Lady with green fingers

[1]

Neelam Kaicker posing with the trophy at the park she created in her colony

Making the most of what’s available has been Neelam Kaicker’s motto. The 51-year-old has transformed a barren three-acre municipal land, overlooking her Defence Colony house, into a lush, manicured garden.
“Thirty years back, when I came here after marriage, there was no trace of greenery here. It was an open, unattended plot. Even my reception was held here,” she says.

Today, there are dozens of varieties of flowers and trees and fountains dotting the park. There are dedicated walking paths, spots for children to play and for people to sit and perform yoga.
Talking about her love for nature, the artist and art dealer says, “With my father, who was in Defence, I have spent good time in the lap of nature in Kashmir while he was posted there. Also, my mother loved plants, so she was my inspiration. I myself started with pots, then kitchen garden and now this park,” she says.
She adds, “Who wouldn’t love to have a nice green garden outside the house? After my marriage, I saw this barren piece of land, my creative instincts told me that something really beautiful can be done with this place. I immediately took over the mission beautification, under MCD’s park adoption scheme,” she says.
Since then, the maintenance of the park has become a full time job for the mother of two. “I personally take care of every detail. Though we get help from the authorities now. We have also employed three gardeners to take care of the plants,” she says.
She says the residents take pride in the park, and consider it an extension of their own houses. “We have established a residents’ trust as the park has become the heart of the colony now,” she says.
But Neelam hasn’t been able to rope in any youngsters for her cause. “Love for nature and then this kind of venture has to be a passion and dedication. These are the things that should come naturally and can’t be inculcated. We have to understand that youngsters of today are fighting for time. We can’t expect much from them,” she says.
“Looking at the garden, and remembering the hard work that has gone into creating it, fills me with immense satisfaction,” says Neelam, who has won the first prize by All India Kitchen Garden Association for the sixth consecutive year.