Wadala resident Roshani Shah has fond memories of visiting Byculla's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan as a child. But little did she know that one day, she'd be heading to the zoo for business and not revelry. The 50-year-old has been helming the beautification of 17 new animal enclosures since January. Every day, she reaches the site by 9 am to get work done before visitors throng the spot.

At the zoo, her task involves plantation, landscaping and maintenance. Most of the plants she has used are hardy varieties or perennials - easy-care garden plant varieties - that can withstand the vagaries of Mumbai weather. These include golden bamboo, alpinia, spider lily and tricolour maranta, among others. She has also used delicate and more colourful varieties to achieve a balance. So, you will also see poinsettia (a staple Christmas plant), marigold, periwinkles and portulaca, also known as moss rose. "We can't start work until the civil work is done, because doing it simultaneously can get messy and we can't afford to let it ruin our hard work," she says.