It is said a garden is like music. It should have rhythm and balance, and accent in planting trees. A garden which is a fumble of varieties of trees does not look appealing. Remember, the shapes of the crown of trees adapt to the landscape. Elongated conifers like pine, deodar and cypress with golobuls crowns, harmonize with the pyramidal mountains like the Himalayas.

Semi globulus trees like the oak, maple, cherry, apple and pear grow on the foot hills and require a colder climate. The umbrella like canopy of the gulmohur, neem, banyan and peepal grow on the plains. But, the high elevation trees retain their linear shapes even in the plains, provided there’s no crowding for space, or struggle to reach the sunlight.

A tree of one habitant planted in another is “accent material”. Pine, cypress and silver oak in the garden gives it a distinguished characteristic. A solitary palm lends a distinctive identity. Cassia, gulmohur, eucalyptus, jacarand and spathodea are spreading trees, and require adequate space.

South Indian glory

The Mast Tree, more commonly known as Ashoka, a native to Bengal and Sri Lanka, grows profusely in South India. Growing straight up, the right angle stems with a pyramidical crown, and star shaped yellowish green flowers, which bloom from February to April. They are decorative as avenue trees, as windbreakers, and the seeds sown in pots in July, transplant well. They should be planted 15 feet apart.
The wavy leaf Tocoma- Ruftrora in Hindi, with tubular orange yellow bushes of flowers, flourish in a dry climate. The Chalta - Bettadakanagal in Kannada, has bright green foliage, and bears large white fragrant flowers in July, and is ideal for small gardens.

Pink cassia from Java and Burma, have feathery hoof like leaves. This medium sized tree with a straight trunk, grows up to 15 metres, with umbrella like spreading branches. The leaves shed in December, and the tree is bare till February, when the new leaves appear. The dark green or brown five angled bulbs open in split calyx and the deep pink or lilac flowers flourish in well drained soil. They are also suitable for small gardens, but blooms have a short life.

The West Indian Mountain Rose, native of Venezuela, grows well in our climate. A compact 8-10 foot high tree with dazzling scarlet flowers in bunches of 30-50, born all over the trunk, from base to crown, gives it a spectacular look. This should be grown in sheltered spots. The Rain Tree is a fast growing tree, but also needs space to spread. When covered with tuffs of pink flowers, it predicts rain.

Scarlet beauty

The Flame of the forest, with flaming scarlet orange flowers, bloom in April-May. The bark is used for tanning, the gum from the bark is a stimulant, the flowers yield a dye and seeds oil, but it’s a slow growing tree.

Frangipani - Champa, also called the Temple Tree, is a native of Guatemala, and grows all around India. The crooked whitish stems have a character of their own, and would enhance an ornamental garden.

The waxy white flowers with yellow centres, which are highly fragrant, bloom March to April, and July to October. They also come in light and dark pink colours, and this hardy tree can be propagated from cuttings.

The Christmas tree can grow to enormous heights, and is very decorative, so is the Wild Date Palm. The hemispherical crown with greyish-green 2-3 cm long, pinnate with sharp pointed leaves, grows up to 25 cm in length.

The flowering spikes are enclosed by a boat-shaped 60-75cm long bract between the leaves. The whitish-yellow scented flowers grow on the male species, while the female has greenish brown tinged flowers. The yellowish to reddish small sweet dates are delightful. The leaves are used as brooms, and it yields a sweet clear  juice — Nira, which, when on fermenting, turns into toddy, a milky white liquid, which has alcoholic content. Over fifteen variety of palms grow well in a garden. The Traveller Palm with its fan shaped leaves, is popular.

Planting right

Remember to plant trees away from the plinth of the house. Choose a corner rather than the centre of the garden for larger trees; the smaller trees interspersing flowerbeds.

Strelizia reginae — the Bird of Paradise, is a spectacular plant, but requires a large space to flourish. From seed to flower, it takes 5-10 years; but once established, flowers for 10 years.

The blue-orange burst of spiky flowers, like a cock’s comb, have a long plant and shelf life. Sunlight loving, the clumps can be divided and potted separately, which will flower in 2-3 years. The plant can withstand long periods of drought. It is also great for terrace gardens, and has to be potted in large containers.

Dining alfresco under the shade of a tree, is a pleasure you can enjoy on balmy days, and at night too. A barbecue spit constructed with bricks, with a niche for the coals, and a metal rod portable rack on top, can be made by any local smithy.

Most trees acquire their moisture from the soil, but it’s a good idea to water them once in a while, during the summer. As with other plants, manuring will help, and the larger trees would encourage birds and squirrels to nest in them.