Symbol of friendship & devotion

by Hem Bhandari
(Mumbai , India)

In search of nature's creations, which are new to me,I travel,I should say ,I wander and invariably I am lucky to succeed in my endeavors,which is pleasurable for me.I was once at a hill station of South India,called as Kodaikanal , known for its cool & lovely climate and natural beauty.I came across few charming flowers,which I had never seen before.Wasting no time,I captured them in my Camera. I would like to share with you all, one of those flowers.

Here are few pictures of this flower,from my album.

Botanically its known as "Alstroemeria" and commonly called 'Peruvian Lily' or 'Inca Lily'.Best blooms in cool climate and slightly moist soils with day long exposures to sun.Use of organic compost is needed for optimum plant growth.Its available in Pink, Orange,Lavender,Salmon,Red,White & Apricot yellow colours. Petals are usually stripped or spotted with dark contrasting colours,which make it too attractive.Has about 2 weeks vase life indoors.

History: Alstroemeria's roots can be traced back to mid 18th century and it is named after well known Swedish botanist 'klas von Alstroemer',who is said to have brought the very first Alstroemeria seeds from a trip to spain in 1753.

Due to its beautiful appearance,it has become
"The symbol of friendship & devotion", mimicking the twist & turns that friendship take. Very correctly itdeserves the captioned distinction.

Best Wishes