirvana Adventures</a>) for almost a decade now to indulge in Paragliding his main obsession along with swimming, bird watching, gardening and this time cycling too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIR3s0a2hsYhhE-6M15O8VyDetW5UJLc8oIaXg8Q1e9PmNqXRVJllpy7D2Q0lQhqKhJMgVlRsJOLQ4fTVU3l2cX38CyqrDYOAUb8sPJqEK703_WdcbC4MDGgjgWWJuzLJ4oORp-BGBEM/s1600/vlcsnap-2015-12-17-11h39m01s223.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIR3s0a2hsYhhE-6M15O8VyDetW5UJLc8oIaXg8Q1e9PmNqXRVJllpy7D2Q0lQhqKhJMgVlRsJOLQ4fTVU3l2cX38CyqrDYOAUb8sPJqEK703_WdcbC4MDGgjgWWJuzLJ4oORp-BGBEM/s640/vlcsnap-2015-12-17-11h39m01s223.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This year things were a
bit different. Doc said he had gotten over his paragliding obsession and although flying
remains high on his list he often took time out now and then to indulge in the
art of doing nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0D4KEoEwD26orwE471srYKLWDwsWNDZziI2pBCucWGPKqUmgXgFmB5kkIJhlnwfFRVnwLe_tZD1nkWRlxwx2u06c-nJ2rBOrNHe6kWpy8Z5wngJjs2lW80Htv5lLrRodRmTvM2mVHfw/s1600/1-DSCN0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0D4KEoEwD26orwE471srYKLWDwsWNDZziI2pBCucWGPKqUmgXgFmB5kkIJhlnwfFRVnwLe_tZD1nkWRlxwx2u06c-nJ2rBOrNHe6kWpy8Z5wngJjs2lW80Htv5lLrRodRmTvM2mVHfw/s640/1-DSCN0239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One day i came across him
sprawled in a hammock in a shady isolated spot in the garden. He had a book and
his binoculars handy and when I approached him he mentioned to me that he was
indulging in 5 Star bird-watching. It’s simply perfect he said – all afternoon I relax here reading and every now and then a bird comes by and as I sit here
watching the birds present themselves and I don’t even have to move to see them
from different angles to </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">recognize</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> or admire them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Doc has been a birder for
many years and i often go to him if I am not able to </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">recognize</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> a new visitor.
We discussed the variety of birds that visit the garden – thanks to the
biodiversity that we have created over the past years. Birds are indicators and
their presence tells us that we have done a good job.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.153069371389435.33601.147992775230428&type=3" target="_blank">album </a>of
just some of them that we have clicked over the years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Happy Birding and
Hammocking in the Native Place Garden<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-79246719307303553952015-06-05T19:00:00.002+05:302015-06-05T19:00:57.770+05:30The Firefly Phenomena in the Native Place Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi7MDua60sULhTFXqNMiZFkcXjwpZQGi-tDceOycExk1fFkOh_dy6FurKPP3bOAsxiEZKPuCvTwVPWR4zzn3XoPq6VQNYpvZnVhba8MFmR16FoQBgeJ61iVzk2ACw5GksgkbMRRKQshE/s1600/Native+Place+Firefly+Artwork-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi7MDua60sULhTFXqNMiZFkcXjwpZQGi-tDceOycExk1fFkOh_dy6FurKPP3bOAsxiEZKPuCvTwVPWR4zzn3XoPq6VQNYpvZnVhba8MFmR16FoQBgeJ61iVzk2ACw5GksgkbMRRKQshE/s640/Native+Place+Firefly+Artwork-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It happens in the transition of seasons, when summer is on its last legs
and the SW monsoon winds begin to penetrate inland signaling the beginning of the
monsoons season. Every night starting at
the end of May the Native place garden comes alive, lit up by magical fairy
lights. It begins with a single spotting, a few days later a few more and soon
the numbers increase until they reach an amazing intensity by the time the
monsoon arrives.<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Even in the light of the waxing moon these fairy like creatures are
mesmerizing to look at. Fireflies can be
seen all over the garden lighting up shrubs, hedges and tree canopies but they
do seem to have preferences for certain flora. <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Look out from the <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place</a> terrace into the canopy of the little Ain tree
to see smatterings of ephemeral lights gliding about, floating up and sinking
down like graceful glowing embers from a bonfire. The whole tree seems alive with the many
random, slow, fluid movements and lighting rhythms. Watching these guys for a while
brings on a sense of awe and quiets the mind.
