<p>This is a veritable chrysanthemum paradise. Every home in this village has a tiny chrysanthemum garden. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Beautiful flowers of many hues stand at the entrance to every home, beckoning you to stop and stare at their beauty. Hulemalagi in Sirsi taluk of Uttara Kannada district is a special village. It is a great example of community bonding and creativity. The women of the village join hands to raise the garden of flowers.<br /><br />This practice of raising chrysanthemums is not a new one. The tradition runs into a hundred years almost. Girijajji, who is 75 years old, remembers her mother-in-law introducing her to this method of community farming when the former came to the village as a young bride.<br /><br />Traditional wisdom<br /><br />Today, Girijajji has passed on her knowledge to her daughter-in-law. Girijajji is not an agricultural expert. <br /> <br />She has no knowledge of what the varieties are called, and yet, has played a major role in conserving many varieties of flowers.<br /><br />Even the names of the many varieties of chrysanthemum are interesting. A certain red variety of flower has petals in the shape of an icecream spoon, and therefore is called ‘Icecream spoon’. There are several other such names. <br /><br />Also, not a rupee has been spent in sourcing the many varieties. The families have raised them over the years, by way of exchanging different types among each other. <br />Prabhavathi Hegde has 120 varieties of chrysanthemums in her garden. Eighty of them are now in full bloom. <br /><br />Every house in the village has at least 20 varieties of chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemums have brought the community closer.<br /></p>
<p>This is a veritable chrysanthemum paradise. Every home in this village has a tiny chrysanthemum garden. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Beautiful flowers of many hues stand at the entrance to every home, beckoning you to stop and stare at their beauty. Hulemalagi in Sirsi taluk of Uttara Kannada district is a special village. It is a great example of community bonding and creativity. The women of the village join hands to raise the garden of flowers.<br /><br />This practice of raising chrysanthemums is not a new one. The tradition runs into a hundred years almost. Girijajji, who is 75 years old, remembers her mother-in-law introducing her to this method of community farming when the former came to the village as a young bride.<br /><br />Traditional wisdom<br /><br />Today, Girijajji has passed on her knowledge to her daughter-in-law. Girijajji is not an agricultural expert. <br /> <br />She has no knowledge of what the varieties are called, and yet, has played a major role in conserving many varieties of flowers.<br /><br />Even the names of the many varieties of chrysanthemum are interesting. A certain red variety of flower has petals in the shape of an icecream spoon, and therefore is called ‘Icecream spoon’. There are several other such names. <br /><br />Also, not a rupee has been spent in sourcing the many varieties. The families have raised them over the years, by way of exchanging different types among each other. <br />Prabhavathi Hegde has 120 varieties of chrysanthemums in her garden. Eighty of them are now in full bloom. <br /><br />Every house in the village has at least 20 varieties of chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemums have brought the community closer.<br /></p>
