Mili Dutta’s flat has one of the most beautiful views of the township — her veranda oversees the Metro viaduct. But then daily commuters using the Metro may just as eagerly be waiting to pass her home too. For even a fleeting glance of her colourful flowers and shapely foliage can brighten their day.

My forte and my pride are my Orchids. In winter, I grow Petunias and Chrysanthemums, in summers I have Alamondas and cacti but rare and difficult-to grow Orchids blooms in my balcony round the year.

My fascination with these flowers began when I visited Thailand some 15 years ago. I saw and loved the Orchids there so much that I brought some home. My husband would keep going back for work and kept getting more varieties of Orchids to add to our collection.

Back then, Orchids were rare in Calcutta and so I had enquired about their upkeep in Thailand itself. I watered them carefully, added coconut husks and can proudly say that every one of them thrived in my verandah. Ironically, it’s Orchids that I got from Kalimpong that died!

I also grow Oranges that bear tons of fruits. They aren’t too sweet and so we’d let them stay on the branches till they dried up and fell off. But last winter, my husband decided to eat them after all. He ate them daily and it must have been a chore as a single plant this time bore more than 100
Oranges.

I had entered this plant in a flower show too. The rules required a minimum of two pots but I didn’t know that and had taken that single plant. Even then the judges were so impressed they gave me a special prize for it! I was pleased and asked them to start a new category for Orchids so I could present my specialities.

The plants attract different kinds of birds, butterflies and, in the pre-Covid era, even neighbours who would join me for tea in the balcony. My daughter and husband love plants too although my husband prefers clicking their photographs more. Even if a pumpkin or bitter gourd starts growing, he documents them at every stage of growth.

The pandemic has hit my family hard and I have lost many relatives to it. But I have been able to overcome the losses and much of the credit goes to the garden that keeps me busy, peaceful and hopeful.

If you have a garden you tend to yourself, send your address and contact number to The Telegraph Salt Lake, 6, Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta 700001 or email to saltlake@abp.in