‘I out of blue stopped at purview of amaltas(golden shower)
flowering trees spread at miles on Islamabad Highway raining and decorating the
capital with its golden petals at blazing sun.
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| Amaltas(golden shower) tree stand elegant at Eid holidays in Islamabad |
I still remember the times when guests and tourists
from other cities were towed to recreational places of Islamabad on foot. The host
and guest families’ mamu, mami, chacha, chachi and bulk of cousins feast hiking
among dense green, forests of Margalla hills to meet the fun at Shkarparian,
Damn e koh, Faisal mosque, Japenese park and Zoo.
The teenage guys despite of blood stories and death tolls didn’t
hesitate to unveil and kiss the gory swamps of “Lotus Lake” among hush forest
at heart of Islamabad. The residents of city were used to growing Hemp (bhang) and feeling drunk without wine
. It was impossible to peep another side of Highway through walls
of naturally grown row of trees. The naturally grown forests at foothills of Himalayas
were real beauty of capital which made it more appealing for tourists and they
couldn’t resist to stay a day or two over here while departing to Murree from
lap of city but but…the humans have been very selfish to cut their own feet by
cutting the forests around.
It was President
Pervaiz Mushraf’s era in early 21st century when forests at
Islamabad were brutally cut down to avoid any terrorism activity while accusing
the naive trees as facilitators to hide terrorist among them.
ALSO CLICK TO KNOW:PAKISTAN, A TERRORIST STATE?
This terrorism of
cutting the trees actually strokes the hearts of natives. The terrorism
continued when the selfish human, cut the trees at rows to develop overhead bridges,
metro train, parks and new societies.
Islamabad, the city of rulers, the city of lawmakers… was
changing into cemented forest like any other big city of world. Tourists gave damn to sight the city. The continued
and roared protest and plea of natives brought colors back to city after
decade.
Yes, not same as before but Islamabad again is rocking at
green belts and parks of Islamabad with bulk of vibrant flowering trees. No one
can blame it a bragging when one claims that if winter rhymes, autumn mesmerize
and spring rocks then the summer booms at Islamabad with golden
flowers of Amaltas, purple flowers of Jacaranda and
white flowers of Apricots.
The city welcomes thousands of guests with
rows of bowed Amaltas (Golden Shower) tree bearing overloaded yellow flowers.
No matter entering the city from Islamabad Highway via. G.T. road or from Kashmir Highway via motorway,
Islamabad rocks and booms more wild and glowing at summers with its variety of
vibrant colorful flowering trees when other parts of country are struggling for
shade under canopy trees. The trees are planted miles long to purview the
sights of riders and pedestrians.
The stunning, vibrant and overloaded Amaltas flowering trees
which are also known as ornamental plants because of its golden flowers not
only grab the attention of nature lovers but the capitalists who planned to
pass by the roads without noticing anything other than money can’t halt approving
the sights.
Following their counterpart the ashen apricot flowers which
bear white flowers at early spring a cross roads of Islamabad, Amaltas flowers
booms throughout summer from May till September. Asides from beautifying the Amaltas flowers
are used in many herbal medicines. Though appearing as fragile but Amaltas have
very tough and strong wood which is used to make many furnishing and to add in
your knowledge the popular site “The Adam’s Peak, Sri Lanka” is made of Cassia
fistula or Amaltas heartwood.
The significant rival of amaltas flowering tree is Jacaranda
tree near or among residential sectors of Islamabad, which
bears purple flowers to seek notice of tourists but Amaltas
flowering tree with its medium height of 10m-20m, fast growth and brush like thick petals give Jacaranda the
tough time which stands with taller height and thin flowers. Honey bees,
sparrows and many other birds feed on nectars of Amaltas throughout scorching
summer day and stays at rest among purple Jacaranda trees in evening.
Somewhere deep at heart still missing the green days of past,
the natives seems happy with more vibrant thump of naturally grown or planted flowering
trees so as I.”
After brawling and struggling with tough times of forced
terrorism on Pakistan, the country stands more firm, more vibrant and more
attractive like any of its flowering tree.
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| AMALTAS(golden shower) trees across G-9 sector of Islambad |