Latest news with #Cassia
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Nature's gold rush: PAU walkway lit by Amaltas bloom
Ludhiana: Poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi, in his celebrated work 'Loona', wrote: "Eh rukh jo amaltas de, peela maaran bha, eon jaapan gagan khudhalie joen sona pighal gya, ya dharat kudi de kann da koi bunda dig pya. ..(These trees of amaltas, swathed in yellow, appear as though molten gold has spilled from the skies, or a jewel has fallen from the ear of a girl of the earth)" Right now, the amaltas trees — Cassia fistula — are in full bloom, painting the landscape in radiant shades of yellow. At the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), the lane lined with these trees is shimmering with a golden glow. Their long, arching branches are heavy with cascading clusters of blossoms. The flowers fall like golden rain, softly carpeting the ground beneath in a luminous yellow blanket. The lane before the one leading to the Museum of Social History has transformed into a sight of yellow gold making passersby stop by or slow down to devour the beauty. Rows of Amaltas trees on the land named after the tree, Amaltas Marg, also paint the scene with the delightful yellow gleams. The trees can also be spotted at other places on the campus. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Mandeep Kaur, a student, said, "It's like the trees decided to celebrate something," she says. Students were seen walking by and clicking photos and selfies clicked. Others were sitting quietly, overwhelmed by the peacefulness. "Though I don't come up to this far during my evening walk in the university, but during this time of the year, I don't miss soaking in and embracing the spectacle unleashed by nature," Komalpreet, a resident said. "I would say that municipal corporation should also plant these trees across several lanes so that during this time of the year, people can enjoy the beauty of these trees," she added. By June, the flowers will fall, the green will return, and the 'golden lane' will rest again, a staff member at the university said. One of the students taking selfies in the yellow backdrop said, "During March-April spring my sister studying in Canada sends her pictures of cherry blossoms trees and during this time, I send her pictures of Amaltas." Environmentalist Brij Mohan Bhardwaj, who is a horticulture expert and has conducted tree cover surveys says, most of the trees including those of Amaltas were planted under the guidance of M S Randhawa, former vice-chancellor at PAU. It was his vision, and several lanes were named after trees including the Amaltas Marg, he said. Prior to that, Randhawa was the first administrator of Chandigarh, he played a crucial role in the city's landscaping and selection of trees. A road with the same name Amaltas Marg lined with Amaltas trees in Chandigarh, was likely, named so in his guidance. Amaltas, also known as Golden Shower or Indian Laburnum, is a deciduous tree native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is a popular tree in India, known for its beautiful yellow flowers and its use in traditional medicine. Amaltas is a moderate-sized tree, typically reaching 9-10 meters in height.
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Currently trending
As the temperatures drop, Josie Steenhart checks in with three of our most loved fashion designers - Kowtow's Dayne Johnston, Juliette Hogan and Sara Aspinall of Company of Strangers - on what's in, what never went out, what they're loving and what they're doing (and wearing) for the winter ahead. What are you most excited about fashion this season? Dayne Johnston: I've always been a winter person - I grew up in Wānaka in a colder climate, so this season just feels right to me. I love the opportunity winter gives you to build out a look and really compose it. It's not just a shirt and trousers; it's a long sleeve under a tee, knitwear under a coat, all those interesting layers. Suddenly your wardrobe becomes more dynamic - pieces you've had tucked away get a second life. You pull them out, rework them and suddenly something old feels brand new. One of the most inspiring moments for me this season was during our campaign shoot, we styled the Kowtow Sienna top over the Landscape trench. That kind of layering, where sleeve lengths clash in the best way, creates depth and texture. It's a reminder that winter dressing can be fun, expressive and thoughtful. Juliette Hogan: I'm especially excited about our Cassia coat - it feels like the ultimate winter indulgence. Beautifully tailored with a refined ease that finishes any outfit. Sara Aspinall: I'm obsessed with shirts at the moment. I love layering them under my knitwear, or worn over a dress or layer like a jacket. We did a long paisley shirt printing like a men's suit lining and I ordered loads of Lela Jacobs knitwear to wear over this print - the colours are so good together. Favourite international winter fashion trend you're hoping will take off here? Dayne Johnston: I'm loving vintage cowboy boots. They've got this history to them - traditional, lived-in and they bring such personality to a look. We styled them into our campaign shoot and they really defined the look. It felt unexpected in the context of our world, but it worked. We did it the Kowtow way - sourcing a vintage pair from one of our team. There's a rugged elegance and story to them. Juliette Hogan: I'm loving the shift away from chunky sneakers towards a more refined, ballet-inspired silhouette. It feels fresh, sophisticated and perfectly complements the soft, layered looks that are coming through this season. Sara Aspinall: I'm quite oblivious to trends, although while in Denmark last year I was so impressed with their sustainability dressing: something new, something old, well-styled together. Great design is always 'trending' in my opinion. Favourite colours/materials/styles coming through? Dayne Johnston: I'm really drawn to the Dark Spice colourway we've just released. It's our seasonal neutral and it carries so much warmth and richness. It's like cinnamon in colour form. We've paired it with forest greens, and those earthy tones are