In the previous month, my friend, let’s call her A, undertook an artist residency in Ladakh. As part of her initiative, she requested that I conduct a nature walk through the village where she was based, with the kids of the village. The objective was to familiarize the village children with the extensive and unique flora of Ladakh through their village.
Now, I’ve never really done something like this before, but I was thrilled to. You know, especially because, in all the hustle of everyday life, wild plants, especially weeds, often go unnoticed and are the overlooked heroes of the natural world, thriving in the shadows of our awareness.
And so, step one was to find a perfect spot!
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We headed to the village for a reconnaissance mission to select an area for exploration, determine the route for our walk, and identify the plants in bloom this week. We strolled through the village, searching for quiet, lush spots teeming with flora.
It was July, a time when the flora of this cold desert Himalayan region is in full bloom and at its peak.
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We discovered a beaaaautiful spot – a charming, somewhat hidden path branching off the main village road, leading us into a quaint grove. A gentle stream meandered through the grove, guiding us to a serene glade. As we continued our walk, we arrived at the village reservoir, brimming with Monk’s Rhubarb. There was so much to observe, identify, and admire along the way.
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Then there was a path that went down the reservoir into the village fields, which were flourishing with barley, broad beans, and chamomile. The edges of these fields were adorned with Russian sage, forget-me-nots, and even dyer's alkanet.
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And so, A and I came up with a fun idea: a plant bingo game!
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We’d give each kid a sheet with 9 local plants for them to find and tick off. At the end of the day, they’d bring back their finds to show off. We also encouraged them to create their own wildflower bouquets.
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And for a little extra excitement, we added bonus points for anyone who could spot three plants with cool fragrances!
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We had an amazing turnout of about 23 kids from the village! The youngest was just 4 years old, and the oldest was 17. The enthusiasm was through the roof! It was incredibly refreshing to see such curious and energetic kids. The little 4-year-old boy and the 5-year-old girl were bouncing from stream to stream, leaping over walls, and splashing through flooded fields. They kept stopping to sniff flowers and squealed with delight every time they ticked off one of their bingo plants!
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Before we knew it, the day flew by, and soon we were indoors showing off our plant finds. I could hear excited shouts of "Horsemint! Thistle! Russian Sage!" as each child proudly displayed their collections and bouquets. The cheers and plant names were a clear sign of success. This was truly a "roots to roots" adventure through the local flora, all while bonding with the kids. The day perfectly captured the essence of our botanical exploration and the foundational joy of learning and discovery.
Can't wait for more! :)
