Gulmohars Are Summerflames In Bangalore

These trees I have taken for granted for the past 45 yrs and even now they bring back memories, while I traveled in jhatkas, even in manmaad as a child I remember putting the seed into the nose and a 5yr old and had a tough time with it until I was taken to the doc to remove it..

They are like the wedding procession on both sides of the road in Bangalore and easily fall away, they cannot with stand heavy storm, most of them uproot by the time they are young trees. The roots may be shallow..

While entering the English convent for the first time I could only remember these trees inside the compound making it so picturesque to go along the roof topped buildings and a grand welcome to the people who come under its shade..

The flowers are edible and nice and crunchy, the leaves are too tiny and the whole bunches look like a fanning shower. They are known as gulmohar In India, I can reckon my childhood to these trees, they are every where on both sides of the road an otherwise scorching sunny afternoon can take a splendid look in flame of red and orange telling you about the beauty present every where,

The other day on my way to iskon we had to go through the rajmahal vilas road to yeshwanthapur and both the sides were all red in color taking your breath away and making you feel at home any time…

The countryside in bangalore also has these trees on the sides...Their roots are not too strong so can be planted inside the compound and on the roads they are very large and join the tops from both sides making the avenue all shady, and the blooms falling all over the path a red carpet, monkeys favor these flowers in summer…sunkan

Dear Sunkan,

Lovely info.

Yes Gulmohars are a lovely sight in most schools I guess. We too had one . The colour so vibrant adds life to the day.
The pics are so beautiful Sunkan.

Love,
Devika

Sunkan,
Nice pictures, enjoyed it...I think those are called the 'flames of the forest', right...
They are beautiful. with the green background and the red flowers, superb combination...

sriniketan

Beautiful Sunkan. I love Gulmohar trees and especially the ones with red flowers. Thanks for posting beautiful pictures of my favorite color Gulmohar flowers!

Unfortunately, we do not get to see them here in the US. But I was lucky this year. On my vacation few weeks ago to a tropical place, I saw Gulmohar and many other trees and flowers that I used to see in India. Also saw mango ladden trees. Oh, it was a sheer delight and I relived my childhood days yet again!

BTW, for ardent music and (RD Burman) fans here, there is this song by RDB that I absolutely looooove and that has reference to Gulmohar in it. The song is - "Gulmohar gar tumharaa naam hota" from the movie Devta. Sung by KK and Lata. You can listen to it here -Gulmohar Gar Tumhara Naam Hota - Gulzar Pancham Vol 1 Soundtrack - Compilations songs - Dishant.com.
A must hear for you music lovers here!

SS

thanks sunkan maam,
for the nice pics...and for reviving gulmohar memories....it used to line the big ground in our school too...
its a beautiful sight, the flame of the forest....

Dear Sunkan,

We had Gul Mohur trees in the building in Mumbai. When I looked out of my bedroom window, the bright red & orange flowers greeted me in the mornings.

When the tree shed it's leaves, it was time for Divali & Xmas. When the first flowers started sprouting , it was time for the Final exams. The beautiful sight of rain drops falling on the leaves...Ah! Miss those days.

Your post took me back to my childhood home. The home is there. The tree was cut down a few years ago due to fungal infection.

I miss my tree.

Regards,

Corallux

Originally Posted by Devika Menon

Dear Sunkan,

Lovely info.

Yes Gulmohars are a lovely sight in most schools I guess. We too had one . The colour so vibrant adds life to the day.
The pics are so beautiful Sunkan.

Love,
Devika

oh devika,
now bangalore is in full blooms with these and the parks are all in flames, one would wish to take a flight above and see where all they have spread...sunkan

Originally Posted by Sriniketan

Sunkan,
Nice pictures, enjoyed it...I think those are called the 'flames of the forest', right...
They are beautiful. with the green background and the red flowers, superb combination...

sriniketan

they are flames of forest but in india it is better known as gul mohar, and yes the pictures speak volumes here...sunkan

i know the song SS have enjoyed it a lot, the sight of these blooms send u spinning with thoughts of summer and its blooms there are other red ones too holding water in them but then all are getting cut for flyovers...sunkan

Wonderful pictures!! Thanks for sharing them Sunkan. I have all along lived with these gulmohars or marigolds. They spread beauty on Bangalore roads. These are even planted on various highways...and a long drive on these roads on a late afternoon is something I would crave for! Sometimes they make the roads a bed of these red petals.
And there are those yellow flowers too (dont know what they call them!). Lalbagh and most of the roads around it are beaming with these flowers...it offers such a serenity there...those being my daily trodden roads.

Regards,
Hema