then lifted by the new Protea print, which adds brightness and softness. Together, they bring this elevation to the palette that feels both grounded and refined. We've also been working with ripstop, a utilitarian weave we've made in our Fairtrade organic cotton. It's traditionally workwear, but the Echo jacket and Parker pant we've made from it feel refined and wearable for everyday. It's hard-wearing, durable and versatile. Something you can wear walking the city or just walking the dog. Juliette Hogan: It's always black for me - you just can't beat its versatility and impact. But I'm also drawn to rich, deep greens at the moment. I'm loving the re-emergence of lace too, especially when it's done in a modern, restrained way. Our Rosetta dress is a beautiful example - an elevated, timeless piece that brings just the right amount of texture and romance to winter dressing. Sara Aspinall: Always, for me, natural fibres, wools, cottons. I'm loving our winter shorts - the wool plaid Love shorts - to wear with long boots. I love wearing shorts under dresses too, the Kamikaze dress is a great piece for that. Loving New Lands knitwear colours, they are working so nicely with everything too! Also, starting from the base up with comfortable but beautiful lingerie has become important to me. Ohen, a New Zealand brand in store, is made for women of all sizes - this is a hard market but they've nailed these shapes and great colours. I'm in love with the Sable and Sand colours, so will be adding another Teardrop bra and matching French briefs to the collection! I've road-tested these for over a year and the quality is incredible. We find women with larger cups struggle to find anything sexy and Ohen is perfect for our customers! The winter piece you're most lusting after? Dayne Johnston: The new Kowtow Jasper hoodie, hands down. It's got this fleecy brushed interior that I'm just obsessed with. We're heading into the cold here in Wellington and I honestly might just head downstairs and grab it now. It's the kind of hoodie that feels like a hug. Juliette Hogan: I'm constantly reaching for our Perino knits this season. They offer the perfect mix of warmth, lightness and softness - effortless to layer and they instantly lift every winter look. Sara Aspinall: Every year I want the Lela Jacobs Duster coat, although I seem to always miss out! I am getting a U Turtle in Midnight this year though! What's an old wardrobe favourite you'll be dusting off for the winter ahead? Dayne Johnston: I have this incredible black Raf Simons wool felt coat. I found it in Paris and it was too heavy to wear when I lived in Auckland. But now that I'm in Wellington it's perfect. It's one of those pieces I always take with me to Europe in winter. Juliette Hogan: Tailored black trousers - they really are the ultimate staple. I'll be revisiting our Luxe Suiting styles from past collections - they slot seamlessly alongside new-season pieces and just get better with time. Sara Aspinall: Always my 23-year-old Ann D boots; they work with everything, a wise investment! Also, my Data trench from last winter's collection - we didn't do a coat this year because I don't see why you need a new coat every year if you've invested in a great one already. Also, the colours we did work so well with this collection too - we very much plan our collections to wear with our past and present collection colours. Timelessness is so important. What was the inspiration for your winter collection? Dayne Johnston: The inspiration came from the landscapes around and within us - celebrating the connection we have with our surroundings. We played a lot with scale, proportion and form. I think it's best expressed in the Cityscape print which was born from a long exposure photograph I took on my phone, capturing the lights and reflections on the harbour at night when I first moved to Te Whanganui-a-tara, Wellington. The print feels really special to me and captures the energy of this beautiful place. Seeing this juxtaposed against the earthy tones in our latest drop, really brings the inspiration of the collection together. Juliette Hogan: This season was about resilience and softness co-existing - designing pieces that feel strong yet considered and easy to wear. You see that balance with our tailored outerwear and softer fluid pieces like the Coco Pleat dress, where structure and delicacy meet. Sara Aspinall: Our Midnight Net print, which has the lyrics from my favourite PJ Harvey song 'We Float' scrawled over it. This is the last New Zealand-printed textile we will be able to produce due to the closure of another great manufacturing company. It's critical New Zealand-made is supported so we can see our industry fashion endure. In the Harvey dress and the Kamikaze dress, we played with using existing patterns to repeat or flip to make new shapes and silhouettes, like upside-down sleeves for sleeve details or sleeves as skirt shapes. What are some of your plans for the season ahead? Dayne Johnston: I've just wrapped designing our collection for the second half of 2026 so I'm ready for a bit of a reset. I'll be taking a break, travelling, getting some new perspectives before diving into the next creative cycle. I always find it hard to leap straight from one collection into another - there needs to be a pause. A space to reflect, recharge and redirect. Juliette Hogan: Winter is all about layering and texture for me. I'll be wearing lace dresses layered over black pants, Perino knits under coats and sweaters draped over the shoulders or tied at the neck for added warmth and style - pieces that feel wrapped up but still feeling refined. Sara Aspinall: This winter I'm breaking my usual hibernation pattern and have plans to get to loads of gigs, so I'll be wearing comfortable layers so I can be ready for anything! My Wollow sneakers (a new Danish brand we have in store) - they feel like Birkenstocks but for winter! Worn with my Polly top and probably Lust pants as they are so easy to wear with anything! Also, Lela Jacobs U Arms as they are perfect for throwing over the shoulders or wearing like a scarf. So versatile - I end up tying these around myself when I get hot so I don't lose them!
