Hibiscus tea is easy to make. Boil a cup of water. Put in a hibiscus flower (fresh or dry). Cover the pan and switch off the heat. Let it cool down completely. Add lemon juice and jaggery, honey or raw sugar to taste. Strain and refrigerate before

Chinese orange trees are the jewel of my garden. They give shade, rest, smiles, compost, keep mosquitoes away, attract sunbirds to nest, the citrus scented flowers save money on room freshners in the verandah and bring in bees, butterflies and

Bitter gourd is easy to grow from seed. The seeds planted in February through April in successive sowings, give sufficient bitter gourds to last till August. They do well in a garden, no doubt, but flourish just as well in pots in balconies.

Poinsettias in red and white set the tone for Christmas and stay in bloom till the Easter lilies join in bloom. These lovely shrubs grow very well in pots.

If you are lucky to find these trees already growing in your city, it is a great opportunity to ask the owner to let you take their saplings from under the trees in the rainy season. Nurture in partial shade, rich soil and keep moist in pots.

This summer sandwich spread is an age old Ayurvedic recipe from kitchens of India (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, in particular). As the unripe mangoes start finding there way to the market, this yummy chutney too becomes a lunch staple.

Yes, It is a priviate party for my family of 7 billion :)