A REPORT ON A VISIT TO THE EMPRESS GARDEN
SUBMITTED BY: LALTANPUIA RENTHLEI (UR 737)
SUBMITTED TO: THE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY SPICER MEMORIAL COLLEGE AUNDH ROAD, PUNE 7
__________________ TEACHER’S
APPROVAL
INTRODUCTION As per the requirement of our syllabus, we the class of second year B.Sc nd
Botany, on the 2 of February 2011, headed by our class teacher Mrs. Lalita T, had gone on a educational visit to the “Empress garden” located adjacent to the Pune Solapur road, opposite to the race course, as seen on the map below:
It is a huge garden in terms of area, it spreads over approximately 59 acres. The garden is more or less, a botanical park that boasts of being home to a number of varieties of fruit bearing trees, different species of plants……. This beautiful garden is taken care by the Agri Horticultural Society of
Western India (AHSWI). The Society has been managing the Empress Garden since 1880, with an aim to nurture and preserve flora of the region. The Society organizes annual flower shows and arranges various programs throughout the year to create environmental awareness among people. The well landscaped garden consists of lush green lawns, abundant flora and fauna, play area for kids, and a snack shack. The park has a quaint stream of water flowing throughout the garden, and is a delight for nature lovers.
The Empress Garden
On reaching the Empress garden, we were greeted by the clean and well maintained entrance way leading to a red roofed building in which all the administration and business transactions of the garden are being done, seeds are also made available in this building building and any one can purchase purchase tested and healthy healthy seeds at a reasonable rate, and all other enquiries can also be done in the same.
Now as we move further in we can see a small stream passing through this garden.
This water body is surrounded with cemented walls, both side wise and below and so it is suitable for kids and even adults to play around in it. Over the stream Is a small bridge by which we can go over to the other side.
Across the stream, is a play ground where children can have fun by playing with different types of entertainment. entertainment.
You can even see older people coming to this garden to take rest and get rejuvenated from all their busy schedules.
There are also pony cart rides available for the kids, besides a refreshment cafe for their parents. Now, to enhance the enjoyment and to increase the value of this garden, the
Agri Horticultural Society of Western India (AHSWI) or the care takers have been maintaining many different species of plants and trees. Some of the famous trees that were seen in the garden include: 1. Samania saman (Rain tree) from the Mimosaceae family. 2. Pterygota (Hill coconut) from the Sterculiaceae family. 3. Dyospyros peregrine (Indian persimmon) from the Ebenaceae family. 4. Cassia siamia (Kasod tree) from the Caesalpiniaceae family. 5. Kigelia Africana (sausage tree) from the Bignoniaceae family. 6. Ficus religiosa L (papal) from the Moraceae family. 7. Ficuselastica (Rubber tree) from the Anonaceae family. 8. Cassia marginata from the Caesalpineae Caesalpinea e family. 9. Azadirachta indica (Neem) from the Mimosea family
10.Caryota 10. Caryota urens (Shankar jata) from the Palmae family. 11.Casurina 11. Casurina equisetifolia(janglisaru jan) from the Casurinaceae family. 12.Santalum 12. Santalum album (Sandal wood) from the Santalaceae family. 13.Couroupita 13. Couroupita guainesis (Canon ball) from the Rutaceae family. 14.Polyalthia 14. Polyalthia longifolia Benth (Ashoka tree) from the Anonaceae family. 15.Eucalyptus 15. Eucalyptus globules (Nilgir) from the Leguminoseae family.
Some of the shrubs available are Acalypha godsefiana, Acalypha hispida,Abutilon hybrid ‘Variegatum’, Alternathera versicolor, Allamanda schotii, Dattura suaveolen.
There is also a nursery where plants, flowers, herbs are cultivated for sale.
The nursery has its own greenhouse available.
Alongside the nursery is an attractive looking gazebo surrounded by a small flower garden.
Some of the flower species are Ixora chinensis, Gardenia jasminoides,Magnolia mutabilis, Mussaenda erythrophylla ‘Rosea’, Sarcocephalus cordatus, Vinca rosea.
CONCLUSION The 150 years old Empress garden in Pune is one of the Lungs of the city as it holds a rich variety of plants and trees that help up to clean the environment, and it is one of the most important botanical gardens in Pune as it has a large varieties of small plants and flowers as well. This garden is one of the best places to get seeds and seedlings that are of good and tested breeds. To commemorate the 131 st Foundation Day of the Empress Garden, the Garden will make available organic vegetables that include pulses, leafy vegetables, as well as vegetables of foreign origin like cherry tomato, broccoli, celery, parsley, Roman lettuce, etc. The Society hopes to promote the importance of healthy. organic food by avoiding harmful pesticides through this endeavor.
The garden also provides a place of recreation for all ages, starting from infants to adults and Senior citizens as well. So, we can conclude that the Empress garden is a multi-purpose spot in the city, stocked up with various activities for the people living in our very own city and the people visiting too.
