Borrowed Greenery!

Posted on | March 4, 2009 | 44 Comments |

Whenever I see photos of beautiful green vegetable gardens on someone’s blog, I start dreaming. I picture a beautiful garden filled with rows and rows of colorful veggies, lined with fruit trees. There we are, sitting in the middle of the garden sipping our morning coffee, looking at the crops to decide the day’s menu. Then another vision, we are throwing a barbecue party. Our guests are sitting in the shade of the mango trees, sipping fresh mojitos made of course with mint and lime from our garden. I am making herbed lamb chops, breaking off miscellaneous herbs from the garden amidst the jealous looks from our guests.

That dream just lasts for a minute though! Back to reality- Siv and I are not the gardening kind. We are lazy with a capital L. We are the type of folks who couldn’t even maintain a lawn, the neighborhood association had to send warning letters to. I couldn’t even get an indoor Chinese lucky bamboo plant to stay alive for more than a couple of months, I don’t think there are any plants that require less maintenance efforts than that one! Maybe one day we’ll be rich enough to afford a full time gardener and a huge garden, for now I am going to stand in the middle of Whole Foods veggie isle and pretend I’m in my backyard. We do make most of our meal plans there anyway!

Well, my mom’s garden is another story. She’s got quite the green thumb (I heard it skips a generation). It is off-season here, almost drought, hasn’t rained in days. But there is still enough to show off! Here are some pictures from her garden.

Chambakka – a sweet, crunchy fruit. I don’t know what it’s called in other languages. Anybody?

These bananas won’t be ready to eat till next month, but I was lucky the jackfruit tree bore fruits well before the season!
DSCN0361 DSCN0362

A small green variety of chilies called “Kanthari”, an extremely spicy one that we make chutney with. Never seen these outside Kerala. DSCN0364

Our regular green chilies. DSCN0365

A lonely white eggplant. DSCN0366

My favorite greens, which just happens to be red in color! DSCN0368

I think this one is from the same family as the one above, just green in color! DSCN0369

Collard greens - I got the seeds from U.S. last year, only two plants survived. She’s been saving it for me and my sister.
DSCN0359

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« « Checking in…| Jackfruit Seeds and Green Mango Curry (Chakkakkuru Manga Curry) » »

Comments

44 Responses to “Borrowed Greenery!”

Raaga
March 4th, 2009 @ 3:20 am
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lovely lovely.

I’m supposed to have that green thumb… but I lost it. Nothing I sow seems to grow.

Let’s not forget I’m super lazy

having a good time I see
sra
March 4th, 2009 @ 3:59 am
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Sig, I think those are called rose apples, tho’ I remember them to be more triangular. And yes, my first introduction to it had some Kerala connection, though I forget what exactly!

I’m another of those rare ones in whose house the lucky bamboo perished – can’t tell you how wretched I felt that a lucky plant died in my house, and that I couldn’t take care of a minimum-maintenance thing.

Yesterday, my mom sent some home-grown drumsticks, cooked them today, they are so fresh and I’m looking forward to dinner!
Happy Cook
March 4th, 2009 @ 4:41 am
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Wow sig your mom have such a beutiful garden and that chambaka i think it is more than 19 years ago i had one.
I hope your mom have upilitta kanthari there.
Drool drool drool.
A&N
March 4th, 2009 @ 4:55 am
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Wow! I’ve killed an indoor plant by being a busy socialite who is watering the plant ad doing 100 other things. All my imagination only! Sigh.

