Oh Mum!!

The chrysanthemum flower has always held a special place in my heart because in Eastern Indian languages like Assamese and Bengali, it is called ChandraMallika, which is an amalgamation of my dad's name and mine. I remember his face breaking into a gentle smile whenever he saw one because of that connotation.

Only very recently, I learned that it is also the official flower for November, my birth month, when a friend gifted me a custom jewelry box with my name and a mums blooms on it.  On checking further, I learned that this flower has ancient history originating in China and regarded as one of the Four Gentlemen of China” — a group of prestigious  plants that each signify a new season with mums signifying autumn. In Japan, they are held in such high regard that the Emperor’s throne is referred to as the Chrysanthemum Throne. In Australia,  they signify "Mother's Day" since they bloom there in May. All over the world they signify qualities like purity, perseverance, honesty and the like. 

This autumn, my mum and I (pun intended) witnessed the most beautiful exhibition of mums in Longwood Gardens.

This is a single plant with 1200 blooms

            Jewelry box gifted by a special friend!

Hickory Run Boulder Field, Pennsylvania

Once upon a time, long, long ago, while wondering in the Pocono Mountains, from hill to valley, four friends came across a field of boulders. They were awestruck by the sheer size of the field. They had never seen or even heard of anything like that before. On getting closer, they learned from a sign that the field was created around 20,000 years ago by glacial activity. The friends were Rishi, Ria, Rimi & Tridib, loitering in carefree abandon. Since then a special few have been taken to visit this field. This time it was Ma's turn!!

The Boulder field is a true relic of the past. This area is a National Natural Landmark, and State Park Natural Area. It has remained relatively unchanged for more than 20,000 years. The Boulder Field appears striking because of its flatness and absence vegetation over the large area of 400 feet by 1,800 feet. Some of the boulders measure as much as 26 feet long. It is 10-12 feet deep on average and apparently water still runs under the field forming the Hickory Run stream.