<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Another Ain tree a little further away has another vibe going on
altogether. Here we see lots more fireflies going off in a pulsating synchronized </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">fashion sweeping up from the bottom or the top or even
initiating spontaneously from the middle of the tree canopy. Sitting on the
steps looking up at this insignificant by day tree one can’t help but feel
lucky to be here right now witnessing the energy that dwells in it. <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">My fancies are fireflies, s</span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">pecks of living light </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">twinkling in the dark.</span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Aparajita; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><i>Tagore </i><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 22.0pt;">When was the last time you saw fireflies?<br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">For many of us who have been born and raised
in the city, fireflies may have well been the subject of fairytales and myths.
But you too can have this special experience by simply booking a night’s stay
at the Native Place guesthouse at Kamshet (3 hours from Mumbai and one hour from Pune <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Come experience the magic of the
fireflies in the Native Place garden. These seemingly magical insects will be
on show in full intensity for the next couple of weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This phenomena begins at the end
of May and continues to increase in intensity until the monsoon begins in full
swing – a short period of a few illuminating, magical weeks . Come m</span><span style="font-family: Aparajita, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">ake the most of this opportunity.</span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mail us at <a href="mailto:info@nativeplace.com">info@nativeplace.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Aparajita, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Visit our website <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">www.nativeplace.com</a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Aparajita, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Follow us on facebook </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Aparajita, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Native-Place/147992775230428">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Native-Place/147992775230428</a></span></span></h2>
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Astrid Rao </div>
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<a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">www.nativeplace.com</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/">www.flynirvana.com</a></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-84054684756036308472014-12-08T11:59:00.003+05:302014-12-08T12:02:11.253+05:30Scaly Breasted Munia at Native Place, Kamshet <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">Winter approaches and at Kamshet the paddy in the fields is ready for harvest. Driving through one can see people hard at work harvesting the grain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">Last weekend I spotted a Scaly Breasted Munia in the garden from the veranda outside my room at <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place</a> – Have only seen these birds once a few monsoons ago and was thrilled to spot them so close to the house. They were busy building a nest in the pergola outside the lake front rooms – this was easy to deduce as the birds were flying in and out with long grasses in their beaks and disappearing into the climber cover </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">Here is some info on this little bird - The Scaly-breasted Munias breed year round and may have multiple broods on a good year, up to 3-4 broods. The male brings nesting materials while the female builds, often from the inside. In some, the breeding nest is later used as a roosting nest.