THE POLLINATOR GARDEN BLOOM SHOW

Siya gazed at the glossy brochure that her neighbour Trisha had shown her.

- Ashima Kaushik

After school, Trisha usually did her homework while babysitting 8-year-old Siya.

'Champak Valley's Pollinator Garden Bloom Show .the heading of the brochure said.

"What is a pollinator garden?" asked Siya.

"A pollinator garden is a special kind of garden, in which flowering plants are grown to attract pollinating insects so that the garden grows faster," said Trisha.

She further explained, "Pollinators are insects and birds that feed on the nectar from the flowers. Since they go from flower to flower, they carry pollens or the seeds from one flower to another, making more flowers."

"I know butterflies sit on flowers and suck on the tiny juice packets inside the flowers," Siya exclaimed.

"Correct," said Trisha, "Bees, bumblebees, beetles, ladybugs, moths and hummingbirds are all pollinating insects. Pollen or the juice packets' are tiny grain-like things. They sometimes cause allergic reactions."

"Yes, our math teacher says she always gets an allergy from pollens, she coughs and sneezes a lot!" said Siya.

"Even I am allergic to this plant called Bandar-ki-Roti. Whenever I go to my grandmother's house in Jaipur, I get an allergic reaction from this plant." 

"Bandar-ki-Roti," Siya laughed, "Is that a real name?"

"Yes, that is what we all call it. Its proper name is Chilbil tree. Or, the jungle cork tree. We kids used to snack on its yummy seeds. These seeds have wide wings," Trisha said.