Veena Rathi has moved homes more than 12 times. These relocations were consequential of her father’s and, in later life, her husband’s Army postings. While each time attempting to embrace the new locality — and reality — she would find comfort in the cycas palm that had been her companion since 1980. A new address meant that it, too, had to brave new environments while learning to adjust.

Now that the moves have ceased — Veena’s husband has retired — both the plant and she have gotten a chance to “put down their roots” in their home in Southwest Delhi. If you ever visit Veena, don’t leave without paying your respects to it. Of course, the plant is tough to spot considering the 100 other odd pots that will compete for your attention. Through the years, you see, this plant enthusiast has nurtured a beautiful home garden; some plants are baby offshoots, others 10 feet tall.

It’s amazing, really.

So, did you just keep carrying your garden with you when you moved places? I can’t stop myself from asking. Veena’s laugh gives her away. The answer is affirmative. “I remember a truck once taking our luggage to the new location and me telling my husband I would need a separate truck just for my plants,” she chuckles, quick to add that the experiment wasn’t always successful.

“Despite trying to take all of them [the plants], some would perish because of the changing climate and travel time.” She recalls a particular move from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh to Rajasthan where many of the plants in transit withered under the intense heat. But the cycas palm remained unscathed.

It taught her resilience. “So often, it was slow to adapt to the new place. But, it never failed to bloom.” And watching it made Veena feel capable of the same.

‘I know each plant by name’: A lesson in gardening

This year, winter was slow to retire in Delhi. But now that it finally has, Veena’s garden is in its heyday. It reminds me of a mood board; dahlias, bougainvilleas, hydrangeas, geraniums, roses, petunias, and marigolds, vivacious, seem to waltz in sync, their movements choreographed by the ever-obliging wind. The scene is quite the draw for birds, bees and butterflies, who pick their spot, and then proceed to put up a performance. It’s like nature’s very own orchestra.

And watching them, like a proud parent, is Veena, the creative........

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