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">The nest is an untidy globe made out of grass and bamboo leaves, with a side entrance. The nests are not woven and material is simply pushed together. But the nests are well-made, robust and waterproof. The birds work tirelessly and the nest can become an enormous globe. Both parents incubate. The eggs hatch in about 2 weeks and the young are fed entirely vegetable matter, which is regurgitated by the parents. They fledge in 18-19 days. Juveniles often form their own flocks after leaving their parents, and wander about together. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">Astrid Rao </span></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-10423980096030827322014-08-04T11:53:00.000+05:302014-08-04T11:53:38.451+05:30Whew! The Vadivali Lake is full <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQM7-h1VHCG95-pCJvTS2MablwAAM-57hHpxG9CQrlaSKTUG1GM310O_Q4yO2Ihu-4JYJfL3XQpzFCBlzI29M1oxuEQtd2HyiWYQZEfZL2d2XAgAeqt8z6gCrBsT0aB_7byZ00VeBgLs/s1600/2nd+July+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQM7-h1VHCG95-pCJvTS2MablwAAM-57hHpxG9CQrlaSKTUG1GM310O_Q4yO2Ihu-4JYJfL3XQpzFCBlzI29M1oxuEQtd2HyiWYQZEfZL2d2XAgAeqt8z6gCrBsT0aB_7byZ00VeBgLs/s1600/2nd+July+2014.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vadivali Lake - A view from the Native Place Guesthouse</td></tr>
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The monsoon did not start so well this season. There was an
air of concern at the Native Place guesthouse. All our staff and most people plant
rice and the delayed rain was definitely a problem.</div>
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With the signal of the first rains most people had planted
out their paddy seeds (they usually save up seed from the last harvest to use
the next season) now with the rain playing truant the sun scorched the young
paddy seedlings. People had to bear the expense of buying seed and replanting. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRPk6PBFDYU25iBc7cUhJwF1uJk4UKzK-txlLe-77ViFifgIxYJzvGRmXMrBsLDMnb9DhD-T4ZPruwbcR1smCIPJSvM3UicPQOE4zZYT8SLyccW3IvanrCEMsJmTrJ4YbQcsmHhhmAOU/s1600/21st+June+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRPk6PBFDYU25iBc7cUhJwF1uJk4UKzK-txlLe-77ViFifgIxYJzvGRmXMrBsLDMnb9DhD-T4ZPruwbcR1smCIPJSvM3UicPQOE4zZYT8SLyccW3IvanrCEMsJmTrJ4YbQcsmHhhmAOU/s1600/21st+June+2014.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water level on the 21st July</td></tr>
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The next question was would there be enough rain to fill up
the lake. Our gaze turned to the lake in front of us and the brown banks all
around it. Each time we visited the guesthouse
I took pictures from my balcony to monitor the levels of the lake.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3X7Bzvzry7agm_G0zYWIxTdBjhgVv8GuZ3XCkx2hf8oUgAzjJDEMAZ9gnQHqWe47t1BGeK0Kng2qeFDsHx3qvvaaAnE5-Vd4ZiylocgpaVOV1hSTFNPL9OCz_SbbXE5j7TX6Yt2g9x4/s1600/27th+June+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3X7Bzvzry7agm_G0zYWIxTdBjhgVv8GuZ3XCkx2hf8oUgAzjJDEMAZ9gnQHqWe47t1BGeK0Kng2qeFDsHx3qvvaaAnE5-Vd4ZiylocgpaVOV1hSTFNPL9OCz_SbbXE5j7TX6Yt2g9x4/s1600/27th+June+2014.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imperceptible change in level on the 27th July 2014</td></tr>
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Last week we drove up to <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place</a> on Wednesday evening.
It was dark when we got there but the next morning (Thursday) I woke up
excitedly and stepped out into the balcony camera in hand hoping for a steep
increase in levels and there it was – yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah the lake is full. The paddy is thriving in the fields and all is well in our world.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbrGuD86MmgfWzQHQEzrYZnkuGEjfL7DRV2P0rSZKLWMZ89JeeDdpPOdkgsE1kheE9SVMKHXvjOpjvqBpwKl4RW9qz56AfHU5JOqWD0ZE3gtMpjuCt_XzgxaTTLwglUnd1VK-8G0G2rQ/s1600/3rd+July+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbrGuD86MmgfWzQHQEzrYZnkuGEjfL7DRV2P0rSZKLWMZ89JeeDdpPOdkgsE1kheE9SVMKHXvjOpjvqBpwKl4RW9qz56AfHU5JOqWD0ZE3gtMpjuCt_XzgxaTTLwglUnd1VK-8G0G2rQ/s1600/3rd+July+2014.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3rd August 2014 - Full to the brim </td></tr>
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The rains played truant in the month of June but thankfully
made up in the July. </div>
