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There is nothing more magical than finding a fossil and knowing you are the first person to have seen it in 150 million years!! - Sir David Attenborough And definitely MAGICAL it was!!!! Oh the joy of discovering them in their original site and for once not just see them from behind a glass shield at a museum! Oh- the excitement of discovering different shapes ,sizes and colors of clams, shells and corals! Oh- the fun we had imagining different animals - some madeup some probably not in this heap of prehistoric treasure! Oh- the capes we wore- of a geologist, archaeologist , anthropologist, historian and a fiction writer! Oh - how the time flew! Oh- thats how the time flies- said the fossil! #fossils #fossil #history # art #geology #animals #ancient #rocks #stones #trekking #explore #nature #treasure #science #earth #prehistoric #naturaltreasures #luckyfind #millionsofyearsold #davidattenborough #memoriesforlife #kutch #incredibleindia #lifeisbeautiful (at Kutch Gujrat) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMxLLyAnZOM/?igshid=bpmfnlrwftdt

दिवाली रा दीया दीठा काचर बोर मतीरा मीठा meaning after Deepawali Kachariyas ripen sweet. These tiny melon like fruits/vegetables are popularly known as Kacharis or Chibhads. Our backyard wilderness has loads of vegetation, many with potential health benefits of which we are unaware. Had it not been for the family I tied knots with, I too would have considered this precious melon to be an invasive creeper. 😀 Unlike other vegetables, kacharis are extremely bitter when green (as in the pic) and slowly turn soft with a tinge of yellow on its skin and release a sweet cool fragrance on ripening. It has an unparalleled tangy taste which when added to dishes make them absolutely delectable. It is regularly used (fresh as well as dried ones) in our cooking with guvar ( cluster beans) and raddish dishes and ofcourse as a chutney too to be had with rotla. All these years i have enjoyed kacharis only for their taste without bothering about other benefits. But since I got interested in identifying wild vegetation and learning of its significance, i looked it up. These protein rich fruits are rich in antioxidants and immensely beneficial for gastrointestinal issues. These creepers grow in the wild and are not cultivated. Found mostly in Rajasthan , Punjab , Haryana and Gujarat, they are increasingly facing the brunt of urbanization.So it is rare to find it while foraging out along roadsides or in semi forests. One of the many benefits of #growtreesnotlawns is finding surprises every two steps in the backyard. #indiansuperfood #backyardharvest #medicinalplant #forage #naturalvegetation #healthyfood #proteinrich #antioxidants #happygut #eatlocal #uncultivated #plantsofinstagram #growfoodnotlawns #traditionalfood #growyourownfood #ecologicalliving #healthyliving #sustainableliving #lifeatmitti #lifeisbeautiful (at Ahmedabad, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIGZ1oehgwB/?igshid=19kxt3xtko7wt

Good timber does not grow with ease, The stronger wind, the stronger trees, The further sky, the greater length, The more the storm the more the strength, By sun and cold , by rain and snow, In trees and men good timbers grow. - stanza from Good Timber by Doughlas Malloch #nature #poem #inspirationiseverywhere #walkinthewoods #poetryforthesoul #wordsofworth #lifeatmitthi #lifeisbeautiful (at Ahmedabad, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CH7OfedBEVb/?igshid=g2jfc8tzn2km

Charlotte's web played out on a shrub near my kitchen entrance. This orb weaver which had almost become part of our family since last month, gave us a glimpse of the fascinating world of spiders. We had only seen a spider of this size in books but to see one and have it so close to you is a joy and discovery of a different level. We watched it spin web, strategize and have multiple layers- one for resting and other for trapping. We saw it use small leaves of tikoma plant to seal a sac full of eggs. We loved her every move, her colors, her eyes and her golden threadwork. I have even touched her so often , yet she never felt scared or intimidated. Last week, one of her sacs matured and these tiny spiderlings had emerged. We were thrilled!! We even celebrated with kheer😀. All these babies dispered in a day or two. But the mother remained, remotely watching her other sac. Today morning, the other egg pod matured and we saw babies everywhere but unfortunately mother was nowhere to be seen. Did she fall prey to some bird? Or Did she go away somewhere else to spin some more magic. I would like to believe in later. We have new babies but without their mom, their home looks barren. Gone is the web and that signature warmth. On one end we are happy that we were part of her interesting lifestory and on the other , we are sad with her departure. They say nature heals, but at times it can leave an imprint of loss too. #TwitterNatureCommunity #spider #thephotohour #spiderweb #naturephotography #spiderling #orbweaver #arachnids #arachnidsofinstagram #insects #spidersoftheworld #naturephotography #photooftheday #macrophotography #nature #naturelover #wildlife #marvel #IndiAves #lifeatmitthi #lifeisbeautiful (at Ahmedabad, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGkN3cDMOuu/?igshid=1xacs9j4ulz2c

Shot way back in April 2020, but it is #bigbutterflymonth , so had to dig this out. Tawny costers/ acrea terpsicore love passion flower creeper and since the time it has grown thick with good foliage, we have seen plenty of these beauties. Infact one fine morning I was surrounded by so many of them fluttering around that i had to actually pinch myself to check if i was dreaming!! As seen, they are extremely comfortable in human presence. #butterfly #indianbutterflies #bigbutterflymonth #butterflies🦋 #biodiversity #sustainableliving #lifeatmitthi #lifeisbeautiful (at Ahmedabad, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEyoJrWseBnylNcZRSImtDa4J5njsmz4CtQ-tU0/?igshid=km8fkk0q54fj

Thoda khao...baaki ugao😀 Suran / Elephant Yam / Jimikand Extemely fast growing plant. Had got yam just a day before Janmashtami and it had 3 nodes on its underside. Used up rest of the part and planted those 3. It is less than 3 weeks and already 2 feet tall! The first sprout almost has an appearance of a bamboo shoot. Infact I had mistaken it for that. Thankfully I let it be, and then emerged the leaves like a fountain. This is the first time we have grown this. Hope to see the complete cycle till its harvest next year. #growyourownfood #growfoodnotlawns #elephantyam #SURAN #gardening #kitchengarden #lifeatmitthi #lifeisbeautiful (at Ahmedabad - India's First Heritage City) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEdnOFPsBDFPwHBi96905JozBMzTxLcp_B_Z8I0/?igshid=moxoigg5ybj6