May flowers

cover story 

April showers famously bring May flowers, and what a blessing that is! The bright, cheerful blossoms are such a joy to behold, and spending some time in their company is a great way to lift the mood. From the colours they sprinkle on nature’s canvas to the fragrance they spread and the pretty birds and butterflies they attract, flowers give us so much to be grateful for and also gently remind us that all will be well.

As spring gives way to summer, we take a look at some of the lovely blossoms that are currently dotting the gardens of Lahore…

Marigold

Marigold is such a popular blossom and can bring a bright pop of colour to any flowerbed. Available in a range of yellows and oranges, these annuals come in many varieties, including two-toned French marigolds with brilliant shades and striking petals.

Some types of marigolds are used as a source of essential oil, perfumes, and flavourants, and the flowers also make an ornamental appearance in functions in South Asia.

Gazania

Native to Southern Africa, the gorgeous Gazania is a stunning annual that is perfect for adding colours to sunny borders or containers. The blooms come in shades of yellow, orange, red, and white, often with two or more colours in each flower. Oh and they love sunshine! When the sun goes down, the flowers tend to close up.

Gazania is a gorgeous presence in the spring/summer garden, and to places like South Australia and New Zealand that have declared it a weed, all we can say is: how rude!

Gerbera

A lovely member of the daisy family, the gerbera finds beauty in simplicity. One of the most popular cut flowers in the world, gerberas are cherished for their decorative value. Each bloom is usually one solid colour – white, yellow, orange, and pink are common – but some plants can have flowers with petals of several different colours. And since it’s a perennial, you don’t need to grow a new plant every year. Expect to see blooms throughout the year, especially during warmer months.

Verbena

With its beautiful clusters of bright purple flowers, verbena – also known as vervain – blossoms really stand out against a background of green foliage and grass. Another perennial, verbena can attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and is used in perfumery and herbalism.

Lantana

The Lantana shrub yields clusters of small aromatic flowers, making gorgeous, often multi-coloured umbels, and is useful as a honey plant and in butterfly gardening. The plants are, however, somewhat toxic and are even considered noxious weeds in some regions, but they have been put to good use in South Asia, with Indian craftsmen creating sun, rain, and termite-resistant furniture using their hard but bendable stems.

Coral tree

The dramatic blossoms of the coral tree are so stunning that they practically demand you stop whatever you’re doing and spend at least a moment taking in their beauty. The distinctly-shaped bright red nectar-rich flowers are borne in elongated clusters at the tips of the branches and are a magnet for certain birds, like drongos and mynas.

Chaste tree

Chaste trees produce butterfly-attracting midsummer purple flowers that grow on elongated spikes. The flowers are pretty, while the plant has been used in traditional medicine. The leaves and fruits also yield essential oils.

Daylily

Daylily is also known as ditch-lily, but it is neither a lily, nor does it specifically grow in ditches. Each of its flowers does, however, only last a day, which is so unfair given how pretty the blooms are. A daylily flower has three petals and three sepals (collectively called tepals), and the ones you can commonly see around Lahore these days are mostly orange and/or yellow. (The genus is toxic to cats so is best kept out of reach of your feline children.)

Rangoon creeper

You can see the Rangoon creeper vine cascading down walls as you walk down the streets of Lahore, and it’s always a joy to see the gorgeous pink bunches that adorn this perennial evergreen. The fragrant flowers become brighter – from white to pink – as they age. And bees and birds are drawn to these lovely blossoms. 

Plumeria

Beautiful flowers with a beautiful fragrance, plumeria – or frangipani – blossoms are cherished around the world. They come in many colours – pink, red, white, yellow, orange – and sometimes have two colours in the same flower. They grow in clusters, have a lovely scent (popular in incense), and are widely used for ornamental and decorative purposes. 

Oleander

An evergreen shrub, oleander produces vibrant blooms in clusters. The five-lobed flowers are usually white or pink and peak during summer but grow year-round. All parts of the plant – leaves, flowers, stems, roots – are toxic though, so it must be used with utmost care.

Pansy

Our pansies are still blooming and they are such a delight! The plant takes its name from the French word pensée, which means "thought", as the flower was considered a symbol of remembrance.

With five polychromatic petals, the pansy comes in all sorts of vibrant shades and colours, and is ideal for spring and summer pot arrangements.

Petunia

If only we knew what went through the mind of a certain bowl of petunias, the universe might make a lot more sense. Still, existential quandaries aside, we can continue to enjoy the beauty of the mighty petunia, even if we aren’t privy to its many secrets.

And of course we also have rose, hibiscus, jasmine, sunflower, periwinkle, and all kinds of other gorgeous flowers around us. So take a moment to revel in their beauty. No matter where you are, just spend some time acknowledging the blessings of nature and embrace the joy they bring.

May all your April showers yield the loveliest May flowers.

- By Sameen Amer

Us Magazine, The News - 24th May, 2024 *