Trees are the best. We had planted a Persian Lilac last year. It was just a long twig when we planted it. Now, a year later, it has a round canopy and has outgrown us, standing 12 feet tall. I am sure we can hang from it although I haven’t tried doing that for some time. The last I tried it was in the monsoons and the earth was wet. As I hung, the tree started tilting, so I let go. But now the bark at the base is as thick as a child’s thigh. I am sure it can take our weight. Perhaps I’ll try again this winter. The Persian Lilac sheds a lot. There’s a carpet of yellow leaves under it these days. I can’t wait for it to flower, come spring.

It seems to be competing with the banana which we also planted last year. We had gone to the P&T office to pay a telephone bill and came across some trees there. The maali gave us one. Today it has made itself into three and a half trees. When it sprouts a new leaf, it stands straight and is a pleasing light green. The older leaves look like they have grown beards.

Although I love to see the way raindrops bead the banana leaves, I am thrilled with the Persian Lilac. Perhaps because it attracts birds. In the mornings, a laughing dove perches itself in it and goes gur-gur-groo for minutes. Its mate hovers around, and perches itself on the broadband wire near by. Then it finally joins its mate and they cosy up to each other. Maybe they are scouting the tree for a nest. When the sun is up, a pair of Ashy Prinia makes regular visits to it, hopping from branch to branch and jimmy-jimmy-jimmying loudly. They treat it like a jungle gym.

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