Spring has been lazy this year. It is mid-Feb, and the mornings are still cool, and it wants you to stay tucked in bed. The birds are awake, though. The nearby Raintree chirps with parakeets that devour the sweet fruit. A construction site in the back lane starts work at six, disturbing the morning peace. I drag myself out of bed, make some coffee and walk into the garden. The dry leaves from Pongamia and mast trees rustle with the cool breeze. The dust from the construction

Every spring the Hoya Australis flowers bloom and fill the garden with fragrance. This bunch called umbels has 20-30 pentagonal shaped buds.The bloomed flowers look like stars and have a colourful centre. They attract a variety of butterflies and pollinators. The petals have a waxy texture. When they wilt they close back to the same pentagonal shape and then wither. I have two plants in the garden and one of them started wilting last rainy season. I thought the best way to sa