Ya, the bamboos are dying too. I totally hear ya!
Asha
March 4th, 2009 @ 5:51 am
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Joy to look at all these Sig! Thanks for posting these, specially when we have snow here..well..almost gone now!
Laavanya
March 4th, 2009 @ 5:54 am
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Oh the chambakka brought back such wonderful memories of summer vacations in TVM. Even this April when i was there, i was so excited to see it and grabbed so many – my daughter loved it too.
sandeepa
March 4th, 2009 @ 6:17 am
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Ahhhhhhhh so maybe you should move and take ownership of your Mom’s garden instead Lovely, lovely garden would love to just sit in the shade of those trees and read a book
Sara
March 4th, 2009 @ 6:21 am
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Those are great pictures! My herb garden is finally starting to come back now that the morning frost is gone, and my fruit trees are blossiming.
luckysanjana
March 4th, 2009 @ 7:16 am
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hello there. Im new to your space….several hops and thats how I got here….okie i have so much to say……..well im just blog hopping since im really new to blogspot im looking forward to making new friends here……what struck me about your profile was your picture……….you have such sharp features……but you already know that right…….LOL….okei i got here becoz of the interesting face but you know what the pictures of the apples absolutely delicious……you know what I think thats what heaven must be like. ……….rows of beautiful trees laden with fruits………..and rows of flowering plants i doubt there is a more beautiful sight than that……….okie ive eaten a fruit called love apples which are a white tinged with green version of these but they seem like the same thing just pink and what a pretty picture they make……………….
okie im off exploring your other entries.
Bhagyashri
March 4th, 2009 @ 7:40 am
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Hey Sig, I see you are totally enjoying yourself out there! Lovely garden.

About Chambakka, I have heard them being referred to as Love apples.
indosungod
March 4th, 2009 @ 8:02 am
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Lovely lovely garden Sig. Be sure to tell mom her garden is beautiful. Dreaming is the first step
Mamatha
March 4th, 2009 @ 9:00 am
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What a delightful post Sig! Oh, the thrill of cooking with the bounty from one’s own backyard. For now, I’ll just continue dreaming.

You know, that thing about the green thumb gene skipping a gen might be true, I haven’t inherited it from my mother either. And I’m so happy to know that I’m not the only soul that could kill the Chinese bamboo.

Is Chambakka the same fruit that Anjali talks about in this post?http://annaparabrahma.blogspot.com/2007/05/produce-from-thal.html
Shreya
March 4th, 2009 @ 9:26 am
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hi Sig, memories came back flooding …those chambakkas (I don’t know what it is called in English!sorry), the vegetable garden, just like the one we had when I was going to school, I remember helping mom water them..cheera (both red and green!) jackfruit, mangoes, bananas, chillies, tomatoes, vendaykka, cucumber and gourd varieties..oh! my mouth is watering thinking of all the delicacies with everything.., and I am so J that you are right in the middle of it now…keep a black tikka..nazar utarna..:-)Btw, the skipping a generation is something I totally agree to, coz my mom is wonderful at it, plants love her touch.. I too hope I will be rich enough to buy a huge house with a back and front yard and a gardener..:D
sreelu
March 4th, 2009 @ 9:33 am
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wow what a beautiful garden,I love those fruit.Hope you are fun in India
varsha
March 4th, 2009 @ 9:41 am
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Gal..wots tis..trying to make me miss kerala even more??Nattil poyavarude oru ahankarame…
seriously am missing naadu so much..n yeah we share the same dream..
Srividya
March 4th, 2009 @ 9:50 am
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The reality is quite different Lots of digging and weeding ! I guess it does skip a generation. My grandmother was very good, and my mother will kill anything she looks at !
sunita
March 4th, 2009 @ 10:28 am
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My dad was an avid gardener…yes, probably skips a generation

