THE sun is up and there's no denying the sweltering heat. But instead of turning your air conditioner up and sitting like a couch potato, bring out your spade and gather together the kids for a fun tropical gardening experience.

Here's how to make the most of the outdoors this summer.

Suckers for the sun

Leena Lobo, owner of Landscapes, a Mumbai-based nursery says, "The tropical summer heat is perfect for a flourishing garden. In fact, there are so many varieties of plants that thrive in our Indian summers."

Try bougainvilleas; they will add that riot of colour to your garden. Varieties of palms, frangipani, allamandas and desert plants do well in summer gardens too, Leena recommends. The best thing about these plants is that they don't require too much water and are easy to maintain, so your kids can join in the gardening too.

Buy healthy plants from a good local nursery, for anywhere from Rs 200 for a baby plant shoot to Rs 5000 for a palm about 5 feet tall.

Photographs: Stock Xchange

Photographs for representative purposes only