VEENA NURSERY
FRAGRANT TERRACE GARDEN
Krishna Mansion, Bungalow No 9,
Mysore Colony, Anik Village,
Chembur East, Mumbai 400074.
Mobile:09757021619, 093821137751,
Tel 02225535852
Website:veenanursery.in
Email anjanimehta123@gmail.com
anjanimehta123@yahoo.co.in
FRAGRANT TERRACE GARDEN
The terrace of the building seems to be an ideal place to
create a garden where residents can meet up every morning
and evening to have a brisk walk, maybe barefoot to help
stimulate the acupressure points in the soles of the feet, bask
in the mild sunlight to soak up the precious Vitamin D to
strengthen the bones while surrounded by the whiff of
fragrance of numerous flowers to exchange gossip of the
local, national or international politics! Most of the shrubs
that grow on the ground can also be set up in the terrace to
enjoy their presence because of the colour of flowers, fruits,
fragrance in the privacy that is rare to find these days. It
also become a special place for the exclusive parties and gettogethers in natural surroundings instead of the five star
culture, the parties would be million star celebration.
Terrace garden layout
Terrace gardens come in many shapes; in fact each one
is unique that is customised to the specific terrace area,
geographical requirements, plant care capacity and
preferances of the residents. Here are some ideas that
can be picked up to create a terrace garden that will fit
the selected theme then expanded to fit the purpose of
the garden. A vast collection of photos ranging from
the Desi Rural, to the Indian Urban, to the Global
Setup; from lavish well structured layout to simple
placement of pans and earthen pots with artifacts, to
elaborate set up; from fancy containers, to well defined
troughs to hold the selected plants; from a place of
relaxed outdoor space to party space with great
lighting and elaborate furniture; the complete range is
possible.
Relax in traditional Desi Rural setup
• A touch of rural ambiance
brings a big change from
the stressful urban living.
The ‘baithak’ with
handloom material, the
niches for ‘lamps’ (even
electrically lit!) the white
earthen vases some
holding plants , and others
‘air’, fragrance from
flowers and classical music
drifting past all add up to a
cozy environment fit for
the kings!
Or in the sophisticated western setting
• The super western
setup is also possible
where everything is well
manicured from styled
(almost artificial) trees
and shrubs to minimal
furniture to minimal
plants, more like
bonsais. The elaborate
lighting completes the
picture.
Or return to the gothic English age
• This is a proper gothic era
garden style with
elaborate trimming of
plants to resemble balls
of various sizes and
shades of greens. The
zigzag walking path can
create surprises and if
broad enough provide
sitting spaces with privacy
if plants are tall enough.
Chinese gardens
• Chinese gardens with a
prominence of bamboos,
lilies and junipers. The well
planned repetitive pattern of
simple garden having
elaborate bamboo and
dwarf plants has plenty of
sitting spaces to relax.
• Each bamboo group can
hold different variety of
fragrant flowering plants
near the sitting areas.
Modern Indian setting, functional garden
• All purpose garden having a
large shade to extend the
functional hours of using the
terrace garden. The garden
has fragrant flowers such as
madhumalti. Juhi climbing up
the shaded arch to increase the
shade while other flowering
shrubs line the boundary.
• In the centre stage are large
plumeria (false champa) trees.
• Various sets of furniture
provide different levels of
relaxation and activity.
Large terrace with walking track.
• Large terrace has option of
having group plantations that
become islands around the
walking track. The pleasure of
walking under the shade of the
trees is great, almost like a walk
in the forest. The large trees
would have smaller flowering
shrubs as well as herbs growing
under it. The walking path may
be made of rounded pebbles and
gravel and that can stimulate the
acupressure points in the soles
of the feet to accelerate good
health and wellness.
• The sitting areas as part of the
island act as social centres for
healthier relationships.
Terraces with borders of plants.
• Creating troughs of plants
along the borders work
out well as the centre is
left free and clean of soil
and moisture for group
meetings. The troughs
can hold all types of
plants , herbal, vegetable,
flowers, fruits. Central
part may have a lotus
pond with fish to make an
attractive focal point.
Art and plants theme celebration.
• Party time can have
various themes and
plants add a special
touch to any celebration.
Here paintings are
displayed.
• Sculptures, stone
artifacts, vases are some
other display possibilities.
Plants such climbers,
small trees, shrubs and
annuals add to the
intoxicating colour and
fragrance remain silent
witness to any party.
Large shrubs and artifacts
• Corners and centre can
have large shrubs or
small trees such as
gardenia, kamini, night
queen and others even
fruit bearing trees to
enhance experience.
Various artifacts and
rocks also enhance the
look.
Pots and pans with rocks that rock.
