With a mild yet sweet fragrance, Madhobi Lota blossoms are a beauty to take in.
What fascinates me is the colour.
Three colours can be seen in one single bunch: soft pink, soft red and dark red to maroon. It's the perfect splash of contrasting spring-summer hues to the bright green of my lawn.
My mother was an ardent fan of Bengali literature. She had a lovely collection of books by Bengali poets and novelists.
It's because of her that I came to be fascinated with the works of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore, Maitreyi Devi, Ashapurna Devi and Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay at a very tender age.
I would quietly read some of the books knowing well that they may not be suitable for my age at that time.
Maitreyi Devi's Sahitya Akademi Award (1976) winning novel Na Hanyate left a lasting impression on my young mind, although I don't think I properly understood the depth of feelings or the meaning of love at that age.
I was mesmerized by the author's narrative; how the Madhobi Lota bloomed in quiet beauty, just like her love for her Russian lover.
I fell in love with this pretty flowering creeper as I lost myself in the novel.
I would sit under the Madhobi Lota in my parents' garden and try to visualize Amrita and Mircea's little love story from the novel ... and the fragrance would linger on ...
Rabi Thakur's "Oi Maloti Lota doley ... doley ... piyal torur koley ...
Pub-hawatey ... Maloti Lota doley ..." playing in my mind.
Pub-hawatey ... Maloti Lota doley ..." playing in my mind.
Today when I look at my Madhobi Lota, she's a young lady, glowing with happiness and hope, reminding me of my younger self, discovering beauty and love.
Common name: Chinese Honeysuckle, Rangoon Creeper
Assamese name: Madhobi Lota, Modhu Maloti (মাধবী লতা, মধু মালতী)
Scientific name: Combretum indicum
Location: My Garden
Flowering Season: Flowers throughout the year, blooms profusely from late April to early November.