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Astrid Rao </div>
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<a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">www.nativeplace.com</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/">www.flynirvana.com</a></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-69029890907646773472014-07-29T07:57:00.000+05:302014-07-29T07:57:31.414+05:30Pink & Purple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzR8WlN7iEGMNNCvbfNdAnwYpGJh-ZoPUltSytLKPL86J5TfGWq9O5oDW_AA61ABRq3NEGnpFmuj5qxPK8UIUMmsA8Bmrtp3ubylo62aAG3Kmms3PNpt0s3zVoCAfwcuwoLoeBL90zjw/s1600/1-118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzR8WlN7iEGMNNCvbfNdAnwYpGJh-ZoPUltSytLKPL86J5TfGWq9O5oDW_AA61ABRq3NEGnpFmuj5qxPK8UIUMmsA8Bmrtp3ubylo62aAG3Kmms3PNpt0s3zVoCAfwcuwoLoeBL90zjw/s1600/1-118.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is the monsoon season and the predominant color is green
but pink purple and silver seemed to be the theme of the weekend – there were
Michelle’s purple boots that were driving me insane – all I could think of was
I want I want I want</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZgrEmbAr4JoGgQUqu9GUaVPK3oKMP86dGqQ0AII7Ex8To-6J12FNw2AEVhyHkfkCP9v00MFXT3dITjpb2KKkdC7JHMBmRWSWjT6aiBWbECHhZTgce83K_qX19MNEHitfVURwQfPaVEY/s1600/1-030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZgrEmbAr4JoGgQUqu9GUaVPK3oKMP86dGqQ0AII7Ex8To-6J12FNw2AEVhyHkfkCP9v00MFXT3dITjpb2KKkdC7JHMBmRWSWjT6aiBWbECHhZTgce83K_qX19MNEHitfVURwQfPaVEY/s1600/1-030.JPG" height="640" width="612" /></a></div>
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Then we noticed 2 varieties of Vitex Negudo in flower </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Sr3-Dur9s4O0P7JGSY2NDp77TRh1-UQe3vh1b7KpfR8C9OQ4yWD2_ngVKFk0IV9s9lkdt1ThFZ_7GYdxHNLFiswZMEgefBA90ThLj5iXVBVoxRu7xizUj843rWpAp4ZP4HahSlyEQYI/s1600/1-023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Sr3-Dur9s4O0P7JGSY2NDp77TRh1-UQe3vh1b7KpfR8C9OQ4yWD2_ngVKFk0IV9s9lkdt1ThFZ_7GYdxHNLFiswZMEgefBA90ThLj5iXVBVoxRu7xizUj843rWpAp4ZP4HahSlyEQYI/s1600/1-023.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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and the pink frangipani that we had planted 2 years ago </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgj6LdxV_6MHLUXq1eCGinT_N7hmdpB-JydwF4_QD9gYE-_uHyeGN136bZD8zoVAbfg7GaokOKRk9CwQfPLJYKcZmDmrtnCI9PrdyDhgDVmeufHdtVj9eZHEdblr84Xsyu5qKeGZBi1s/s1600/1-086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgj6LdxV_6MHLUXq1eCGinT_N7hmdpB-JydwF4_QD9gYE-_uHyeGN136bZD8zoVAbfg7GaokOKRk9CwQfPLJYKcZmDmrtnCI9PrdyDhgDVmeufHdtVj9eZHEdblr84Xsyu5qKeGZBi1s/s1600/1-086.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The check dams we had built them in summer seem to be
working like magic – tiny little silvery water falls </div>
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We came across a tree fall – check Dwane drinking this moss
charged water </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNPhFkmsXytg8IUE3q8FVdmy5IIA5MwcZARlmKhgjpO3p9-9nNOUJ64CgTsb1ERu5Hwn2hOZIEjl3rCiyZOPXr1M2OkIQS3b_UyJzQcBULgWahzQcb9IStpmI75weawGXcFFkG4_C0p8/s1600/1-011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNPhFkmsXytg8IUE3q8FVdmy5IIA5MwcZARlmKhgjpO3p9-9nNOUJ64CgTsb1ERu5Hwn2hOZIEjl3rCiyZOPXr1M2OkIQS3b_UyJzQcBULgWahzQcb9IStpmI75weawGXcFFkG4_C0p8/s1600/1-011.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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A medicinal plant in flower – one of the Dashamularisht that
is supposed to be in short supply and may be endangered also pink (sorry I
don’t know the name)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9b-FkZGtGoBTeffuccHwqD_TkGjRCy6wX-PrucsItb3QFOE3XUIm8Q2gRVAj2A1scfIUZWfq_kY-DU7OWBMXErRqQYPnzxvgHU7YnmnGyLTwP75c6I-U8Kuvj9AE-hSOFywien1QR30/s1600/1-165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9b-FkZGtGoBTeffuccHwqD_TkGjRCy6wX-PrucsItb3QFOE3XUIm8Q2gRVAj2A1scfIUZWfq_kY-DU7OWBMXErRqQYPnzxvgHU7YnmnGyLTwP75c6I-U8Kuvj9AE-hSOFywien1QR30/s1600/1-165.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Green – the color of the paddy we have planted – next weekend
is transplanting time so guys if you want to get your feet squishy in muck and
