The bright red Semal or Silk Cotton covers the treescape view in Delhi, come spring. They pop out in glory only once a year, emerge out of the smoggy toxic Delhi winters into the season of color, and take space not just on treetops on branches that spread radially away from the trunk, but a special space in the hearts of every Dilli-wallah! Pops of red and orange are bliss in the otherwise white-grey-black, sooty, and noisy Delhi. Spring on-boards with its colour, not just literally, but metaphorically too. Semal trees have immense aesthetic appeal and the Dellities revel walking on roads carpeted with these red flowers – like royalty walking over red! And not just humans, these bright flowers attract a wide variety of insects, birds, bees, butterflies, squirrels, and even spiders. So it’s safe to say, everyone loves a humble Semal tree! And why not, be its eye-catching symmetry, or simply the fervent pulsing red, one cannot not be dazed by them! These leafless trees are native to the clime of the capital city and possess immense medicinal properties for humans. So they are also environmentalists-approved flowering trees!
These trees have borne the test of time as the city grew and urbanized, and flourish not just by themselves, but sustain and support so many other birds and insects, despite many of their winged friends who stand endangered today.
I couldn’t help but capture this fallen flower, which fell right by my shoulder, almost brushing it as I was approaching the tree, captivated by the beauty standing under the bright yellow sun, against the pretty blue (for Delhi) sky, in a sea of concrete with a road on the side and welcoming cars into the parking lot. India’s flag fluttering as gloriously as this one in the background and screaming to be sustained.
All street trees, irrespective of their kind and variety face a huge degree of stress, and there are many reasons for the same. We can at least be a bit considerate towards them. Not litter the tree beds, acknowledge and appreciate them, try spot birds and types of animals on them, and if possible, water them. Stopping the litter, however, is the first thing that needs to be done. Can we not be an army against this? After all, Semal and the other trees are exceptional at what and how they stand for Delhi!
Holi, the joyous festival of colours and happiness, marks the onset of spring. Although, this year Spring came early and untimely due to the effects of climate change.