But, honestly,those are such gorgeous pictures and your mom does have quite a green thumb
Cham
March 4th, 2009 @ 10:35 am
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Now I am Jealous Seeing u re tasting fresh jackfruit in ur backyard
The first pict is simply gorgeous, I ve never seen a fruit in my life. Glad to see those greens re maintained by ur lovely mom.
musical
March 4th, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
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i want to taste the chambakka, now! What a pretty and luscious fruit it is!
SuperChef
March 4th, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
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ohh..noo..u r making me all nostalgic about jambakka, kanthari n all!! :( looks like you are having a lot of fun there
Aparna Inguva
March 4th, 2009 @ 2:38 pm
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First off do I miss that dreamy garden space or what, and hats off to your moms green thumb.
chambakka… we used to call it ‘jamun’ pandu(fruit) in telugu. I guess it was meant to be jambu now that I think of it.
wiki says its Syzygium aqueum, a.k.a water apple.
Hope you are having/had loads of fun.
-A
Poornima
March 4th, 2009 @ 4:16 pm
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The pics soo remind me of home…its been ages since I had Chambakka, really miss them now…Your mom has a great garden.
shilpa
March 4th, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
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I looooove your mom’s garden. Ohh those fruits…They are my fav..Haven’t had them in a long time
Cynthia
March 4th, 2009 @ 5:06 pm
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The kanthari chilies you mentioned, we get them here in the Caribbean. We call them bird peppers and you are right, those little buggers are lethal!
Wendy
March 4th, 2009 @ 5:08 pm
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According to Wiki

Syzygium samarangense (syn. Eugenia javanica) is a species in the Myrtaceae, native to Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. Common names include wax apple, love apple, java apple, Chomphu (in Thai), Bellfruit (In Taiwan), jambu air (in Indonesian), water apple, mountain apple, jambu air (“water guava” in Malay), wax jambu, Rose apple, bell fruit, makopa, tambis (Philippines), and chambekka in Malayalam and jumbu (Sri Lanka). It is known as jamalac in French, and zamalac in the French-based creole languages of Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles and other Indian ocean islands.The wax apple tree also grows in the Caribbean. On Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, the fruit is called kashu Sürnam in Papiamentu, which means kashu or cashew from Surinam, while in Surinam the fruit is called Curaçaose appel (apple from Curaçao in Dutch), in Trinidad & Tobago it is known as Pommerac.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_apple
Soma
March 4th, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
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So very pretty. i never saw that fruit before. If u ever get to find out the nme please let me know, for they look real cute. how do they taste?

I’m very much the gardening kind.. tho’ maintaining the lawn is my hubby’s (now a very nice amigo takes care of it) .. & that is a different story. your drem kinda made me realize mine… but the rabbits are my enemies, & haven’t been able to grow a thing for the past 3 years.
Nags
March 4th, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
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Even my mom was really into gardening when I was a kid. Now its just the essentials like chillies, curry leaves, papaya, banana, coconut and an occasional eggplant or okra plant.

I think chambanga is called rose apple in english
Divz
March 5th, 2009 @ 12:45 am
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hi sig…lovely clicks!! feel like having chambakka right now!!
we had a tree at home which gave so much fruit that it was impossible to pluck them individually..so we used spread old bedsheets under the tree and shake the trunk and branches and the ripe once used to fall automatically!! miss those days so much..:(
chambakka is called water apples(pink ones r called water roseapples) and also heard them being refered as wax jambu..
Sunita
March 5th, 2009 @ 6:03 am
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Hey Sig,
I have been following your blog religiously for quite some time and i must say i love it !!
w.r.t gardening i also call myself a serial plant killer !! but then last year, i mustered some courage (read lots) and went ahead and planted some mint…thankfully they have been thriving..touch wood !! also mom had got some kanthari chillies when she came from india and they also seem to be flourishing in joburg… will post some pics when the first chilly pops out.. but totally drooled over ur mom’s garden pics…have FUN !
Aparna
March 5th, 2009 @ 9:23 am
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I know jambakka as rose apples too, but there’s a white/ very pale green variety too.
I have those dreams too but I haven’t got around to making them real so far. I have got the pots and the seeds, just need to plant them.:)
But its so hot now, maybe I’ll wait fore the rains.
The first 4 pictures remind me of my home in Cochin.:)
Rajitha
March 6th, 2009 @ 1:43 pm
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can i just say how much i love you ..finally i get to meet a couple who are as bad as jeeves and me are with maintaing our lawn and getting looks and letters from our neighbours!! have fun sig..i enjoy the garden and scenery when i go home…then bam!! back to reality when i am here…ha ha
rachel
March 7th, 2009 @ 5:59 am
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Chambaka is referred to as water apple… I brought back quite a lot from my visit to kerala and a post on it is coming up soon.Lovely garden your mum does have.
veda
March 8th, 2009 @ 2:03 am
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hey sig!