plant the rice that we will serve you soon … come on over </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7deepVfXsyRITeuk7y7MSDS9-PMpaGfl7C8hyphenhyphenFFdE3NiWWu1keltJ8VF0PrgU7-mUAovQHU542cyfxLWEiXEoS6KV_zFp-cdeEdNL8r0nV4EOHNYu6snb2Oqt_IK6uE3ob-bdj_I4c8Q/s1600/1-144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7deepVfXsyRITeuk7y7MSDS9-PMpaGfl7C8hyphenhyphenFFdE3NiWWu1keltJ8VF0PrgU7-mUAovQHU542cyfxLWEiXEoS6KV_zFp-cdeEdNL8r0nV4EOHNYu6snb2Oqt_IK6uE3ob-bdj_I4c8Q/s1600/1-144.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Come on over :)</div>
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Peace Bliss & Happy Landings </div>
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Astrid & Sanjay Rao </div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-76943992765602124592014-07-16T14:58:00.000+05:302014-07-16T15:02:17.785+05:30Kingfisher Tales <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEgqdWNaxWdR5eNng2jeKTwdEIRmlb3LbRzneEhavzEB6fXQN75_XflQxxjq7NQWz9h00VbiQH6NwPSuJ9dZ_xSKXPkwbL0Tm1uSwQ91o3SLa2dvRsYJLiSaoCypTiTr6X2BngjS2J_k/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEgqdWNaxWdR5eNng2jeKTwdEIRmlb3LbRzneEhavzEB6fXQN75_XflQxxjq7NQWz9h00VbiQH6NwPSuJ9dZ_xSKXPkwbL0Tm1uSwQ91o3SLa2dvRsYJLiSaoCypTiTr6X2BngjS2J_k/s1600/008.JPG" height="544" width="640" /></a></div>
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Two weeks ago we drove up to <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/" target="_blank">Native Place</a> early in the morning. We got there in good time and as usual I ran into the garden to see how it was getting along. There had been a few drizzles and everything was green ad growing vigorously in the humid weather. The gardeners Anil and Eknath were quietly working on the slope above the veggie patch and I made my way towards them. As I walked towards them I was greeted by an incessant scolding sound that seemed to be coming from high up in the trees. I spotted the familiar flash of blue immediately. ‘Now what’s her problem’? I thought. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbWFW2goV6Id2KU1PF_oUQy25yTLKIgE1Dhvug1CsyMe-6UC5Wa7SLErmtMl0RO05a1fV9l-OAY0NbMoA4G-Tqbl7rAktQmbcAA9-zIv2OQO-D3nbcJCwBp8LX8I2iqizHnmlX_SAkLE/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbWFW2goV6Id2KU1PF_oUQy25yTLKIgE1Dhvug1CsyMe-6UC5Wa7SLErmtMl0RO05a1fV9l-OAY0NbMoA4G-Tqbl7rAktQmbcAA9-zIv2OQO-D3nbcJCwBp8LX8I2iqizHnmlX_SAkLE/s1600/001.JPG" height="416" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then last week Anil showed me these tunnels bored into an unsightly bank of land that had been the result of overenthusiastic leveling of the slope to plant veggies last year. Big blunder it was and I cringed each time I laid my eyes on it praying for inspiration to help me disguise it. Anil told me he had seen a kingfisher entering the tunnel and beckoned me closer to listen to the sounds the chicks were making – I could see the scat at the entrance of the tunnel and as I leant forward. Once more on cue the kingfisher began to scold me for daring to go to close to the tunnel and I retreated not wanting to cause the poor mama any undue worry.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGqaBqIk8BsKFbBsMjN9w8q3hcKwhe7L2HNqPC_O-s4wIjIdEjPnHkM4T4xtdXyAk6l-HNFlOEmaGbi7nw8-VAXFKhskfsOMHxBKteCPcWyTQSgo-sQVs4WMk0Ci6B2JFAxcWMfM5f6k/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGqaBqIk8BsKFbBsMjN9w8q3hcKwhe7L2HNqPC_O-s4wIjIdEjPnHkM4T4xtdXyAk6l-HNFlOEmaGbi7nw8-VAXFKhskfsOMHxBKteCPcWyTQSgo-sQVs4WMk0Ci6B2JFAxcWMfM5f6k/s1600/002.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kingfisher nest - Dont miss the white scat!</td></tr>
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And then the penny dropped. Ah yes had read about this somewhere a while ago. Kingfishers make tunnels high on the mud banks of the river. They dig out the soft mud and lay their eggs there. Now this was by no means the lake or river bank but it did serve the kingfisher’s purpose. Clever birds!!! They had found a suitable nesting place not even a hundred meters from the lake. We were all delighted – to host the family of kingfishers but as far as mama bird was concerned she was not at all happy to have us lurking around. Hopefully she will get used to having us around – after all we do have vegetable plants to take care of. Until then we will have to tread lightly and put up with her rude calls. </div>
nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-6172029552512423742014-04-11T16:08:00.000+05:302014-04-11T16:08:05.480+05:30Native Place Summer Holidays <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Bird excitement continues at the NP guesthouse – the Sunbird who built its nest in trellis framing the lake view gallery, a high
traffic zone of the guesthouse, protests loudly each time someone comes by to
sit here and enjoy the view. Her chicks have now hatched and she makes frequent
trips to feed them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A pair of sparrows has decided to build its nest above the
fuse box in the entrance landing. Their swooping sorties past the sunbirds nest
and over all our heads adds to the excitement. The area has turned into a veritable flying
corridor. They have taken to harvesting hay and other building material from
another birds nest to speed up their building operation much to the consternation
of mama Sunbird. We often hear them squawk as they race each other to the nest building
site. They seem to be fooling around like a pair of young lovers running wild
on the beach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And yes the <a href="http://nativeplacegarden.blogspot.in/2014/04/back-home-at-native-place.html" target="_blank">Bulbul's eggs</a> I mentioned in my previous blog have
hatched. We got here in time to watch the parents feed the babies for a day
before bad weather or some other eventuality <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span>
caused the chicks to fall out of the nest. By the next day the parents moved them
away and put paid to our ideas of watching them grow and learn how to fly. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The greatest excitement by far has been the daily visit of a pair of <a href="http://nativeplacegarden.blogspot.in/2012/02/one-day-hornbills-will-visit-my-garden.html" target="_blank">Grey Hornbills</a> who appear each evening. </div>
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Astrid Rao <o:p></o:p></div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-52138667353688282932014-04-05T18:33:00.000+05:302014-04-05T18:33:14.839+05:30Back Home at Native Place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwane sends me proof that the Palash is in flower :) </td></tr>
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Last week I visited <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">Native Place</a> for the weekend after a very long time. In fact I had last been there during the Diwali holidays in November. My son’s exams had kept me busy in city and now finally I was able to get to Native Place. 4 long months of being away and yet once I was there it was like I had never left. Of course I had missed out on the flowering of the Palash and the Red Silk Cotton tree. I had missed many a harvest of vegetables from the garden and the birds too seemed to have gone away for the summer.<br />
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On Saturday morning I woke up and went into the balcony to see and hear a bunch of about 40 Bulbuls fooling about in the trees – there was a constant movement within the canopy of the Umbar, Jamun and the Mahua trees as pairs chasing each other from one tree or branch to another – what a glorious site it was to see these birds at play.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKmgv8-GWd0xQqcK2ks8uKH64A7R51xcadKEUi1f86m8aUz6NUzvLaD9ySGnwBVnc2BTHvy5yeMokmfqxrHWSuF-sP5lDoukhGLDH_DdKhzgpXM837r2GdfrvjMp_y7T3kS48uuCBlkw/s1600/611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKmgv8-GWd0xQqcK2ks8uKH64A7R51xcadKEUi1f86m8aUz6NUzvLaD9ySGnwBVnc2BTHvy5yeMokmfqxrHWSuF-sP5lDoukhGLDH_DdKhzgpXM837r2GdfrvjMp_y7T3kS48uuCBlkw/s1600/611.JPG" height="336" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Flycatcher in the Naive Place Garden</td></tr>
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It struck me then that Bulbuls was all I had seen – where
had the ioras gone to I wondered – not many sunbirds to be seen either and as I
thought these thoughts I spotted a flycatcher yes a Blue Flycatcher right
there on the Umbar tree – a beautiful sight it was and made me very happy.</div>
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Then later Eknath the gardener showed me a Bulbul sitting in its nest – wonder if there will be chicks in the nest when I go up next. I showed it to Saumya – Vrinda and Chetan’s little girl and she was thrilled. Oh! The simple pleasures that fill the heart.<br />
