Let It Grow

Flower and plant, do you grow them?? I believe you are a kind human who care about nature. ‘Cause without good environment, good nature, we are nothing in this world. Human is one a part of nature, am I correct??… So, just let them grow, take care of them, and they will keep safe your home, yeah your home “world”.

In early September this year, one of my friends who live in Indonesia, Jambi Province, sent me a message. She said the haze has covered her home. 12 PM, the sun won’t show up as usual. She has begun to worry about it, and her kids. Yeah, her kids just begin getting a cough. Yesterday she said, 1 PM looks like 6 AM, 4 PM looks like 7 PM in the night. The severe haze around there has been covering her region for almost 2 months.

Haze, yeah the haze is covering Singapore now. Singapore is affected by severe haze from forest fires from Indonesia. Sumatera Island, and Kalimantan Island, these are the two of Indonesia Provinces in which forest fires happened. Every year, again, and again when hot season comes. Every two years, forest fires will always be a big case. I live in Singapore, and I am suffering from this haze when the haze hit in unhealthy air level. So, how about the people who live in the two Indonesia regions that the haze has begun..?? Can you imagine it? They suffer more than us.

I don’t want to talk about the haze, or about forest fires and who burn the forest. As Indonesian, we know who burn the forest. Yeah, they just care about their money. They never thought about how many people will suffer from this haze. They never care how many students can’t go to school because of the haze. Who cares? Government (Indonesian Government)?? I am not sure about it…

My father just an ordinary villager. He never knew about environment theory, global warming, or anything else about theory in the class. But, he taught me how we care about nature and the environment around us. He grew many trees and planted many flowers in his land. He acted like he knew about global warming. He did what he believed. Just let it grow, yeah let the tree grow around his house, and let the flower bloom around his yards.

What was my father believing in?? As I said before “the tree will keep safe of your house and the flower will make a beautiful life”. It’s a simple word but maybe can make a better world. When the dry season comes, we had enough water even if in the end we have to take water from another place. Our water was not gone quickly ‘cause the tree keeps water in their roots. When the storm comes, our home saved by the trees that grew around our yards. And you can imagine it, many butterflies and dragonflies around. Yeah, these insects were very happy in my father’s garden. Even birds made their nests in our garden. At another time, bats came into our garden to eat. At the time, I saw owls too…how beautiful life like this…

Just, let it grow…by small seeds they will grow and keep our environment. Nature will save by them, another life will come and grow. Lastly, they will save our home too. Talk less do more, I do! Even if I don’t have any yard, I was trying to grow some plant and flower. I was trying to create my own garden. Planted small seeds and take care of small plants. And let it grow…!

I remember, a few days ago, one of my Japanese friends spoke about some kind of forest project. 100 years later, the land will become a forest and home for animals. To build forests will need many years…but to destroy a forest you just need a day. When you destroy the forest, burning it, chopping it, all of the animal habitats will go, and many lives will suffer by it. That means you destroy your future too..when all of the trees gone..what can you do?? NOTHING! What will you choose?? What kind of people are you??..

Let’s start by now to love nature. If you have started early, just figure out. We can start from around us. Grow some seeds, flower, and plant, even if the tree, maybe a fruit tree or some useful tree-like bay leaf plant. let it grow and you will see. Don’t worry how many times you failed to grow them, but in the end, you know how important them for our life, for our future, our world.

Note :

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• The second picture (haze around Jambi Province), photographed by Luluk Lasmini
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs any other else without permissions

Balsam, Strong Plant On The Worst Weather

In my hometown, Indonesia, Balsam is often called as “Kembang Pacar Air”. This is one of my favorite plant at all times. Many people grow them on their yards. Since this plant so easy to grow, and…they don’t need any special treat. It’s easy to take Balsam flower. And yeah, they are tough plant guys.. and one special thing about it is they produces their own seeds.

I grew some flowers this year, but I failed for many times. Sunflower, Globe Amaranthus, Marigold, Sweet William, Saga plant, Capsicum, Chili, and many other… I failed to grow all of them. I don’t know why… I think it because of the weather changes. I must learn and learn… find a good timing and the best way to grow these plants.