hows u been? love ur mom’s garden! specially my fav amaranth greens in red and green! they look cool!!!!lovely snaps!

regards,
Veda
Sab
March 8th, 2009 @ 5:54 am
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Beautiful site. Don’t think you are lazy. may be its just because you don’t have interest in gardening.
The pictures remind me of my mom’s garden and looks like its true that green thumb skips a generation.

Good work!!! and Best wishes
Thas
March 9th, 2009 @ 7:03 pm
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hy sig..thts a beautiful veggie garden ur mom got…i miss tht red colored( green)..i used to have tht bck n kerala. i dont find it here though.
am sure ur having a blast n kerala..have lotsaa fun nd dont miss the yummy food u get there, especially spicy fish dishes..
dn just wanted to share my first cooking video with u..chk ths out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSzK-vfSZUw

i wuld appreciate ur comments !

luv
Thas
Nirmala
March 9th, 2009 @ 7:39 pm
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You are true on skipping a generation. My amma too is such a plant friendly person and not me. Somehow I enjoy being in plats company. Under the shades with a platter of fruits from the garden…wow…heavenly! enjoy every moment!
Ashamary
March 12th, 2009 @ 8:33 am
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Hello Sig,

Great to know you’re living it up in Naadu. I miss it all the more knowing that I won’t be able to make it this year, and I live in Mumbai, not across continents!

Anyway, I think the Kanthari is called ‘Bird’s Eye’ chilly, and yes, it’s a topper on the Scoville scales.

I’m drooling … fortunately, amma and I brought back a grafting to Mumbai from Kerala last November when we were there. And of course, as usual, Amma’s plants live while mine die a slow, torturous, de-hydrated death!

Have fun … and kick the scales into some unreachable corner for the rest of the vacation. LOL

Regards,
Asha
Suganya
March 12th, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
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Collard greens in India? Your mom rocks…
Julee
March 31st, 2009 @ 12:51 am
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Beautiful to see greenery in your house.

My house too owes a wonderful farm ,and to say , my father-in-law ,picks up each fully grown vegetables every day from his self developed heavenly garden .

And he even orders my mother-in-law to cook in different ways after he watching all the cookery shows in TV.

We have cabbage and cauliflower too,which is very difficult to grow in our area(Aleppey).

Its nice to see and eat veggies grown at our own house.If we have the time and bit space ,i think all of us can have one,instead of buying vegetables which are imported.Also most of it would be injected with pesticides too.

Regards to All,
Julee
Bhakti
August 19th, 2009 @ 1:05 am
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Chambakka – I’ve seen and tasted it, and heard it called jamun, which surprised me because jamun is same as jambhul in Maharashtra…and that looks and tastes totally different. I remember seeing a picture of this Chambakka fruit on the cover of the menu on a flight, captioned as Roseapple. Irrespective, it’s a fab fruit, especially a delight on a hot day.

btw, love the garden…it’s a truly commendable effort!

Cheers,
B
rajani
January 9th, 2010 @ 8:55 pm
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Hi lovely lovely pics!!! i love it when i see posts like this, just looking at the champakkya sparked memories in my taste buds.
Asha
June 15th, 2010 @ 2:08 am
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Lovely pics…was scouting for recipes for jambakka jam/ pickle when i came across this blog..we have a tree laden with Jambakka at our Munnar resort and dont know what to do with surplus fruit ….any ideas?
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