In Praise of Golden Shower Tree

I am always amazed when I see the “Golden Shower Tree” (Cassia Fistula, Garmalo or Amaltas). This tree blossoms with beautiful and bright yellow flowers at the peak of summer. The bloom is so profuse that entire tree is covered with yellow flowers hanging downwards on delicate branches. It extends a feeling of gold being showered from the tree top, and hence the name. During my Finland visits last year, I saw some flowers blooming at the peak of winter and snow.

Golden Shower Tree blooms in most adverse conditions. When the heat is unbearable, when rays of the sun are direct and when the atmosphere turns dry, the flowers bloom at their very best.

The view from my balcony is decorated with exotic shades of golden and yellow over the trees lined up on the road side. Every time I see them, I am reminded that adapting to adverse conditions is our second nature. That sometimes, adversity can create a perfect condition for us to grow. To bloom, to put in our best and shine.

Nature is a great teacher. Are you listening?

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Have a great week ahead!

P.S: Photo by Tanmay Vora at Indroda Nature Park, Gandhinagar, 2010. If you are viewing this post in RSS reader or Email, click on “Display Images Below” to see the picture.