Deoban’s Secret: India’s Groundbreaking Garden of Cryptogams
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
July 11, 2021
On this day, dear horticultural enthusiasts, we find ourselves transported to the lush, misty heights of the Deoban area in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Here, nestled at a breathtaking altitude of 9,000 feet, India unveiled its first cryptogamic garden, a veritable paradise for those of us who find beauty in the oft-overlooked corners of the plant kingdom.
Now, I hear you ask, what on earth is a cryptogamic garden?
Picture, if you will, a secret garden of sorts, but instead of roses and daffodils, imagine a world of plants that shun the spotlight of seeds.
These cryptogams, as they're so charmingly called, are the rebels of the plant world - the algae that paint our ponds, the mosses that cushion our forest floors, the lichens that cling tenaciously to rocks, and the ferns that unfurl their fronds in the dappled sunlight.
This extraordinary garden, spread over three acres of mountain terrain, boasts nearly fifty different species of these fascinating plants. Can you imagine the diversity?
For those of us accustomed to the showy blooms of our traditional gardens, this cryptogamic wonderland offers a refreshing change of pace. Here, the beauty lies in the subtle - the velvety texture of a moss carpet, the intricate patterns of a lichen colony, the delicate arch of a fern frond.
As we marvel at this botanical breakthrough, let us take a moment to appreciate these primitive plants that have graced our Earth far longer than their seed-bearing cousins. They may not produce seeds, but they've certainly planted a seed of curiosity in the minds of botanists and garden enthusiasts alike!
Perhaps this cryptogamic garden will inspire us to look a little closer at the overlooked corners of our own gardens. Who knows what cryptogamic treasures might be lurking in the shade of our rose bushes or the cracks of our garden walls?
So, my fellow gardeners, the next time you're tending to your beloved blooms, spare a thought for these unsung heroes of the plant world.
For in their quiet, seedless way, they tell a story of resilience and adaptability that we would all do well to emulate.
May your gardens always surprise you with hidden wonders!