Time of India
11-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Green drive in New Town to plant 50k trees this year
Kolkata: The (NKDA) is set to undertake a across New Town, planting 50,000 flower-bearing tall trees according to soil stated that with an average height of 15 ft will be planted on the roadside, median dividers, and other vacant open green spaces. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Trees selected for plantation include Bakul, Krishnachura, Radhachura, Cassia, Bilati Jarul, Ashoke, Kadam, Janglibadam, Shimul, Karanj, Chhatim, Sirish, Arjun, Swarnachampa, and Mahogany," said an has started the process to engage agencies for the plantation drive. They will be tasked with planting the trees within a month, and nursing them for three mentioned that pits measuring 2 ftx2 ft will be dug and filled with earth mixed with the required fertiliser for planting the saplings. The saplings will initially be supported with bamboo sticks to aid their the years, as an initiative to increase greenery, NKDA has planted small- and medium-sized trees, like coconut, palm, and cherry blossom, off the main arterial road. These trees do not have very large activists emphasised that not only plantation but also proper maintenance and upkeep of the saplings are necessary for them to survive and fully grow. Ecologic — a New Town-based nature lovers' forum, which planted close to 3,500 trees in different areas of New Town in the last three years — conducted an experiment to ensure that the trees receive regular water to survive the summer heat, by by planting water bottles next to the saplings with a tiny hole at the bottom, allowing water to ooze out and keep the soil moist for an extended period.
NZ Herald
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
SkyCity unveils the tantalising schedule for DELISH, its new dining season
Spanning three months of celebration and some of Auckland's best cuisine, DELISH is the new dining series for the coming season, with everything from chef-led events to limited edition menus and more happening in the swanky surrounds of SkyCity. A stroll down that bustling section of Federal Street wedged between Wellesley and Victoria takes you past some of Tāmaki Makaurau's best eateries: there's the award-winning Viva Top 50 restaurants Cassia and Metita, modern Japanese cuisine of MASU, deli-fare and Kiwi delicacies from Al Brown, the glossy red doors of Huami, and more. It's no coincidence. Popular with Aucklanders and visitors alike – it's flanked by high-end hotels, corporate offices and assorted headquarters of the city's media industry – the precinct around SkyCity has spent recent decades firmly establishing itself as a dining hub, home to some of the city's award-winning establishments. An array of big-name chefs and restaurateurs have set up shop on Federal Street, the artery of SkyCity, and its surrounds. Al Brown has been a longstanding part of the neighbourhood since decamping from the capital, opening Depot and Fed Deli in 2011 and 2013 respectively; Nic Watt's MASU launched in 2013 to acclaim and remains hugely popular; Sid and Chand Sahrawat relocated Cassia (a Viva Top 50 Restaurant) from a subterranean Fort Lane spot to Federal Street in 2023; Michael Meredith joined them that same year when the latest of his celebrated restaurants, Metita, which promptly made the Viva Top 10 Restaurants in Auckland in 2024 (winning best interior too); and The Grill, now located on Hobson Street reopened last year. It all makes for a hotspot of hospitality, and the latest news from the neighbourhood is SkyCity's brand new restaurant campaign, DELISH. Geared at seasonal dining and the communal, celebratory nature of a special meal, it sees a calendar of immersive dining events and limited-edition menus over three months. Headlining the events programme is Nic Watt, who will be firing up the restaurant's robata grill to host the Counter Dining Experience at MASU every Thursday in June, with bookings essential, as it is sure to sell out like last year's. Also new to the calendar, MASU will now be opening for lunch every Wednesday and Thursday, with an inventive menu of new dishes (priced from $30) that focuses on elevating donburi with everything from karaage chicken, tempura prawns, pork katsu, wagyu beef and Japanese grilled eel, alongside a selection – signature sashimi, served atsuzukuri (thick-cut style), maki rolls, and a range of their iconic sides. DELISH will see Chefs Patrick Ikinofo and Kia Kanuta join forces to host an illuminating Matariki event at The Grill on 18 June, when they will serve up a celestially inspired five-course menu – think hangi, eel, tītī and pāua – along with kōrero and special entertainment. Meanwhile, on 30 July Sid and Chand Sahrawat will bring together Cassia chefs from the past and present for the Cassia Full Circle Feast that's sure to be bursting with good food and great memories – anyone who's celebrated a milestone (or enjoyed a meal) at Cassia will want to be there. With their respective restaurants a training ground for the next generation of talent, proteges are in the spotlight for A Chef's Story, which sees Head Chefs creating dishes inspired by their childhoods and infused with nostalgia, available throughout the DELISH period. Depot head chef Jack Stott is dishing up a homage to the classic Sunday lamb roast, complete with Yorkshire pudding and mint jelly; Shiva Kudav of The Grill also turned to roast lamb, thoughtfully referencing his southern Indian roots with ingredients like mangosteen jus and achappam (rose cookies); MASU's Jun Bae's iteration of comfort food is takoyaki-inspired sous-vide octopus teriyaki on miso dashi potato mash; over at Metita Arinut Sachdeva conjures up an evocative combination of Kingfish with coconut, fermented chilli and tipolo (bread fruit); Federal Delicatessen fans can try Megan Cruickshank's memory-rich house-made meatloaf, served with cranberry relish, whole grain mustard, sautéed greens and the requisite gravy; and Cassia head chef Ketan Joshi combines green chilli thecha with sesame seeds for an evocative tender (and spicy) chicken dish. Discover the deeply personal stories behind each dish online and in the restaurants when you visit. But the area really comes into its own for destination dining during the dinner hours, and the DELISH programme is jam-packed with occasional eating opportunities. Running until July, four of SkyCity's flagship restaurants are all serving Gather & Toast special menus, geared at celebrations and socialising in groups. Metita's three-course is designed for sharing and offers a taste of Pacific flavours, including slow-braised lamb shanks with spiced coconut gravy and ulu (breadfruit); Cassia will take you across the subcontinent in four courses, from Sid's signature Pani Puri to tandoori chicken in rich lababdar sauce; The Grill's special caters to tables of up to 16 (four is the minimum) and dishes up a four-course feast; it's the most indulgent of the lot, spotlighting beef in everything from tartare to Makikihi beef-fat chips and a 'study of beef' alongside bistro classics like twice-baked cheese soufflé and an iceberg wedge; MASU's menu spans two courses of multiple dishes, including warming miso shiru and wagyu sando, the chef's sashimi selection, cedar-baked king salmon teriyaki, lamb cutlets with gochujang, robata-grilled shiitake, and more. All present a grand opportunity to arrange a group dinner or celebrate something special, and sweetening the whole thing is free parking at SkyCity, available throughout the DELISH period.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rapid urbanisation outpaces VMC's plantation drive
Vijayawada: Amidst the increasing need for more trees due to the diminishing tree cover caused by rapid urbanisation and the exponential growth of Vijayawada in all four directions, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), much to the dismay of many, planted a mere 7,115 plants within the city limits over the last four years. According to data gathered by the TOI from the horticulture department of the VMC, the municipal corporation planted fewer than 2,000 plants per year over the last four years under the avenue plantation programme aimed at developing a green canopy in the city. Cordia, Rela (Cassia species), Pagoda, Neem, Lagerstroemia, Marri, Spathodea, and Neredu are among the major plant species planted by the municipal corporation as part of the avenue plantation in the city. The civic body planted the highest number of trees—3,260—in 2024-25, followed by 2,045 in 2023-24, 696 in 2022-23, and 1,114 in 2021-22. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scarlett Johansson, 40, Shows Off Her Real Size In A New Vacation Photos 33 Bridges Undo It has been learnt that the civic body does not set annual targets for tree plantation to increase the green cover. Instead, it plants trees at identified spots under the avenue plantation initiative. "We instruct our supervisors across the three circles under the civic body's jurisdiction to identify stretches where tree plantation can be taken up, and we plant trees on vacant municipal land as well as along roads across 64 wards," a senior VMC official told TOI. The official claimed that the municipal corporation has focused on planting trees in residential colonies and has filled a majority of the 64 wards with trees, except for some wards in Circle-II, where plantation will be taken up in the coming days. Professor Ajay Katragadda, a passionate environmentalist from the city, said: "It is agonising to know that the municipal corporation uprooted and felled more trees than it planted in the last four years. Hundreds of fully grown, decades-old trees were chopped down for the construction of two flyovers at the Benz Circle instead of being transplanted."
