She lives in a different world, one surrounded by greenery.“Soft music and humming improves the health of the plants. Flowers look morevibrant, their colours appear brighter, the shades of their pigmentations godeeper and they bloom faster especially for you if given a little time andattention,” says Dr Priyarani Narayan Savoikar.
Dr Savoikar conducts practical experiments with plants like Bird’sNest, Fox Tail, Butterfly, Goose Manias, Dancing Doll and Paradise at herresidence.
Dr Savoikar’s collection of plants has won her manyadmirers. She is the winner at this year’s competition of the Botanical Societyof Goa. “I bagged the first prize in the ornamental category of plants in Northas well as South Goa. My plants were the healthiest of all. The judges liked myconcept of adjusting these varieties in a small space. They did not find asingle insect on my plants. My orchids “ Vendo, Dendrobian, Philonepsis, GroundOrchids and Bokaro were appreciated,” she boasts.
Dr Savoikar has managed to accommodate over 1000 plants inher 250 square metre plot. Plants grown by her are not available at a meagreprice either. A single cactus can cost as much as Rs 5000 and a ground orchidcan sell for Rs 1200-1500 per piece. A general doctor at ESI Dispensary atVasco, she developed this interest in plants, and began collecting variousspecies and studying them. A lover of plants and classical music, she beganstudying the effect of music on plants with experiments.
“Plants are just like human beings, they need love, theylove being touched and they understand your language. They adjust to the localsurroundings,” says the good doctor, who feels that plants can sense humanmood. “Like humans, they go to sleep by 7.30pm and should not be disturbedafter dusk. Plants respond to music, any music. I placed small speakers allover my garden and got positive results. The orchids started blooming after Iexposed them to semi-classical music. The leaf colour, the size of the flowers,the depth and intensity of the pigmentation, all showed a remarkabledifference,” she affirms.
“Priya’s love for plants has been infectious. We feel athome in the company of our plants,” admits her husband Dr Naray and children “Shalaka and Saurav.