• Assorted pots with different
plants in various corners bring
life to dead spaces and form a
focal points to surprise the
person ambling along. It may
be a combination of seasonal
flowers, various herbs, fragrant
flowers or vegetables. The
artifacts such as rocks create
borders and demark the
spaces.
Partially shaded terrace
• The overhead support
system of wood or
metal holds the various
climbers and makes a
terrace more functional
as it can be used for
longer hours of day.
The climbers can be a
good mix of fragrant
flowers and vegetables
too if desired.
Canopy of fragrant climbers
• This set up has a number of
fragrant flowering plants. There
are Juhi climbers, (fragrant
during day, madhumalti (fragrant
at night), fragrant roses (very few
are now fragrant) shrubs of
kamini and others each one
having a unique perfume.
• All these are supported by
wooden or metal structures. A
cane sofa set would be a great
place to relax and share ideas.
Instant Garden
• Simple placement of grown
plants in the standard pots
can happen instantly and
takes care of many factors.
These setups are flexible
and can be changed as per
the varying requirements.
They can have one variety
of plants such as ficus in this
case or a wide range of
plants creating a riot of
colour.
• Sitting arrangement of
benches is also flexible.
All weather garden
• Garden divided into
different groups by proper
placement of pots of plants
to demark the borders can
be a great place round the
year. There is a vast range
of plants from foliage such
as crotons, and acalyphas to
vegetables and flowers such
as bougainvilleas while tall
shrubs form the boundary.
• Here in the monsoon not
too many flowers bloom so
the perinea crotons splash
their colour and cheer.
Vegetable patch
• The terrace can hold a
number of herbs,
condiments, and spices
such as aloe vera, tulsi,
oregano, paan, chillies,
tomatoes, and many
other things some are
permanent and some
change with the seasons
to make a refreshing
change. Good health is a
bonus of eating healthy
organic food.
Vegetable and fruits grown in containers
• A whole range of fruits,
vegetables, herbs,
condiments, spices can be
grown in containers on the
principles of organic farming.
This leads to better health and
one experiences being close to
the earth when eating off the
soil. The respect for food and
the farmer increases when
one observes the growing
fruit and vegetable day after
day and the learns patience to
watch the food develops
towards maturity.
INDIAN FRAGRANT FLOWERS THAT
GROW ON TERRACES IN MUMBAI
The group of fragrant flowers that grow well on the terraces of Mumbai
are listed along with their photographs. The flowers bloom in different
seasons of the year generally for 3 months and then spend almost 9
months in the sunlight storing food for the next festive season then the
blooms burst forth once again . Hence a variety of flowers ensures that
some corner is fragrant round the year.
The placement of flowering plants are hence important as there is no
clash of fragrance and some corner is alive with blasing colour and whiff of
perfume pervading the air every time (exception monsoon when most
plants do not bloom as the raindrops destroy the flowers).
There are fragrant foliage too but they release their fragrance when
crushed such as herbs such as various basils, holy, Italian, German,
Camphor, menthol, peppermint, ajwain, various mints like the
peppermint, sphere mint and others.
fragrant clematis/ Clematis flammula
•
Fragrant Clematis is a
woody vine that bears
fragrant white flowers, 23 cm across. When the
flowers are newly
opened they have a
strong sweet almond
fragrance. The vine is
heavily sprinkled with
flowers that are sweetsmelling almost sweet
almond fragrance.
Champa/ Magnolia champaca
• The hybrid varieties grow
well in terrace. The flowers
come in two varieties,
yellowish white petals and
the white petals, having an
extremely heady fragrance.
They are used in religious
offering in various parts of
India. Champa flowers are
used to make the world's
most expensive perfume
'Joy' in America.
Day Jasmine/Cesturm darium
• This fragrant Jasmine is of
same family as the Night
Queen but releases
fragrance during the day,
especially mornings. The
flowers are small and
insignificant but the
fragrance is heady. The
nectar oozes smell that
attracts various
butterflies.
Passion Flower : Passiflora vitifolia
• Perfumed Passion
Flower is a climber,
having The are
stunning, bright red
flowers. The other
colours are dark blue
and lavender.
Madhu Malati/ Quisqualis indica
• Clusters of fragrant
white pendulous
trumpets open white
then change to pink,
red and finally a deep
maroon. A vigorous
twining climber blooms
profusely in the
evenings. This plant
needs support for
growing and covers
fences, supports, and
walls.
Kamini/Murraya paniculata
• Kamini flowers have an
aromatic orange-like
fragrance. Kamini is a
large, multi-trunked
shrub. The evergreen
leaflets are dark green
make a dramatic backdrop
for the highly fragrant
cream colored flowers.
The shrub blooms most of
the year
Beauty-of-the-night/
Mirabilis jalapa
•
Four o'clock flowers are
trumpet shaped, about
an inch across at the end
and about two inches
long. They open in the
evening and wilt the next
morning. The fragrant
flowers can be red,
magenta, pink, yellow or
white, sometimes with
more than one color on
the same plant round
the year.
