Dushy Perera
I live in the same neighborhood where I was born three score and ten years ago. My grandfather’s garden, which was approximately 3 acres in extent was literally, a self-sown orchard. Hence it attracted many birds, butterflies, lizards, land and water monitors and other reptiles. It was not uncommon to see a Cobra (naya) or a Russell’s viper (thith polonga) whilst the common Ratsnake (garandiya-Ptyas mucosa) was often seen sliding away whenever we children played cricket or hide-and=seek or climbed trees just to while away our free time. Never was any of us children bitten by these reptiles, although we ventured carefree all over the garden.
Dushy in his youthful days with parents Herbert and Constance Perera
My grandfather maintained a well-manicured oval shaped lawn in front of his house and hence the house was named “Fairlawn”.
Fruit trees were in abundance and we feasted on the fruits, sometimes up on the tree itself. Mango (Magnifier indica) Guava (Psidium guava) the red, white and yes even the so called Chinese variety (cheenapera) Psidium cattleyanum.
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) Veralu ( Elaeocarpus serratus) Jambu (Syzgium samarangense) and PiniJambu, the white watery fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis), Amberella (Spondias dulcis), Custard apple (Anodha reticulate) and Cherimoya ( Annona cherimola), Ugurassa (Flacourtia indica) and Nam-nam (Cynometra cauliflora). Star Apple (ratalawulu-Chrysophyllum cainito), Lawalu (Pouteria campechiana) Avacado pear (Persea americana), Pomegranate (Delum- Punica granatum), Cabaranka (Star fruit- Averrhoa carambola), Lovi (Flacourtia inermis). Dan (Syzygium caryophyllatun), Damson (Prunus insititia). Mulberry (Morus alba), Jam Fruit (Muntingia calabura), Lemon (Citrus limon), Passion fruit (Pasiflora edulis), Papaw (Carica papaya), Pineapple (Ananas comosus), Jak (Artocarpus heterophyllus) both waraka and wala, Del-Ceylon Bread Fruit ( Artocarpus nobilis). Beli (Aegle marmelos), Narang (Citrus indica) Cashew (Anacardium occidental), Biling (Averrhoa bilimbi), Coffee (Coffea arabica) and Plantain (Musa x paradisiac).
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum). One cinnamon tree still stands in the middle of our by road, honouring my late mother’s wishes.
There were many coconut trees (Cocos nucifera) strewn all over the land including Ran Thambili, Gon Thambili, Thambili and Pol. Never did a coconut fall on any one of us who were always playing outdoors. The finest coconut oil was distilled from the Ran Thambili trees. We had kithul trees (Caryota urens) where sweet toddy was tapped.
I myself was surprised when I re read the long list which I had compiled by memory, so I asked my sister who lives next door to confirm it.
Alas, when I look around our neighborhood now, up and over the numerous walls and the modern houses which have come up over the years, only a few fruit trees remain. …….. One coconut tree, and a few recently planted hybrid mango trees. Of course, the Cinnamon tree stands tall in the middle of our by-road, reminding us of the way it used to be, and my mother’s wish of wisdom. VISIT
“All our wisdom is stored in the trees.” ― Santosh Kalwar
NOTA BENE: Where Have All the_Flowers_Gone, Long Time Passing …. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_Have_All_the_Flowers_Gone%3F
ADDENDUM in May 2025: PIX depicting the house belonging to Mudaliyar Devamullage Albert Perera. The home was first called “Fairlawn” and subsequently called the “Wallauwa”
I can closely identify with Dushy’s childhood life as I too lived with my parents in my grandfathers house and large garden in Gamsabawa, Nugegoda. Climbing trees and sitting on a branch and eating a Mango or a Cadju Puhulang with my neighbouring friends, playing outdoor games and just running around in the large garden and, as Dushy says, safe from any falling coconuts. I like to add the fruit Divul to Dushy’s long list of fruits that we too had.
BTW I dropped Michael home one night at Dushy’s place and had to reverse carefully to avoid the venerable Cinnamon tree.
Such were the gardens I too grew up surrounded by. Trees giving shade, homes for birds and squirrels, fruit and oxygen. We took them all for granted then. And today they are all gone, replaced by a concrete jungle, where little animals and birds have no place any more.
Dushy’s garden would have been a lot less abundant if there were more kids like us in his neighborhood.
What we most lament is the bird of youth that has flown the garden!