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T<br />
Another treat in the garden was the Petrea Volubilis in flower. - such a graceful climber - here is a picture taken from my balcony<br />
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And now to look forward to a glorious summer with lots of paragliding, bird watching, gardening and perfecting the art of sitting in a hammock and doing nothing </div>
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Peace Bliss and Happy Landings </div>
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Astrid Rao </div>
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nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-48114944891467107512012-04-05T17:58:00.000+05:302012-04-05T17:58:25.169+05:30The Flight of the Hornbills<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi All,<br />
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We have had sightings of the Grey Hornbill at and around Native Place for the past year or more now. From the sightings we concluded that there was definitely a small community of these fascinating creatures living in the area. I uploaded one silhouette picture that i managed to take in the Native Place Garden a while ago. </div>nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-70268035289535478592012-02-05T17:46:00.000+05:302012-02-05T17:49:36.186+05:30One day Hornbills will visit my garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Years ago I used to watch an animated tv series called the Wild Thornberries with my son Sunith. A show about a little girl called Eliza Thornberry who travels the world with her famous nature show host parents and falls into exciting wildlife adventures.<br />
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On one such show the Thornberries were on an expedition somewhere in India hoping to film a species of a rare Hornbill. In the episode they were camped out in the forest clearing near some huge trees laden with wild fruit that the Hornbill loves to eat.<br />
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This episode stayed with me and when I first started planting trees at <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">Native Place</a> I looked for species that attracted birds. I had imagined the whole thing unfolding in front of my eyes. Planting the trees…watching them grow and bear fruit… the birds arriving to nest and feast on the fruit<br />
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Much later I got to know that the Hornbill’s loved to eat wild figs. This was amazing to me - they loved the fruit of the one lone large specimen i.e. the <a href="http://nativeplacegarden.blogspot.in/2008/03/in-shade-of-old-umbar-tree.html">Umbar tree</a> that existed in Native Place garden. I quickly jumped to the happy conclusion that since we have an Umbar (wild fig) in the garden that fruits copiously we should be graced with Hornbills. Rather simplistic thinking considering that these noisy, social, omnivorous birds need large tropical forest areas with many fruiting trees throughout the year to survive. But there were forests in the hills around and so I continued to have hope. A couple of years ago we spotted our first pair of Hornbills in the garden and soon they became a regular sighting in the Native Place garden.<br />
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I put a picture up a few weeks ago on facebook and <a href="http://en-gb.facebook.com/anandpendharkar">Anand Pendharkar</a> congratulated us as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Grey_Hornbill">Indian Grey Hornbill </a>(Ocyceros birostris) is an indicator of intact forests and deserves conservation attention.<br />
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We are so grateful for our beautiful Umbar tree and all the denizens in the garden that it supports and nurtures.<br />
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Shine on Umbar tree!<br />
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Peace Bliss & Happy Landings<br />
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Astrid Rao<br />
