The labernum is in full bloom announcing the summer season ahead. Labernum is native to India and is venerated by Indians as a "lucky charm". The pretty dangling flowers cannot be missed where labernum grows as avenue trees or as a tree welcoming one to a house.
Another tree, the silver oak (Grevillea robusta)an exotic from Australia which is now very popular in urban parks, also blooms. Very few take notice, as the blooms quickly transform to seeds. A fact which is least known about this tree is that its flowers and seeds are known to cause dermatatis. The flowers are golden-orange washing brush like blooms and are toxic.
The ground is awash with yellow blooms as soon as it rains. Pretty lilies bloom to welcome the short rainy season in these parts.
The yellow and white butterflies are common now.
Not so common, is the yellow lemon pansy.
The birds are busy nesting and bringing up new chicks to feed in the abundance of the rainy season. The bulbul decides to make her nest just outside our main door, on a Christmas tree. She has been very clever. The tree pie is on the look out for eggs every day morning and one day we woke up to bulbul cries. Luckily the nest attacked was not the one near the door, but the one on a ficus tree outside the gate, on the main road. Her nest is resting on a branch near the wall of our house. No big bird can reach it. The height is such that the prowling alley cat will not jump at it either. But every time someone comes out of the house, the male or female(they take turns) sitting on the nest is disturbed and flies out to the nearest tree.
We are honoured at the trust imposed by the bulbul in us.
When the little chick flew out for the first time leaving the nest vacant, we celebrated.
Bye bye season of yellows till next time!
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