Bijan Ghosh has an enviable terrace. It overlooks the Krishnachura and Sonajhuri trees on the First Avenue, the Ultadanga flyover as well as part of the stadium and the terrace itself has a variety of potted flowers and fruits. And when he waters the plants in the morning, it attracts flocks of pigeons who wait to drink out of the pots. All these pieces fit in to make Ghosh’s terrace garden a paradise. 

I live on the third floor of a co-operative building so it’s easy for me to access the terrace and pursue my hobby. Over the years I’ve got a chance to experiment with a number of plants and today I mostly grow what I love — flowers and fruits. 

My oldest plants are the Pomegranate and Kagzi Lebu —both around 12 years old. They bear lots of fruits and are delicious. The Paati and Batabi Lebus are prolific too. Initially I would try to plant the best varieties of Mangoes but none would survive. Then I was told that the only varieties that survive in pots are the nameless, local ones. So I potted one such three years ago and hanging from the branch today is a small Mango.

I grow Brinjals, Mausambis and Chillies but since our family is not fond of spicy food, most of the Chillies wilt on the branches. 

I am also proud of my collection of unusual greens — a pretty flowering plant called Roshunlata whose leaves smell like Garlic, a yellow Gandharaj plant that bears the cutest yellow flowers and something called Apple Kul, fruits of which look and taste somewhere between Topa Kul and Narkel Kul. 
And of course we have Jasmine, Gandharaj and Batabi Lebu flowers to ensure that the terrace is perfumed every evening.

As told to Brinda Sarkar

If you have a garden you are proud of and tend to yourself, send your contact number to 
The Telegraph Salt Lake, 6, Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta 700001 or call 22600115 after 4pm or email to saltlake@abpmail.com