Kundapura: She earned a name by planting road side avenue saplings, for banyantrees to grow up and give shade to travelers in Magadi Taluk, around Hulikal village. She won state and regional awards and was exploited in Kannada films for publicity planned for others.

She begged for a decent house while living in a cottage under a tree,but no patron or philanthropist ever helped her. She had no children, so her cowherd husband and herself adopted roadside trees as their children.
She lost her husband while gaining fame as an ecology care taker in rural Bangalore region.

Presently Salumarada (avenue trees) Thimmakka in her 80s is named for an award in the home town Kota of Dr.Shivarama Karanth, a celebrated novelist, naturalist and folkarts performer, children’s science and short stories/films creator all rolled into one. Dr.Karanth has been a Jnana Peeth awardee as well.

The new CM D.V.Sadanada Gowda will be present to confer the award on Thimmakka at Kota, on next October 12, at 3pm, during a 3 day Birthday celebrations of Dr.Karanth(Oct.10-12) held at his birth place, said GP Chairman Raghu Thingalaya, in a press meet called on Monday at Kota thattu GP, in Kundapur taluk.

Several celebrities, MLAs, Ministers, men of letters and others are expected to attend during the 3-day event, Thingalaya added.

Local GP members were present here. A note on Thimmakka says, she had planted 284 saplings in all, which are now taken care of by state government, at Kumaru halli on a 4km area. She won national honours, and now Karanth award beckons her (October 12 at 3pm).