Gardenia/Gardenia jasminoides
• Gardenias are beautiful,
shrubby evergreen plants
having creamy, fragrant
blooms. They have a
powerful, sweet fragrance,
and can perfume an entire
room. The flowers are
white, turning to creamy
yellow as they age, and
have a waxy feel.
Indian Pellet Shrub/ Ixora indica
Indian Pavetta
The flowers are white, rather
fragrant, and borne in
considerable numbers in hairy
terminal panicles which are 6-10
cm long. The flower-tube is
slender and about 1.5 cm long,
with obtuse petals about half the
length of the tube. The flowers
attract butterflies and insects.
Frangipani/ Plumeria
• Frangipani flowers have small
petals that strongly overlapping,
giving the impression of a flower
in the process of unfolding. They
come in a variety of colours
ranging from pure white, yellows,
shades of pink through reds to
darkest velvety red-black, some
single coloured and some having
two and three colours with
different coloured centres
blending with other colours in
the periphery of the petal. Also
rarely in purples and mauves.
Bread flower/Vallaris solanacea
• White, fragrant, bowlshaped flowers are 1 inch
across, have an intense,
interesting fragrance.
Bread flower vine can be
trained as a compact bush
and is good for container
culture. Attracts butterflies
and hummingbirds.
Flowering: December-April.
Water Jasmine/ : Wrightia religiosa
• Water Jasmine is a shrubs up
to 3 m tall. Leaves are elliptic.
Flowers are borne in 1 to 13
flowered cymes often on short
few-leaved branches, carried
on short stalks are long, thin,
finely hairy. Flowers are white,
nearly flat. Petals are ovate,
densely velvety on both
surfaces. The flowers hang
down under the leaves Water
Jasmine is native to Cambodia,
Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and
Vietnam. Flowering almost
round the year.
Lady of the Night /Brunfelsia americana
• Yesterday today
tomorrow yellow white
•
Creamy white flowers with
long tubes are extremely
fragrant after dark. New
flowers are white and fade to
yellow have powerful
fragrance in the evening, and
is mildly fragrant during the
day. The 5 petals are white,
soon turning yellowish.
: Juhi / River Jasmine
• Juhi is a beautiful flower with
extremely heavy scent. It has
powdery satin white flowers. Small
flowers appear in bunches.
• River Jasmine is an evergreen,
climbing, woody vine, Flowers are
white, quite fragrant, opening at
night, in clusters, shaped in starshaped fashion.
Madan mogra /Jasminum ‘Belle of India'
• Madan mogra has long
slender oval shape buds
and the flowers open at
night. Flowers are
double and very
fragrant.
Butt mogra/ Jasminum sambac
• Butt Mogra, a slow
growing Jasmine. This
tall growing shrub has
large flowers. This plant
loves partial shade and
very well drained and
moist soil. Flowers are
used to flavor the
jasmine tea and making
perfumes. Butt mogra is
a beautiful fragrant ever
bloomer the garden.
Bela/ Jasminum Maid of Orleans
• Arabian Jasmine is an
evergreen shrub,Fragrant
flowers are small, white,
star River Jasmine -shaped.
River Jasmine
Coral Jasmine/Nyctanthes arbor-tristi
• Nyctanthes arbortristis
literally means, nightblooming sad tree. The
sweet scented flowers are
small, attractive with
white petals and an
orange-red tube in center
and bloom profusely,
opening at night and drop
off in the morning, thus
making a carpet of flowers
in the morning. Used for
worship.
Fiddlewood/ Citharexylum spinosum
• Fiddlewood is a
beautiful shrub with
long tassels of richly
scented white flowers.
Flowers are pendant.
Foliage is dark green,
shiny, ornamental. The
wood of this tree is said
to be useful for making
musical instruments –
so its common name is
fiddlewood.
Fragrant terrace garden.
The fragrant terrace garden has a great scope of becoming a centre
of social life of the building if it is well planned by understanding
the function of the garden and the need of the residents.
It can be an ‘instant‘ garden by collecting plants and pots and
placing them in groups so that the space is well utilised and
allowing it to expand and mature with time or it can be well
planned space taking into consideration many factors to create an
ideal garden; but the basis principle of selecting the plants would
be the same, the fragrant flowers and foliage in both the cases.
The garden that is allowed to grow without too many trimmings
and manicuring the plants would help the flowers to bloom happily
and send the whiffs of fragrance into the atmosphere but if the
basis is a well shaped garden then the compromise would be in the
number of flowers that are allowed to bloom to their best. The
trimming of the plant is ideally after it has given the flush of
flowers and is dormant, resting after the flush of flowers and the
spread of its unique perfume.