Our beloved metropolis seems to be suffer ing from an acute space problem. So it is often not possible for people to have large gardens. This must be terribly frustrating for the ones

with the real green thumbs, (unless' they're really lucky of course). But now with the advent of apartment buildings, and space shortage in independent homes, people have to improvise and that is Just what they are doing.

So. instead of flower beds in lawns, now we see different varieties of potted ’ and hanging plants adorning the verandahs in flats, which often look picturesque. and pretty. The various nurseries all over the city are responsible for supplying the seeds and saplings of big trees to small and exotic potted plants. The nursery business is a very lucrative one that can be seen in many parts of Dhaka city, from roadsides to Lakesides.

There are a few nurseries on the banks of Dhanmondi lake that have a flourishing business. While passing by the lake It is certainly a sight for sore eyes to see the beautiful greenery ofthe nursery plants on the banks of the Lakewith cool green waters. Though these nurseries mainly supply seeds and saplings of various kinds of plants and trees, one or two do something a little different. For example, they

don't sell plants or seeds, they rent out potted plants mainly to offices and houses. The rent is about Tk 1.000 to Tk 2000 according to the plant. They deliver the plants to the offices that order them, and about once a day the men from the nursery go there to tend and water the plants. Of course, these charges are included within the rent.

So, for a certain amount of money, these offices and houses get beautiful potted plants without any hassle at all. Of course, in the midst of all this, one might wonder what happened to the joy of growing. One's own plants and watching them grow and bloom day by day ? But since lots of people prefer it this way. there’s

no harm in adding a little bit of green around the place. Because there's nothing like a beautiful green plant to soothe your eyes after a hectic day.