From Mexico, With Love

In 15th and 16th century starting with Columbus' voyage an interconnecting link was established between the Old World and the New World i.e. the Asia, Africa etc. and the Americas respectively. This facilitated the exchange of flora, fauna, people, culture, food etc. between the two worlds which were geographically isolated till then. This whole phenomenon popularly came to be known as 'The Columbian Exchange'. 

Imagine a world without potatoes, tomatoes or chillis well that's how we would have been living if The Columbian Exchange hadn't brought these exotic veggies to Europe and ultimately to India. But as they say nothing good comes without a price, we got lots of diseases and invasive weeds cluttering up our fertile land.

...a slender vine which is personification of love itself...

This is the story of one such invasive species which made it's way into the hearts of more than a few gardening enthusiasts. The slender climber is personification of love itself. From it's heart shaped leaves to it's chain of tiny baby pink hearts for flowers, it is made with love.

...aptly called the Chain of Love...

Aptly called 'Cadena de Amor' (Chain of Love), Antigonon leptopus was first sent from Mexico during Colombian Exchange. From then till now it has spread and spread, using its delicate tendrils, taking over abandoned structures, covering the barren land as far as one can see, feeding honey bees and capturing the hearts of amateur botanists like me ;)

...it takes over, smothering everything it touches...

Malaysians love to have it in their gardens, in Philippines one can find these chains of love adorning all kinds of bouquets and in India I have only ever seen these growing where no humans tread. Behind abandoned buildings, on forgotten lawns or giving life to dying trees that's where I found this coral vine creeping and crawling, trailing and trawling. It doesn't discriminate, it just takes over smothering everything it touches in its lovely embrace.

...Even the empty buildings and dead trees come alive...

One needs to learn the lesson of love from this tender vine I guess. To be so big that you embrace all of humanity with its warts and all. To be so open and giving that the hungry bees know they will never have to leave with empty stomachs ever again. To be so generous that even the barren land and dead trees come alive!!