The Science of Nature
The Indian Women's Scientific Association (IWSA) established a unique Learning Garden in 2018 on its Vashi campus, driven by a mission to make science accessible and engaging for everyone. This initiative
sprang from a desire to demystify scientific concepts through hands-on, public-facing experiences. The garden is conceived as a series of miniature ecosystems, each no larger than a small baobab tree's trunk diameter, designed to illustrate how natural systems function and the essential services they provide. For instance, the 'rainforest' section is a circular enclosure, roughly 7 feet across, dominated by a towering Copperpod tree (Peltophorum pterocarpum). Beneath its canopy, an Octopus tree (Schefflera actinophylla), various shrubs, grasses, and ground cover plants recreate a slice of rainforest biodiversity. A floor plan is provided for clarity, allowing visitors to understand the arrangement. Nearby, other demo ecosystems like the Western Ghats, the Deccan Plateau, and the Coastal Belt are meticulously curated with mixed plantings that represent the distinct biogeographical characteristics of each region, offering visitors a 'living line-up' of botanical diversity.
A World of Plants
Beyond the rainforest replica, the IWSA garden boasts an astonishing variety of specialized sections, showcasing the vastness and utility of the plant kingdom. Visitors can explore a butterfly garden, a sensory garden engaging multiple senses, and a hardy cactus collection. Dedicated displays feature prized orchids and common indoor air-purifying plants like the Mother-in-law's tongue (Dracaena trifasciata). The garden also highlights practical applications of botany, with biofuel plants such as the Biodiesel plant (Jatropha curcas), and medicinal species like the bone-setting Hadjod (Cissus quadrangularis), known for its role in fracture healing. Other fascinating clusters include fruiting plants like Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), ancient prehistoric species like the Cardboard plant (Zamia furfuracea), dye-yielding plants such as the Lipstick plant (Bixa orellana), and even plants named after musical instruments, like the Fiddle-leaf Champa (Plumeria pudica). An arboretum and a section dedicated to wild food plants further enrich this extensive collection, which comprises over 500 species.
Learning and Inspiration
This meticulously curated collection of over 500 plant species draws a diverse crowd, including school and college students, local children, botany and medicine scholars, and even professionals like landscapers and architects seeking horticultural inspiration. The garden's educational impact extends beyond its physical presence, as the IWSA has launched a publication titled ‘Creating Learning Gardens & Living Museums: Biodiversity, Conservation & Sustainability.’ This guide, inspired by the Vashi project and supported by Inner Wheel District 314, is an accessible, illustrated handbook for establishing personal biodiverse gardens. The publication aims to facilitate learning through storytelling and visual cues. For instance, the Hadjod plant's bone-like appearance reinforces its medicinal use for fractures, and its use in chutneys. Similarly, the Scholar tree (Alstonia scholaris), believed to be the abode of the goddess of knowledge, highlights cultural significance. Even the scarlet seeds of the Rosary Creeper (Abrus precatorius), once used as precise gold weights due to their consistent mass, offer intriguing historical context, demonstrating how plants have been integral to human life and culture.
Sustaining the Green Dream
Despite its educational and environmental significance, the IWSA garden faces financial challenges. A lack of consistent funding hinders the hiring of a full-time gardener and the procurement of necessary materials and manure for upkeep, as noted by Dr. Srirupa Mukherjee, the garden coordinator. To manage these operational demands, thematic sections are often assigned to members of the association, allowing for distributed responsibility. While scientists sometimes cover expenses from their own pockets, acquiring new plants is often achieved through plant swap programs or donations from affiliated institutions. A prime example of such a gift is the 'pagal patta' (Pterygota alata ‘diversifolia’), donated by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. This diverse botanical collection, much like the women of IWSA themselves, features unique individuals, each contributing to the collective vibrancy of the garden, as humorously observed by principal designer Vijaya Chakravarty.
