Wednesday 12 November 2014

How I Started My Garden

The simple way to start a garden.

This morning, after coming back from my morning walk, I walked straight to my little garden at the side of my house. I stood in the middle of the garden, enjoying the sight before my eyes. Most of my plants are now doing very well, some fruiting and some blooming and the greens are looking fresh and healthy. From my grateful heart rose up a "Thank You" to God, my Heavenly Father for this little garden. This is a great way to start my day each morning.

I want to share with you about my garden's humble beginning:

First, before I set to work on my garden, I offered a simple prayer of dedication, committing my garden to my Heavenly Father, to be used for His glory. This is my own simple, personal way of inviting my Heavenly Father to be in partnership with me in all my gardening projects.

These are my garden tools: a small cangkul (in Malay) that I used to dig up those deep rooted stubborn weeds when I was clearing the ground for my garden, a garden spade, a pair of cotton gloves and most important, a stool for me to sit on.

Next, I need a few packets of garden soil, flower pots both big and small, a garden shear, and as you can see from the photo, I prefer to use recyclable plastic container bases for plants propagation.

After that, gathering of different species of plant cuttings, seeds, seedlings from generous neighbours and friends. I use ordinary fertilizers for growth and also for flowers.

Most of my garden plants are potted. In this way, I can easily move them around and rearrange them. Limited garden space is another reason to grow my plants in pots.
I am no experts in gardening, just a retiree who enjoys gardening. To me, gardening is getting to know my plants well, what makes them happy and what makes them sad, what makes them healthy and what makes them sick. As I put my hands into gardening, my understanding of my plants increases. It is like the process of building human relationship.

Early in the morning when I spend my time gardening, it is also a time and the place of communion with Heavenly Father. It is also a place that brings me joy to see new blooms, to hear the birds chirping and singing, and also to see butterflies fluttering from flower to flower. Sometimes birds will come and build their nests in my garden. Every time a new nest is found, both my soul mate and I will get excited and will be watching and keeping track on their movement until the baby birds leave their nest. (Sounds like excited grandparents.)
In the coming posts, I will be introducing to you the plants in my garden.
God bless you!

12 comments:

  1. Well done, Nancy, I see "potential" in you... your simple tips about gardening with our Father watching from above, what can go wrong, right? hahahaa... I am proud to produce this Baby Blogger..... hmmmm...

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    1. Oh Reana, thank you so much for your encouragement...I thank our Father for blessing me by bringing along such a patient and caring teacher...you always will have a special place in my heart.

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  2. Anyone wants to start a green green grass of home, they can hop over here to get some "knowledge" too.... :) Starting with me.... More tips, please! hahaa...

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    1. Hahaa.....more tips coming soon..............

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  3. Your garden is really lovely!

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    1. Thank you for visiting and for leaving your kind comment.

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  4. I can only admire other's plants, as i do not have green fingers...

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    1. My garden is always open to you. You are always welcome to drop by.

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  5. Nancy, I love your garden! So lush and so neat. Just looking at it makes me feel so serene! My garden is full of weeds hah..hah... But I am sure I can look after it much better once I am retired hah..hah... But that is a long time coming :( Meantime, I do my best. You really inspire me!

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  6. Thank you, Phong Hong. Before my retirement, my garden was not well kept and the plants were neglected. It is only after my retirement that I have more time for my garden.

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  7. Oh my gosh, your garden is beautiful!!! It would be such a joy to walk past it, and look and sniff! But now you need chairs to sit and admire!! And I think the potting is such a good idea! You could also bring some inside to brighten it up when company is coming! Do you and Claire go to the same church? Do you work at the same place?

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  8. Hi Ginny. Yes, I will think about the garden chairs, but first must find space for them. Claire and I go to different church. We work in the department but in different unit. I am now retired.

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