GardeningMay 19, 2009 4:59 pm

I’d much rather be outdoors and one of the nice things about gardening outdoors as opposed to indoors is that you don’t have to clean up the mess you make. But a house with out something green in it seems barren to me. I was surprised when someone suggested I try growing orchids. Orchids are amazing plants with bright flowers.

The golden rule for orchid success is to duplicate the plant’s natural conditions as closely as possible. In nature, most orchids are epiphytes, meaning they grow on other objects, clinging to rough bark or even stone. The showy orchids favored by most people are usually either phalaenopsis hybrids (so-called moth orchids) or dendrobium hybrids.

The closer you can come to creating these conditions in your growing area, the more success and better blooms you will have.After the bloom is done, go ahead and cut off the dead flower spike with sterile snippers and repot the plant. Orchids should be potted into specialized orchid pots in orchid mixture (usually a mix of charcoal, soil - gravel)

 

About Raintree - Rediscover Yourself 4:13 pm

Raintree is web space intended for viewing, sharing and exchanging thoughts , ideas; A sojourn to rediscover ourselves as sometimes we get totally lost in other essential tasks in life!

Happy Reading & blogging!!

Nagesh Swamy

 

About me 3:56 pm

Hi , thanks for visiting my blog. I’m Nagesh Swamy currently working for an IT software firm.                                         

Few of my interests and the topics here includes Cooking, Gardening, Pets, Yoga - meditation, Reiki, IT management, Competitive Intelligence and Marketing Strategy, music, painting and traveling. I can only hope that atleast some of these interests you as well , so lets start to explore and rediscover ourselves with some of our common interests. Hope you have a good time while you are on my blog!

Few of my vivid dreams and interests would be to visit the Himalayas, have a dip in the Manas Sarovar and trek the Great Kailash.


 

 

Guru - The Enlighter 3:02 pm


 

OM SHRI RAGHAVENDRAYA NAMAHA

 

If you have visited Mantralaya in Andhra Pradesh, than you would have definitely seen the senior swamiji also called the peethadipathi of Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt Sri Sushameendra Teertha Swamiji. When I visited Mantralaya , I was lucky to get glimpse of this Walking God and truely a humble soul who blessed us by giving the Phala Mantrakshate and dispensed our problems.

Guru Raghavendra has performed miracles and these miracles were performed only to show the greatness of God and the wonderful powers that one can attain with His grace. Guru Raghavendra certainly guides the souls by reducing their sorrow and pain.

Salutions to the Enlighter! Salutions to the Guru!

 

 

Indian Cuisines & Recipes 3:02 pm

Kesari Bath — Sweet Savory

Whether it is a small party or a get together , the most common sweet dish in any Kannadiga household is “Kesaribath”. This kesaribath is made of Sooji, Sugar and ghee.  I just love this sumptuous dish!

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups Rava or fine Sooji…i prefer fine Sooji.
  • 1 and 1/2 cup Sugar. Use more if you need more sweeter
  • Cashews and Raisins ( as mush as you can afford) 
  • 4 tsp Ghee + 2 tsp Ghee
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped pineapples. You can also use canned ones.
  • Finely ground cardamom
  • Saffron strands and soaked well in milk

Method:

  1. In a pan with 2 tsp of ghee fry the rava or sooji on low heat. The house fills with a nice aroma. You need to fry really on low heat for at least 10-15 minutes.
  2. Next, in a heavy bottom pan add the 3 and 1/2 cups of water and sugar. Let it come to a boil, now add the pineapples and also the saffron.
  3. When the pineapple is soft, slowly add the rava. While adding the rava, keep stirring the same so that no big lumps are formed.
  4. When all the rava is completely mixed with the sugar, reduce the flame to low and cover the pan.
  5. In another pan, fry the cashews and raisins in the remaining ghee.
  6. Add this to the Kesaribath, mix well.
  7. When completely done, add also the finely ground cardamom and mix well.
  8. Serve with Vegetable Upma. Coming next!!….This combination is also called Chow Chow Bath in Bengaluru restaurants.
If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll enjoy making and trying out this recipe!