On a sweltering summer afternoon, I found myself standing on my terrace, wondering where to escape for the holidays. The usual options — cool hill stations, scenic retreats — floated through my mind. But then, something unexpected caught my eye.

Across the way, a rooftop burst with colour. Bees buzzed around blooming flowers. Butterflies flitted through the leaves. There were no people, no crowds, just quiet, purposeful life.

This wasn’t a nursery or a community park. It was someone’s home.

And at the centre of this green haven was S Veeralakshmi, a Chennai-based gardener and environmentalist who has turned her terrace into a sanctuary of over 500 thriving plants.

“It all started 15 years ago when I wanted to grow my own food,” Veeralakshmi recalls. What began as a few pots of........

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