The best thing about spring in Lahore is the floral wonder that accompanies the lovely weather....
COVER STORY
The best thing about spring in Lahore is the floral wonder that accompanies the lovely weather. Nature’s display of colourful, fragrant optimism brings a magical burst of joy with each brilliant little botanical masterpiece that shows up and adorns the sprawling greenery.
The worst thing about spring in Lahore is that it lasts about two and a half microseconds. It’s like winter is eager to pass the baton to summer, while spring stands on the sidelines with a “but what about me??” look on its proverbial face.
It is perhaps a lesson to revel in transient beauty, cherishing the marvels that surround us, and, as they say, “smiling because it happened”.
In that spirit, as spring gives way to summer, here is a look at some of the many stunning blossoms that have dotted the greens of Lahore this vernal season.
You’ve almost definitely seen it in red, but the conspicuous hibiscus comes in many other colours, and they are all gorgeous. The striking five-petalled flower, with that characteristic staminal column in the centre, can be found in shades of white, orange, yellow, pink and purple as well as the classic tropical red, and can even have multicoloured or gradient blooms. A favourite in landscaping, hibiscus is also used to make beverages – like tea from dried petals – and in folk medicine for its purported health benefits.
The moss rose is a magical beauty that thrives in hot weather where others may struggle. This South American native has become a spring-summer staple in South Asian lawns. The flowers open during the day in sunlight and close at night. A planter full of colourful – red, pink, yellow, orange, white – moss roses is an absolute delight, so it isn’t any wonder that honeybees love them too!
The gaillardia is commonly known as blanket flower, supposedly because of the resemblance of its red, orange and yellow petals to the woven patterns of traditional Native American blankets as well as its tendency to spread and form a “blanket” of colour across the ground. It’s bright and fiery, and can bring cheerfulness and joy to any flowerbed.
With its large dramatic blooms that appear along a tall stalk, the hollyhock plant is a popular garden ornamental that can be easily grown from seed. Its bright flowers – white, pink and burgundy are especially common here – attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and are a symbol of ambition, abundance and resilience.
Considered one of the most popular garden plants internationally, cannas not only have beautiful flowers but also striking foliage. And the plants are not toxic – their rhizomes have been consumed by humans for thousands of years, while parts of the plant are also used as animal fodder.
The big, bright blooms – commonly red, orange, yellow – attract pollinators, and can add an eye-catching pop of colour to any garden.
This flower gets its name from the fact that the inflorescence supposedly looks like a glowing candle (to someone somewhere). While the individual blooms are relatively small, the flower spikes can be quite tall (around 6 to 12 inches). Butterflies love them, as do humans – the flowers are valued for their appearance, while the plant itself is used in traditional medicine, especially for its fungicidal properties.
These flowers are commonly referred to as bottlebrushes because they look like, you know, bottle brushes! Endemic to Australia, the plants are used in ornamental landscaping, with their vivid red (some can be yellow, green, orange, pink or white) inflorescences made mostly of stamens instead of petals (which are small and inconspicuous). Bees clearly like them, and birds also show up to feast on their nectar.
The distinct four-petalled florets of ixora grow in dense clusters that are guaranteed to catch your attention even from a distance. Prized as ornamentals, the flowers are also used in religious rituals and folk medicine.
This perennial of the daisy family is a perfect example of beauty in simplicity. The blossoms are simple – the single type has a layer of eight petals – and usually have just one main colour – white, yellow, orange, red – but they can be a wonderful presence in any garden.
With delicate, pollinator-friendly blooms, cosmos are proficient self-seeders. They support beneficial insects, and while they’re not edible, they are not considered toxic either.
With its striking blossoms in shades of yellow, red and orange, the peacock flower effortlessly stands out in landscapes. As stunning as this flower and its evergreen plant may be though, don’t be fooled by their beauty – the seeds, pods and leaves can be toxic to humans and pets.
Native to the West Indies, the peacock flower has strong symbolic importance in Barbados and captures the joyful, festive spirit often associated with Caribbean culture.
Snapdragon, dog flower, toad flax … apparently these flowers resemble quite a few animals, mythical or otherwise! Widely popular as ornamental blooms in flowerbeds and borders, snapdragons appear in a wide variety of colours – white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, even multicoloured patterns – and have great historical significance: they were used in some of the earliest genetic studies by naturalists like Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin and helped scientists understand how genes control development.
The bright flowers of the trumpet vine are hummingbird magnets! The orange blooms stand out against the background of green foliage, and are impossible for birds and insects to ignore. The plant is, however, slightly toxic, and sometimes considered weedy because of its aggressive spread.
