Chabungbam

I was returning from work when I saw a gathering of people. It was in the campus of a stadium. To my curiosity, I went close to see what really it was. There was a troupe of dancers and I could also see cranes, cameras, lights and many other equipments. It looked like they were shooting a song sequence. It again increased my zeal and made myself comfortable on a pavement. After several trials, they started the shooting. There were several shoutings like, “READY”, “CAMERA”, “CUT” and several others (must be jargoans of film shooting). I asked someone in the crew if I could take pics from a far distance. He granted the freedom as long as if it doesn’t disturb their work. I took a few pics but I was too tired and headed for home.

I could now realise that making a film is not that easy as everyone thinks. Even for a small take, they make several repeats which even made a simple spectator like me exhaust up my patience.

Azalea is an evergreen shrub all year, but with the advent of spring it comes into its glory. Suddenly the tip of each branch bursts into bloom. Although hybrid azaleas flowers throughout the year, the flowers are less in number in other months of the year.

Azaleas love an acidic soil. I plant them in decomposed leaf mould and very loose sand with a ratio of 3:1. Prior to plating, the mixture is treated with fungides (systemic) and well dried. After plantation., I use a small dose of nematicide as earthworm tends to make the porous soil clayish. Earthen pots with at least two holes for easy water drainage are used. They are kept in semi shade for which I used a 50% agroshed net.

The nurseries are planted in pots of appropriate sizes. Too big a pot is not good as there is a higher chance of water logging.

Azaleas love water and it needs to be moist all the time but should not be water logged. I water them twice a day (morning and evening).

On the eve of spring, I start feeding with blood meal every 15 days in gap. In between I use foliar spray of micronutrients every week. This cleanses away the leaves as well.

During the growth season, I do a lot of pruning. Although with pruning, I do lose some flowers but it maintains a good bushy structure rather than a long and slender one.

I have taken to gardening as a hobby since the last six years. I prefer perennial plants rather than seasonal flowers. I plant orchids, azaleas, bougainvilleas and many foliages. I would like to share the exeriences as a gardener, the joy I got out of it and the problems I faced (which I loved it as memories).