Role of Seasonal Planting in Urban Pocket Parks: A Case from DelhiBy Smridhi Arya
- Smridhi Arya
- May 1
- 3 min read
ABSTRACT
This paper explores how seasonal planting can improve both the look and ecological health of small urban parks, especially in a city like Delhi where weather changes drastically through the year. I visited two pocket parks in West Delhi and noticed clear differences in how seasonal plants impacted not just the park’s appearance but also how people used the space and how many birds or butterflies visited. This small case study shows that even basic seasonal planting can make a big difference.
I. INTRODUCTION
Pocket parks are those small green spaces you find squeezed between buildings or inside residential colonies. In Delhi, these are super important because we live in such a crowded and fast-moving city. These little parks offer a moment of pause, but sadly, most of them look the same all year—green but lifeless. That’s where seasonal planting can help. It’s a simple idea: plant flowers and greenery that bloom at different times of the year to keep the space fresh, colorful, and buzzing with life.
II. Delhi’s Pocket Parks: What’s Missing
Delhi has thousands of parks, many of them managed by DDA or local authorities. In my neighborhood and nearby areas like Moti Nagar and Kirti Nagar, there are lots of small parks. But most of them have the same problem: permanent shrubs and grass, but nothing changes with the seasons. Without seasonal variety, parks start to feel boring and empty—especially in winter or summer.
Why Seasonal Planting Works
There are a few reasons why seasonal planting is worth the effort:
It makes parks visually interesting, so people enjoy coming back.
It supports birds, bees, and butterflies, which need different plants during different months.
Many seasonal plants are low-maintenance, especially local varieties.
Changing flowers through the year helps create a sense of rhythm in our daily lives.
V. .What I Did: Observations in Two Park
I visited two local DDA parks for this paper:
· Park A (Moti Nagar): Green but static, no seasonal flowers.
· Park B (Kirti Nagar): Had a small area where the gardener planted seasonal flowers like marigolds and cosmos.
I spent time in both parks across Feb–Apr 2025 and spoke casually with a few gardeners and people who walk there regularly.
VI. What I Noticed
Visual Appeal: Park B felt lively. Flowers added color and made people smile. Park A felt dull and underused.
Birds and Butterflies: Park B had more bees, butterflies, and even small birds like sunbirds.
Footfall: More people came to Park B, especially in the evenings.
Gardeners said seasonal flowers like marigold, petunia, and zinnia were easy to grow and didn’t need too much water.
Seasonal Flower Suggestions for Delhi
Here’s a basic guide I made based on what works well in Delhi:
SEASON | Good Flowers to Plant |
Winter | Petunia, Pansy, Calendula, Sweet Alyssum |
Spring | Marigold, Cosmos, Phlox, Nasturtium |
Summer | Portulaca, Vinca (Periwinkle), Gomphrena |
Monsoon | Balsam, Rain Lilies, Cleome, Canna |
Autumn | Balsam, Rain Lilies, Cleome, Canna |
These are mostly local or adapted species, and they don’t require fancy care.
Simple Design Ideas for Better Planting
If DDA or community members want to improve their local parks, here are a few ideas:
Use flower beds along the walking path for changing plants every season.
Leave a corner for community gardening—let residents join in!
Add small signs or QR codes to share plant names or benefits.
Plant clusters of flowers to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Final Thoughts
Seasonal planting might seem like a small thing, but it has a big impact. It changes how a space feels, how people use it, and how much wildlife it can support. In a city like Delhi, where we often feel disconnected from nature, these little parks can offer a sense of the changing seasons—if we let them.
References
Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Park Guidelines, 2023
Conversations with local gardeners and visitors (Feb–Apr 2025)
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