Seriously… I am very happy, ‘cause my Balsam have been growing well… Not well (very healthy), but it’s enough to make me smile. They blooms and blooms…even if I just have one color (pink color), but the other day I  grew some colors (now I am waiting them to  bloom). Do you know something?? I  grew many Balsam. So I gave it to my neighbor. I am happy and my neighbor happy too… Wonderful life…

Speaking of which, Balsam is one of tough plant guys… Do you believe it??… It’s hot season in Singapore guys… an early year until now, Singapore is very hot! 30 degrees (more..)  in the afternoon and 30 degrees on night. Can you imagine that, how  could my plants survived from this weather??.. One of strong plant from my garden is Balsam plant.

• First, when you will grow Balsam plant, don’t think too much about the soil. They can grow even if bad soil. But, when they grow up, put some fertilizer and they will be ok.
• Spread them. For me, one pot for two/ three Balsam plants. When they are growing up, big and bigger, place them in the bigger pot.
• They are strong plant, even if in the hot weather. Watering Balsam plant twice/ three times a day in hot season. They need to drink much more water in hot weather
• If the weather changes, rainy day..rainy day everyday, don’t worry, your Balsam will be ok. Don’t watering them in rainy season.
• Place stalk for Balsam plant, so they will be stronger even if it's hard rain, or windy…

Even if they are tough on bad weather, sometimes they can’t  fight any insects, like rotten mealybugs. My Balsam attacked by mealybugs sometimes. When mealybugs appears, I can’t do more for my beauty plant. Just save some of their seeds, pull off the plant infected by mealybugs, and grow them again by seeds. Simple and easy. ‘Cause…until now, my big enemy in the garden is mealybugs!

So do you want to grow this plant, huh…Don’t worry and don’t think too much. Balsam plant, or Impatient Balsamina, is one of tough plant in the bad season (hot season and rainy season). They will be fine in any conditions. Happy gardening…

Note :

• Photographed by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
• Written by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs any other else without permissions

Kampoeng Spirit From My Garden

I always say, my garden is not really garden. It just small space that enough to grow some of plants and flowers. Actually, I don’t have a garden even yards! But…I love gardening. So I created my own garden! I planted some flowers and vegetables with seeds. I failed many times, but I tried and tried again. And now, some plants have been growing in there. And I called it “Kampoeng spirit”

What is kampoeng exactly??… Does any of you know about “kampoeng”?? Kampoeng is another word of the village, guys… And most of the villagers called their village “kampoeng”. Most of the villagers work as a farmer. And they have been growing many plants in their home. Such as vegetables, fruit trees, some of the flowers. You can imagine it?? If you are living in kampoeng, you don’t need to buy some fruit or vegetables. Besides, you don’t need to buy eggs or meat. ‘Cause, most of the villager is a breeder too.

 

What are kind kampoeng plants?? I lived in kampoeng (small village). Such as most people who live in kampoeng, my father loves gardening too. He planted many of fruit trees and vegetables, like mango, pineapple, lemon, rambutan, guava, star fruit, jack fruit, banana, papaya, chilli, spinach, kangkong, ginger, lemongrass, galangal, tomato, sweet potato, and many other. He loves to plant flowers too Yeah my father is a flower man Many flowers he grew, like bougainvillea, gardenia, orchid, aloe vera, euphorbia, jasmine, rose, wooden flame, and many others, guys…! there are just some of kampoeng plants.

After moved into the new place six months ago, I decided to create my own garden. Yeah, I grew some plants in my back yards. Many flowers I grew, but many times I failed. Especially…Japanese flower seeds that my friend gave it to me. Oh man…it so difficult to grow them in here But I am trying, and trying to grow them.

