The Last Tree on Earth Tells Its Story Imagine a world, parched and barren, a silent world where you never hear the chirping of birds or the rustling of leaves, and in the midst of this depressing landscape stands a lone tree, weathered and wise. If it could speak, what would it say? The tree would tell a sorrowful tale.   “I once belonged to an endless grove of trees. Tall and sturdy, with thick woody, leafy branches and roots firmly grounded in the soil, our leaves were different shades of green, forming a magnificent sight. We were the lungs of the earth, the source of balance. Children climbed and swung from our branches and played in the shade we provided. We were home to the birds, and squirrels happily scampered up and down our trunks. Our wrinkled bark held the secrets of lovers.  We witnessed the changing seasons—the joys of spring, the warmth of the summer, the freshness and cleansing of the rain the golden splendour of autumn, and the quietude of winte...

 

  Watermelon is the word! The watermelon plant( Citrullus lanatus ) bears fruit annually and grows well in hot climates. The vines are prostrate with branched tendrils and deeply cut leaves. Single flowers either masculine or feminine grow at the axil of the leaf. The fruit is a type of berry botanically known as Pepo. Watermelon is part of the Cucurbitaceae family and is related to pumpkin, Zucchini, Cantaloupe and Cucumber.  Watermelons are either oval or spherical in shape and are dark green or maybe green with white stripes. The sweet juicy flesh is either reddish or pink and holds pips that are either black, brown or white in colour. Watermelons weigh anything between 2kg to 20kg and the number of fruits per vine varies between 2 to 15. Native to Africa, watermelons also grow in the Middle -East, USA, India, Japan and Europe. China leads the world's production of watermelons producing almost 60% of the production.  Nutrition:  The  watermelon is low in cal...

  May is drawing to a close and a blazing sun is scorching the city. The temperature is soaring and city folk are complaining. All through April, May and June we go 'blah, blah, blah' until the heavens burst open in June. However, with the romance of the rain, we have to contend with waterlogging slush,  muck and other problems.   Both school and college kids are currently on a well-deserved summer break. The soft drink and ice cream companies are reaping huge profits. The health-conscious though prefer to stick to good old chaas. (buttermilk) Quite a few Mumbaikars are reclining in cooler climes. The rest are being roasted and toasted in the summer sun. The king of fruits is reigning supreme as fruit stalls and markets wear a golden yellow hue. The best news of all has been delivered by a popular nutritionist who has waxed eloquently on the nutritional benefits of the  Mango. "Exercising a little restraint, eat to your heart's c...