Nasturtium: Flower Plant That Prefers Poor Soil

On 27th March 2013, Holi day (festival of colors) in India, my husband and I decided to join the officers around here celebrating the festival of colors although we don't celebrate any festivities. Preferring to roam around we clicked hundreds of blooming flowers in early spring around the campus especially the ones near the Officers' Mess. Nasturtium is one of these blooms.
According to readings, Nasturtium is easy to grow. Its leaves and flowers are edible. It blooms well exposed to the sun and like the subtitle above, it prefers to grow in poorer soil. Do not over-water and cutting off withered or dead flowers prolongs blooming.
Nasturtium comes in different colors: orange, yellow (like above), and red.

Note: We were discussing about its name while taking a photograph of it. That day was the first time we encountered this flower up close although we have seen it from afar. When we got home my husband searched the internet for its name, for definitely it has a name. And gotcha, he did found it's name and its NASTURTIUM.

ITBP - 8th Battalion Administrative Building

This is the left rear view of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force, 8th Battalion, administrative building located at Gauchar, Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, India.  The road visible leads towards Officers' Mess. The building is best accessed from the main gate where you need to present your ID and state your purpose of visit.

~ The back side (towards ground) of ITBP Administrative Building ~

~ This is how the ITBP, Gauchar Adminstration Building looks like from above ~

Choco Saying Namaste!

This is Choco, a military dog. He's about three years old. We met him at ITBP Gopeshwar unit. He is trained to sit, lie down, roll and do Namaste (Hello!) although he missed where to face the camera this time (lol). He eats at least 10 chapatis (Indian bread) and meat. He's not allowed to eat rice during winter, he might get some colds -they say (some old traditional belief).

Uttarakhand Government Hospital in Bhatoli

This is Uttarakhand Government Hospital situated in Bhatoli, around 13 kms from Karanprayag. It's in Karanprayag-Garsen road. Since there is a heavy shortage of doctors in Uttarakhand, this hospital is mostly run by a pharmacist and a ward boy. Doctor is available for 6 months after Badrinath  Temple closes. Water is available 24 hours although there is almost always power cuts everyday. At this time, there is no phone or mobile services around the hospital area. One has to climb back to the highway, which is a few steps away, to find a signal. The surroundings are green. The air is cool. And it is located quite far from villages so it's almost always silent except for a few sounds from vehicles. It's a nice place. There is a river down the place. (We have stayed here for a night.)

Look Who I Found!!!

Look who I found happily sitting and napping? Droolee! This tree has just blossomed after it lost all its leaves in winter. Droolee is not a usual sight on this tree but this time it's different. She just wouldn't want to come down after a much bigger cat chased her. Her history with this big cat is not pleasant for she was attacked by this big cat inside our house napping. So, today Droolee seemed to have found a nice high haven thinking the big cat may not be able to find and reach her ever. (Lol)