Besides, I’ve been planting some of kampoeng plants, like yellow ginger, zingiber officinale (we called it jahe), sand ginger (we called it kencur), lemongrass, betel leaf.  And yeah…I have been growing kampoeng flowers! What is look like??… One of kampoeng flowers is Catharanthus, guys… Yeah…Catharanthus is one of kampoeng flowers. In my hometown, we called it “Tapak Dara”. It’s the most popular flowers in my kampoeng / village at the time. Other kampoeng flowers that I’ve been growing are Four O’clock flower, Coleus, Jasmine, Aloe vera, Portulaca, Impatient Balsamina. There are some of kampoeng plants from my garden

 

And now, I am trying to grow some of the vegetables, like silk gourd, chili, capsicum, and tomato. Actually, I got spinach and kangkong, but they’ve never grown! But… a few weeks ago, I grew celery and scallions, and…guess what??.. They grow, guys… I’m happy for this Hope my chilli and capsicum will grow well…

 

I think life is simple and happy when we love gardening. I don’t know why, but I feel is not only about a hobby, it’s about life. I like to grow plants by seeds. Every day I take care of it and look at how they grow. When they bloom, I am so happy. Do you want to know something special, guys??… When my garden grows up, my neighbors happy too. So we can make other people happy with gardening. Sometimes I trade plants with my neighbour. And my neighbours sometimes asks for my plant and flower. In another day my neighbour asked for my mint, my Balsamina. Another time, my other neighbor asked for a Catharanthus flower. It’s a happy life, right?? I feel that By gardening we can share happiness with plants and flowers.

This is my garden with kampoeng spirit, guys… how about you?? What’s your garden spirit??

 

Note :

• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs any other else without permissions

“Thank You Gardener”

I wrote how Japanese children learn about nature and environment before. Yeah there were few articles. It was when Japanese children learn about nature and environment at Kamisakabe West Park, Hyogo-Japan, a few months ago. That was such a inspiring activities. They were so excited and so happy. And these children sent some a letters to the gardener at Kamisakabe West Park. They said, “Thank you..”.

As you know, my friend is a volunteer in the botanical garden, named Kamisakabe West Park. She is one of gardener in there. My friend has shared many activities in her botanical garden. And I am so glad for it, Ryo-san…arigatōzaimashita..! Many thanks to my friend who shared how Japanese children learn about nature and environment. I hope many children in the world loves to learn about their home, “earth”.

Yeah I wrote it before. there were some children activities from elementary schools. They learn about nature in the botanical garden. They learn about fruit seeds, some of wooden seeds, smelled Judas leaf tree, made a toy from acorn, and yeah…they had fun in the nature, like climb the tree, played stilt, and played instrumental music made by bamboo. 

When my friend told me and sent me some a pictures about it, I know, yeah these children were happy and so excited to learn. And they appreciated it by letters. Letters?? Yeah, these children who came in the botanical garden few months ago, sent their letters to gardener and said “thank you”. That day it was rainy day, but these children studied well So these are their letters…

“While in rainy day, thank you very much told me many things. I surprised to know Cherry tree blooms in autumn on the first winter……I had a great time”

“I was happy, ‘cause ……..I was happy because I knew many kind of flowers again. unbelievable, it is spring, Cherry tree blooms. I knew wooden winter buds for the first time. Thank you very much for introducing me to flowers in the rainy day today. it’s study”

“Thank you very much told me many things today. I learned winter buds and scar leaf for the first time. I think I’ll search in another park too. I felt surprised, Cherry tree blooms in winter. But I thought it was hard to bloom and prepared for the spring. Even rain, Thank you very much”.

There are some of letters from children who learn about nature and environment at Kamisakabe West Park, Hyogo-Japan. When you read their letters, you know about something, they were enjoyed their journey and studied well in nature. Even it was rainy day, but they were excited to learn. And the gardener replied their letters

Note :

• Photographed by Ryo Rakusui
• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions

Creating Flower Park In Apartment

Like most of people who live in Singapore, I live in apartment too. I was stayed in tenth floor, before moved to another place three months ago. No yards, no garden, it was a serious problem. ‘Cause I love flower so much!! We only have a corridor in our door step. This corridor is the only one way for everyone in the floor to find a lift. Is that possible to create flower park in corridor??…I say, “yes it is!”. But, how??…So, let us see what I’ve done

• Choose your flower and plant

This point is very important guys….when you live in apartment. It’s not every kind of flower and plant you can put there. Before creating my flower park, I choose first my flower. I chose small flower plants, like Portulaca flower. It’s easier to take care Portulaca flower. They need full sunlight, but it’s ok if indirect sunlight. Besides, it’s easy to propagate them, and you will get more and more…! Why I was choosing Portulaca flower in our door step, called it corridor??…Portulaca flower is quite small plant, so they won’t disturb anyone else who passed through corridor.