<a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/">www.nativeplace.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/">www.flynirvana.com</a><br />
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</div>nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-27209458634912601802011-10-05T14:02:00.001+05:302012-02-11T12:37:38.926+05:30Small Minivet in the Native Place Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Hi All,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">For the last
few weekends we have been noticing this elusive brightly colored bird flitting
about in the tops of the <a href="http://nativeplacegarden.blogspot.in/2008/03/in-shade-of-old-umbar-tree.html">Umbar tree</a> but have been unable to identify it or capture
it on camera. We have been spotting them in pairs or more in the late afternoon, flitting about and then moving on. They were easy to spot because of their
bright colors yet not so easy to capture because of their restless habits. But
finally we got lucky last weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We
were able to identify it after taking the above picture. The weather was dull and
the picture is not sharp but it was enough for us to identify it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The Small
Minivet is said to be a widespread resident in our area and prefers open wooded
areas. Has it started to visit the Native Place garden recently or is it that we have
never noticed them before. Whatever may be the case – Welcome Small Minivet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Astrid Rao <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.flynirvana.com/">www.flynirvana.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.nativeplace.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">www.nativeplace.com</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455547098037561096.post-23372914835951331872011-09-05T16:59:00.000+05:302011-09-05T17:08:00.641+05:30A New Discovery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEAIrDEjmvvaXpHTmfYvUiI7Yd235UAE9Qf3Z-NOzUxLu1eisT2SPwjmcP7TUKVSrGV-UFkSs3b5ijJ_YR16OSD6wZBh2GeK5gD2YP0Dz2J2gx7sxRGF8iIf4WZRKG5a9E2_tdErbrhw/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="332" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEAIrDEjmvvaXpHTmfYvUiI7Yd235UAE9Qf3Z-NOzUxLu1eisT2SPwjmcP7TUKVSrGV-UFkSs3b5ijJ_YR16OSD6wZBh2GeK5gD2YP0Dz2J2gx7sxRGF8iIf4WZRKG5a9E2_tdErbrhw/s400/027.JPG" /></a></div><i><br />
Black Winged Cuckoo Shrike - Our first sighting at Native Place</i><br />
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We spent the latter part of last week at Kamshet. It was my Birthday on Thursday and I was keen to spend it at Native Place. Sanjay wanted to throw me a party in Mumbai but I insisted I wanted to spend my birthday with my trees at Native Place a wish that elicited a rolling of the eyes from him.<br />
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Bex sent me birthday wishes hoping my dreams would come true and this made me reflect - a lot of my dreams have come true we have to say. And I have so much to be grateful and joyous about.<br />
Building <a href="http://www.nativeplace.com">Native Place</a> was one such dream, growing a garden was another, having my family enjoy the space with us was still another. I often tell people about how I grew up in a little village in Mumbai and then the city grew leaving us with no open spaces or trees to climb. It was a dream to build a home where my kids and family could continue to enjoy the wild unbridled freedom of running barefoot exploring nature around us. <br />
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Well here I was in Kamshet with husband, son and nephews Dwane and Daniel on my birthday, enjoying a walk in the pouring rain, listening to the birds call and feeling at home in nature. My dream surely has come true and I wish the same to all of you<br />
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Peace Bliss & Happy Landings <br />
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Astrid Rao <br />
<a href="http://www.flynirvana.com">www.flynirvana.com</a>nativeplace gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992171060565142595noreply@blogger.com0Kamshet, Khamshet, Maharashtra, India18.7668236 73.55232709999995718.7661531 73.550929599999961 18.767494099999997 73.553724599999953