When I was little it wasn't hard to come across wildflowers. You found them in your own backyard, along the streets or somewhere in one of the many empty spaces that dotted the landscape. There were many a time when I gave gathered the leaves of the tridax plant to squeeze over the wounds of my cats.
Dandelion
However, with excessive development in our urban spaces it often becomes impossible to see any wildflowers. This is especially true in fast growing cities in India where the need for human habitation far outweighs any other priorities.
But when the wildflowers go, so do the many insects, birds and bats that depend on it. Habitat loss is not just for tigers and leopards.
There are proven benefits to maintaining wild spaces. Kings College in Cambridge experimented with their gardens by not mowing a portion of their lawns only for it to transform into a wildflower haven. One of the added benefits was how the unmoved lawn reflected more sunlight keeping the space cooler.
But despite proven benefits, I'm not really sure I'll see any wildflower gardens in urban spaces in India. But maybe anybody who has access to a garden or a lawn could let some part of it stay wild and unmanicured? Let the wild things be I say.
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