High on grass

And Khizer Fatehi agrees with that. A builder, he grew up near Ahmedabad with vast open spaces and sprawling gardens. So when he constructed his home on Peddar Road, a penthouse on the 8th floor, a terrace garden was very much a part of the design. He lives there with his wife Rifka, son and daughter-in-law. As you walk in, the green hits the eyes immediately. A sliding glass partition separates the passage from the garden and one stretch of the drawing room is also sliding glass. And if you sit towards the left, the skyline is blocked from view and the garden becomes an escapist8217;s dream. Nothing to remind you of the city. Rifka8217;s favourite spot is the swing in the corrugated asbestos shade, where she often sits in the mornings. There are hanging pots on the sides and, surprisingly, a Christmas tree between the palms, as also daffenbachias, crotons, ferns and bougainvillaes.

The Fatehis8217; are also lucky as they have been spared the paranoia of every terrace garden owner 8212; leakage that seeps into the flat below, resulting in an irate neighbourhood. quot;It8217;s been 15 years and not once have we received complaints,quot; says Khizer. Extra layers of brick and cement were laid to prevent that. Says Sethna, quot;The flooring is the most important part. Below the soil, you should have two inches of crushed gravel or coal, so that the water doesn8217;t get collected. And the soil should be six inches high. So it is not advisable to walk on the grass too often, as it8217;s not exactly terra firma and it would just sink in.

A fact which J Maker knows only too well. On his 12th floor Nepeansea Road flat, the garden has no grass. Just huge wooden containers with plants in them. quot;We always had grass before, but leakage resulted in patchy ceilings in the floor below, besides these,quot; he says pointing to your heels disdainfully, quot;kept on destroying grassquot;. The garden, designed by Sethna, is on the left when you enter. Wrought iron furniture is placed in a small shaded portico that overlooks the garden. There is a wooden trellis on the side with a flowering creeper climbing over it. quot;I have to get a new one from Alibagh, this is dying,quot; says Maker. They have four acres of garden in Alibagh and all the plants come from there. quot;We usually have dinner outside and most of the entertaining happens here,quot; says Maker pointing to a barbecue on the side that doubles up as a bar.

Since the house faces the sea, the wind is a big menace. One side of the garden has been covered with glass to protect the plants. Adjacent to the entrance is a huge concrete container lined with palm trees giving the garden a forested look. The deep brown wood containers made of planks also lend it a country cottage charm. There is also concealed lighting which gives it a soft glow in the nights. quot;Lights are also very important as you end up entertaining a lot in the garden, but it has to be concealed as it looks too harsh otherwise,quot; advises Sethna. quot;In this season, all the flowers die, so it8217;s not the best time to enjoy the garden,quot; adds Maker.

Both the Fatehis and the Makers admit that they are very lucky to be able to enjoy a garden in Mumbai, but says Sethna, quot;You needn8217;t really have a terrace to have a garden. It can be balconies, ledges, inside the house8230;plants flourish everywhere.quot; And what lends a lot of individuality and appeal is pots. Brass, ceramics, wood, tiles, anything goes. With some hard work and a little bit of imagination, anyone can have a put-it-where-you-want-it garden.

Pottering around

Jangu Sethna gives a list of dos and don8217;ts for your plants and gardens

Syntex tanks, cut away from the top make ideal water-proof containers for big plants. While cutting away, leave two inches of the top at the edges

In pots, place gravel or a layer of foam at the bottom

Mass your plants together; they grow better in humidity

It is possible to grow most Indian plants in Mumbai 8212; even roses and grape vines. Except you must grow them here instead of getting them from another city

Plants grown in plastic pots need more water as these don8217;t retain moisture unlike earthen ones

In a terrace garden, leave space for furniture 8212; cast iron or built in wooden seats are a good option. The idea is to enjoy the greenery

Protect the plants from the wind and wipe the leaves regularly as the salt deposited on them can kill the plants

Soap or neem water is the best remedy for insects and pests