more-in At a time when the upkeep of trees receive scant regard, here’s a collective which celebrates the “sixth birthday” of 12 Ashoka trees, which line the median along the Vazhuthacaud – Cotton Hill stretch. The Friends of Trees, a city-based non-governmental organisation, is all set to celebrate the birthday on Monday. Kerala State Biodiversity Board chairman S.C. Joshi will inaugurate the observance. Kerala Tourfed managing director Shaji Madhavan and Sahyadri Natural History Society secretary Vinod Kumar will also speak on the occasion. According to Friends of Tees general secretary C.K. Karunakaran, a former Chief Conservator of Forests, the trees, which were planted on October 15, 2012, have grown to become around 3-m tall. The plants braved several adverse factors over the years including acute water shortage, during when several volunteers have chipped in to water the trees. According to Mr. Karunakaran, many dividers in the city especially those along Kowdiar, Thycaud and Karamana have been currently lined with various species including Curcuma (‘koova’), which required watering during summer seasons. Moreover, they did not assist in mitigation of climate change. He pointed out that Ashoka trees did not require watering from the second year onwards, ensuring that the cost of maintenance is negligible. Besides, they did not require manuring, except for the highly suppressed ones, during the first year of planting. Ashoka plants neither get uprooted nor suffer damage to their branches. With the trees having dense foliage, they provide ample shade, especially during the summer. Mr. Karunakaran added that the fact that Ashoka trees do not shed its leaves can be seen with those planted at Vazhuthacaud.

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