The treasures of nature

By Dr. Muhammad Hafizullah

Sprouting of buds and transformation into bright coloured flowers must be one of the most gratifying and stirring experiences, only if one pauses in the busy routine and takes notice. Formation of rose buds in multiple colours and then evolution into a full-blown flower is like watching a young toddler growing into a beautiful young lady with all the ingredients of youth, beauty, coyness and impelling demonstrativeness. One of the most cherished treasures of my life was watching plum trees in the Garrison Park attired in white blossoms and then giving way to little green leaves. The transition might have taken seven to ten days, but the experience was most enjoyable. Every day there was a spectacle to watch and relish, one day all white and the last day all lovely green - more like a bride changing dresses. The grass changed from brownish colour to lush green adorned by early morning dew. Most trees - bare in winter, started to wear a festive look with green leaves - pleasing to eyes and inspirational to soul. The empty barren flowerbeds, with changing weather and advent of spring, filled to brim with green leaves studded with multi coloured, sized and shaped flowers, all appearing fresh in morning as waking up from slumber and bathed by early morning dew.

And what could be a better time than early morning to watch the Mother Nature - waking up fresh to paint a pageant with multiple hues to inspire the souls? The rising Sun adding colours and brightening up the spectacle - a treat to watch and enjoy. From little light with dull colours early in mane, the scene brightens up with slanting rays of Sun casting long shadows, till everything is illuminated with bright light. The best part has to be the transition, when the world wakes up to the rising Sun and stretches herself to reveal the best in full bloom.

The milieu is rendered more appealing with different birds twittering on different trees in different corners of the park. Sometimes a party of green Parrots flies over the park and enrich the park with their chirping. Woodpeckers are seen frequently frolicking on the grounds and trees. Local sparrows and larger versions tweet gleefully early in the morning. Crows crow and run away as they see people approaching. At times large birds like eagles are seen diving and then getting lost in the vastness of skies. Many medium sized birds adorn the beauty and add perfect background music to the otherwise quiet environs. The sound of birds is most inspiring to ears and souls and adds to perfect the scenery. Squirrels of different sizes are the co habitat and live in peace and harmony in the park appearing from nowhere and disappearing without a trace.

As the weather transformed from very cold to cool and then to pleasant so did the ecology and environment. The enthusiasm for walking and exploring the nature early in morning, however, does not change much with weather. For those addicted to early morning walk, the day starts with morning walk and remains incomplete without it. Young and old enthusiasts - everyone has a routine to follow - some come early and some not so early, some start with exercise and warm up, others may leave the toughest to the end, some jog aggressively and others may prefer to stroll leisurely and enjoy the surroundings.

Perhaps an important ingredient of early morning walk is to have a partner. People are mostly grouped in two, uncommonly in three and rarely above that. Some obedient loving sons encourage their obese mothers and walk and dutiful husbands follow their exercise conscious wives. Most times two partners encourage each other to keep up the pace. But mostly there are health conscious young men working hard and jogging relentlessly. Some enjoy the revelations of Holy Quran to their hearts content, some recite memorised Surats, some carry tasbeehs and keep earning extra rewards by reciting 'tasbeehat' but most just chatting and enjoying each other’s company.

Though the park is enjoyed by a lot of people in the evening, yet the number of health freaks who exercise early in the morning varies from twenty to forty on different days of weeks and months of year. Only a dozen of people come from the nearby neighbourhood to enjoy the unique facility in the vicinity. On weekends it wears a festive look when families along with children throng the park for picnic and enjoy the sprawling lawns in the evenings.

Why are there not many more people enjoying this unique bounty? One of the reasons of hating morning walk could be the innumerable essay that one is made to pen in formative years in school. I still cannot get over the long list of good effects on health that we had to memorise and reproduce it in examination without ever experiencing it. Another could be laziness and inability or unwillingness to wake up early in the morning. Staying wake till late due to TV and Internet takes it toll. Security concerns kept most enthusiasts away from public places before but most are coming back to parks.

Being a doctor, I could not help observing that there were some obese people, who put in great effort, apparently to shed weight and regain the lost waistline. Most, however, were slim and fit who perhaps wanted to stay like this and enhance their stamina. Most encouraging was to watch retired people visiting the park and actively participating in health activities. Women folks who found time from their dreary schedule to exercise are worth emulation for all and must encourage our otherwise shy and lazy ladies concocting hundreds of excuses for why not to walk.

Garrison Park is a splendid gift of Nature to the people of Peshawar. Where else in Peshawar can one have the luxury of inhaling fresh unpolluted air? Administered by the people who care for it and wanting to develop it, the ambience is friendly and secure. Though it could be a lot better with the addition of more plants, flowers and grass on the deserted pieces of land yet it is heaven on earth. There are signs that once upon a time an enthusiast officer had drawn great plans for the park and actually realised quite a few of them. And then there are countless spots, which demand more attention and planning waiting patiently for another gentleman with vision, enthusiasm and persistence.