Going for GREEN
There's a certain inexplicable magic that draws one towards nature. The sweet smell of the Earth after the season's first rains, dew drops glistening on the leaves, and a surreal feeling of peace and tranquillity appeal to our many senses. Nature helps us disconnect entirely from our surroundings, and given Dhaka's concrete setting, we all need a respite.
Pockets of greenery continue to be a rarity in our urban setting. However, it has now become far easier to create our own little corner of peace right in our own homes. Gardening, as a hobby and profession, has grown and along with it has grown numerous peripheral industries. The most important of these are the numerous nurseries strewn all over the city.
One of the most well known of these nurseries is BRAC Kanon. A social enterprise of BRAC, this nursery is located on Gulshan-Tejgaon Link Road, built on one bigha of land. BRAC Kanon offers numerous services for plant lovers starting from providing potted plants to full-scale landscaping. The nursery is divided into three different buildings, each selling a variety of gardening requirements. BRAC Kanon has numerous ornamental, fruit, medicinal and timber plants. The plants are all ordered categorically and the presence of the nursery employees ensures that you make the right selection. Perhaps, this is the highlight of BRAC Kanon; their employees guide you through the selection process offering suggestions on what to buy, depending on your budget and level of expertise. BRAC nurseries are also well known for providing advice on the rearing of fruit plants and BRAC Kanon is no exception. The price ranges from Tk50-8000 and above depending on what you require. BRAC Kanon also provides all the necessary gardening tools, so it really is a one-stop solution. Furthermore, the fixed prices also ensure that you will not waste time bargaining. Fertilisers and mulch are also available.
BRAC Kanon though, is one of many nurseries, albeit being one of the largest. There are also three more well-known nurseries. The first one is located on the edge of Asad Gate in Mohammadpur, another in Dhanmondi Road 4, right next to Lalmasjid, opposite Russian Culture Centre. And finally, one is located right before Khilgaon rail crossing, on the main road. These are typical Dhaka nurseries giving special emphasis on house plants and flowering plants with most priced between Tk100-500, while the imported ones can exceed Tk5000. For the beginner, the journey should start with the money plant, apparently one of the easier house plants to grow.
For those thirsting for more, the National Botanical Garden in Mirpur does indeed have a lot to offer in terms of information. From plant names, conditions to keep them in, and species that are endemic and those that are not, the National Botanical Garden is a treasure trove of information. For those who would rather work with a set-up in place, the city offers services that can do just that. Numerous landscapers are willing to undertake large-scale gardening projects. Garden Center, located in Dhanmondi Road 19, House 245, is one such firm which offers to do the complete landscaping deal.
Whichever kind of gardening you choose to do, every kind has some basic advantages that you can benefit from. Eating healthier is one thing you can ensure from gardening. Fruits and vegetables grown in your own veranda or roof top can eliminate intake of chemicals such as pesticides and formalin. Gardening can also help save money that you would normally end up spending in groceries. And those who have bigger plans with gardening can get ready to catch up on some exercise and the refreshing feeling of the outdoors.
However it's done, the end will justify the means. Whether you find the tranquillity in the greenery of your room, veranda, garden, or rooftop, the plants will have an effect anywhere. And when you submerge yourself in your own corner of Mother Nature's glory, you'll only wonder why you didn't do this sooner.
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