'Blue-bells', Ferguson High School, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Bee box in our garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

We have been  having bee colonies in boxes in our garden for nearly 20 years. You can harvest about 6 to 8  bottles of bee honey every year from each box. The bees are harmless and do not interfere with human life if left alone. They increase the fruit yield in our garden especially from the coconut trees. They give you a superb leisure activity. You can get a bee box with a colony from the Agricultural department. If you go into Youtube on the internet you can get any amount of advice on their maintainance.I got these pictures from our bee box and will publish more. This is one of the best eco-friendly activities that you can do.

Flora of Kosgama, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The Jak fruit. The story is told of how 'Sakkara Deviyo' had given this fruit to be cooked by a village woman and asked why the fruits on the Jak tree were not plucked. She had replied that no one ate the fruit of that tree. 'Sakkara Deviya' had ordered her to cook a fruit for him and promised to come back for the cooked meal. The aroma of the cooked Jak fruit was irresistible and the woman partook of a small portion of it. When the God 'Sakkara' returned he called the woman a thief (Hora Liya)  and said  'Hera Liya tho ma kaapiya'' - 'Thief woman you finish the entire fruit' and stomped away. To this day the Jak is called 'Heraliya' by the Sinhalese.

A flower on a shrub growing wild.

A wild Orchid, Kosgama, Avissawella.

Leaves of colour.

The flowers in our garden Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'The Kandyan Dancer' orchid.

Flower pots for sale, Ranala, Rathnapura low-level road, Sri Lanka.