Other than Portulaca flower plant, I chose Marigold flower. Why Marigold flower?? They are easy to grown and not require special treatment. I grew many of them at that time. So I can enjoy their yellow flower when it bloom. And do you want to know, what is the special thing they got??..No insects like to reach them guys! You know why??…Marigold flower plant doesn’t have good scent. The flower is not fragrant, and so are their leaves and branches. Worm doesn’t like Marigold flower leaves. And of course, mealy bugs doesn’t like Marigold flower plant. Plus…I could see butterflies and some kind of small birds reaching them. Yeah…I never thought butterflies and birds would love Marigold flower.

Another flower I chose at that time, was Sunflower. You know, it was not easy to grow sunflower in corridor. Sunflower needs direct sunlight, and they are bigger plant, so they need a bigger place as well, rather than corridor. So why was I choosing for Sunflower??…’Cause I like Sunflower guys Once I was trying to grow them for the first time. But I tried and tried again. Remember this, If you chose Sunflower in your corridor, don’t take many of them, one pot is enough. Or….you can choose teddy bear flower called it dwarf sunflower. It’s mini sunflower guys…just 30 cm high and they have fluffy flowers…I liked it so much!!

Anything else?? What are you thinking of??…At that time, I chose some small plants, like Jade plant, Orchid, Begonia, Jasmine, and yeah…once I planted Globe Amarathus flower plant. Remember this, you can’t grow all of the flowers to fill the corridor.

• Daily Maintenance

Daily maintenance is important too if we want to create flower park in the corridor. At that time, everyday I cleaned up the corridor from leaves. You know, many times the leaves or petal flower would be fell on the corridor floor. I did the best I could, never splash any water the corridor floor when I gave water to my plants and flowers. Especially, the walkway where everyone passed through.

I checked my flowers and plants many times. Everyday I checked them. Why??…Sometimes, I trimmed my plant, sometimes I threw out some of the falling leaves or flowers. In another time, I replanted  my Portulaca, or just moved some of plants and flowers to another pot. So maintenance is very important. Make sure, your plants and flowers is in good looking and not disturb everyone else who passing the corridor.

• Place your flower and plant the right way

What is that means??…Corridor is  a public space, right?? Everyone, everyday everybody passed through it. And everybody needs spaces when they walk. At that time, I  like to placed my Portulaca on the railway of corridor…and then tied them. And so is my Marigold flower too…I placed them in there. Why?? Marigold flower needs direct sunlight, besides they are tall plant, about 60 cm. So I thought it was the right way to place them in there.

How about my another plants and flowers??… I placed them on the floor of corridor, actually in the right side and the left side. I was never use a big pot, but I used a small pot. So the corridor get enough spaces in the middle.

Sounds difficult and more extra maintenance, huh??….For me, it’s difficult to grow plants and flowers when we are living in apartment. But, someday I realized, corridor in front of my door step was empty, nothing’s there. So, I decided to bring up some plant and flower. One by one I bought flower plant. And one by one I planted flower seeds, even had failed many times

The last time, I smiled and felt happy, my flower was bloomed, and my plant was grown very well, even insects destroyed many of my flowers and plants. Don’t worry if you got situation like this, just call it “experience”!! Once I grew Capsicum, and they’ve grown well. Failed to grow flowers and plants, it was nothing to me. But trying and trying again to grow flower and plant, it’s something I have to do You can create flower park everywhere you want.

The big question is…?? Why, why I did all of this, even had failed many times to grow some flower and plant?? It was just a hobby or something else??…Believe me, since I was a kid, I loved to grow flowers and plants. My father said, “the trees will keep your home safe, flowers will make a beautiful life”. Nature is beautiful, right??..and I’d love to keep my home safe and beautiful. So, even I live in apartment, no yards, no garden, but I’d create my own flower park 

Note :

• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions