Jasmine Flower in People’s Lives

Jasmine flower, I believe many of you knows this flower. Especially for someone who lives in the tropic country. This is one of the fragrant flowers. It has very good scent, and commonly we can find them in white. Sometimes we can see its shape like a star, or it could be double petal. And I have one of them, it is double petal flower that I have had around for four years. That is one of my favorite flower in my “garden”.

In my “garden”, Jasmine flower is not the only one of the fragrant plants. Water Jasmine produces a good smell too when they bloom. I think I’ve been having Water Jasmine plant about 2 years. Both of them are lovely, and interesting plants. Jasmine flower and Water Jasmine, they have the same color, white flower. For the size, Water Jasmine’s is smaller than Jasmine flower. Each of them have different way to take care of.

In Indonesia, Jasmine flower is national flower. When I was kid, I saw many people in my village planted Jasmine flower plant at their yards. But today, it is hard to find Jasmine flower plant at yards. And I shocked when my Indonesian friend told me how expensive Jasmine flower plant in her place. Even if it’s hard to find this plant, but Jasmine flower has an important role for Indonesians, especially for Javanese. They use Jasmine flower for wedding decoration. The bride and the groom would be wearing Jasmine flower garland. Some people use Jasmine flower garland for celebrate special occasions, and many of them using Jasmine flower for decorate the room, it could be party room, at the house. And you have to know, Jasmine flower used for funeral too. For me, Jasmine flower is important flower in my life too. Because, it is one of the ways that I give honor to my ancestors, with simple arrangement. So, I would always love to say, Jasmine flower is the scent from the heaven.

Now, let’s talk about Jasmine flower in Singapore. In Singapore, it seems easy to find Jasmine flower plant. Because many people in Singapore planting this plant and place them in corridor. Yes, we don’t have a yards, but we can grow Jasmine plant in a pot. We also could find this plant at the market. 1 pack of Jasmine flower buds sold SGD 1 in the market. When I bought my potting Jasmine plant, it was about SGD 6. I don’t know how much its price today. Flowers have an important role too for Singaporeans. And one of them is Jasmine flower. In Singapore, Indian descendant women would decorate their hair with Jasmine flower garland. It’s looks nice and beautiful.

For some reasons, Jasmine flower is important among people’s lives. It could be cultural or tradition reasons, the jasmine flower is for such a meaningful part for people’s life. Jasmine flower garland used for wedding, to honor guests, decorate hair, or it could be used up for funeral and to honor ancestors. Of course, we can drink jasmine tea, and I love it! Many products of tea using jasmine flower to create flavor. I think there are many benefits that we get from Jasmine flower.

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
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Fun Learning With Nature At Kamisakabe West Park, Japan

In December 2015, my friend shared with me about children activity in the Botanical Garden. This activity located at Kamisakabe West Park, Hyogo-Japan where she is a volunteer there. These kids learnt and had fun during activity. I can see and feel their happiness. It was a good idea and such a good thing to teach young generation in nature.

This kids are come from Hama elementary school. They are in the third grade at their school. They came to learn about environment in the Botanical Garden, the name is Kamisakabe West Park. Well, even if they are just third grade, but I think it is a good idea to introduce nature in early age. Because at the end, they will grow up such as kindness people who care about nature and environment around them.

Speaking of which, if many people around the world talking about global warning, and how to prevent it. So, this children activity is the same thing that many people are worrying about. So, maybe you will ask me, “how come this children activity relates to global warning?”. Who will protect our nature in the next years later? Yes, the children will. They will protect our nature in the future years. Year by year, if we can teach them about nature, and tell them how important it is to our lives, then the kids will understand how to treat nature.

Learn about nature is easy thing. You can see it in these pictures, the kids had fun to know about plants around them. Yes, my friend told me, the kids were learnt about leaves. Leaf? What are we getting? Autumn leaves were beautiful. The leaf of autumn would become red color. By this way, the kids will be know, that how beautiful nature in autumn season.

 

What were they doing at Kamisakabe West Park? They did many activities at Botanical garden. They played quiz, about the birds that eat Camphor fruit. Then they picked up acorns. Yes, the kids could make some kind of toy by these seeds (acorns), and play with it. Another activity, the children collected leaves fell on the ground. My friend said, it was America Spinosa leaves that children collected. The last thing, the children played at park, free played. It sounds fun! Learn about nature would be fun and very interesting

Nature is beautiful. Plants and flowers make our lives are beautiful. The tree ( or it could be fruits trees) is useful for us. All that nature created useful. By doing all of these activities, the children will see and understand that nature is so beautiful and useful. And they can do something fun in nature. And one more thing, visiting garden is the best way for the kids to get closer with nature.

The last thing, maybe many people will think that learn about nature is boring and nothing. But, if you see these children’s activities who came at Kamisakabe West Park, you will say, “learn about nature is more fun” They were excited to come at Botanical garden. So, how about you, did you learn about nature yet?

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Photographed by Ryo Rakusui
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How To Get Water Jasmine Plant Flowering

Water Jasmine plant, how one does not know this flower plant. It’s such a lovely flower and attractive plant at the garden with tiny leaves and strong branches. They can make fragrance out of your garden, or you call it “fragrance garden”. Because, tiny white flowers have a good scent that you will love it. Besides, Water Jasmine plant is one of the most popular bonsai. You can create your own bonsai by yourself. That is interesting thing!

If you smell Water Jasmine flowers, the scent is fantastic. Such as Rose flower in your garden, or any other fragrance flower around your garden. Rose flower has a good fragrance and beautiful flower. They have many colours, and many varieties. I think all of people know about that. And so is Water Jasmine flower plant, I believe some of you know this plant too. Even if they do not have any other colour, but it is interesting plant.

Why are we planting plants and flowers in our garden? If you ask me, I give your this answer, “I love flower and plant”. That’s it? Yes it is!. That’s my answer for your question. But, you must understand, it has important impact to our life. We love flowers and plants, then we grow them all. So, what are you getting by this activity? Well, your home look green and peaceful. It means, there are many such good things around. What is that? It could be ants, butterflies, dragonflies, caterpillar, worms, grasshopper, spider, or even birds. That’s interesting things that would be happen in you life. When you planting plants or flowers, it means you are creating a circle of other life there.

Water Jasmine flower plant is a unique plant. If you grow them on the ground, it doesn’t need special maintenance. ‘Cause the flowers will bloom when the time comes. But, when you grow them in a pot, then they need special maintenance. Especially if you want the flower come out. What should we do? These are my neighbour advices! First, they need more water. Give them water every day. In Singapore, the climate is hot so it needs twice a day or three times a day watering. They consume water much. Secondly, this is important, pluck their leaves. When you see your Water Jasmine plant full in leaves, then you have to pluck their leaves. What is it for? My neighbour said, it is to stimulate flowering. Third, cut the branch. Don’t let them have a long branches. Fourth, Water Jasmine plant loves sunshine. Place them on the right place that they catch up the sunshine. Fifth, give your Water Jasmine plant organic fertilizer, such as chicken fertilizer. For me, chicken fertilizer is the best one for my plants and flowers.

I have been growing Water Jasmine plant for 15 months. My neighbour gave me some branches of them, 4 branches. Two of them have been growing until now. I think it easy to take care Water Jasmine plant. But it would be difficult to get them flowering. I have tried to get my Water Jasmine plant flowering. It isn’t always success. But now, my Water Jasmine plant are blooming. That is really beautiful time.

Well, if you are growing Water Jasmine plant in a pot, you have to try hard to take care of them. It’s easy, but it would be difficult sometimes. We must try hard to make them flowering. In the end, it will worth it. Your garden become a attractive garden with fragrance flower there.

Note :

• Written by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
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How To Get Jasmine Flower Bloom All Year

Jasmine flower is one of my favorite flowers in my garden. It has a good scent and a beautiful flower. I think many people will like this flower. My Jasmine plant looks bigger than common and has double petals there. It is a unique and attractive plant in my garden.

My Jasmine plant has been growing in a pot. It needs extra maintenance to make blooms all year. As another plant around the world, they need special maintenance. Because, one to plant has a different character, or it could be the environment. We have to learn about them, then we can take care of them well in our garden.

It isn’t easy to learn how to get Jasmine flower blooms all year. I know, it will take some time. But believe me, it’s a new technique and knowledge to us. Isn’t it great? Yes, it is! We must learn the Jasmine plant if we want to grow it. Learning by doing, do it then you become a good gardener.

The first step, we have to trim the Jasmine plant’s branch. After the flowers bloom, cut their few branches and left few centimeters. Secondly, give Jasmine plant organic fertilizer. I used to give chicken fertilizer to its soil. Should we report and give some new soil? It depends. Jasmine plants have a tolerance to hard soil. But we must give them fertilizer. So, they will grow well. Third, Faced it into the morning sunshine every day. The last, pour water every day. I live in Singapore, I pour water into my Jasmine flower plant twice a day.

It sounds fun, isn’t it? Gardening is a fun activity to release our stress from daily activity. Or you can call it some kind of an experience. Let’s say we are a researcher who is doing research about the Jasmine flower plant. As a researcher, if it fails, then try again to get them blooms all year. I think gardening is a great experience.

Well, what do you say? The Jasmine flower plant is one of the attractive plants in the garden. I know it isn’t easy to make it blooms all year. But, when you make it, you can enjoy the fragrance and beauty of the Jasmine flower plant throughout the year. Happy gardening for all of you!

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti 
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti 
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Cathranthus Plant, The Abandoned Flower Plant

The abandoned plant…seriously? Yeah, that’s the truth. Even if these plants have a beautiful flowers and colors, but in another world no one care about this plant. Wow…sounds pity and terrible. Yeah, I feel pity too. How it happened, and why? I am not sure how to answer this question, but I can give you one word, ‘cause some people thought, they are just usual plant and nothing.

Long time ago, when I was a kid, I loved to ride a bike any where I wanted to go. A lot of trees beside the street, yeah it was a big tree. Beside the trees, a lot of wild flowers and plants around the tree. And yeah, one of the wild flower plant was Catharanthus Plant. Oh, really? yes it is! I saw white and pink Catharanthus flower. Yeah two colors but it was look nice view at the time. ‘Cause butterfly loves them so much, flies around the flower. And one of my hobbies was chasing butterflies..haha Wow…it was  long time ago, and I missed it..

Catharanthus flower plant was wild plant around the street in my village long time ago. No one cared and grew this plant, but they were always grew with their seeds. They grew anywhere their wanted. Sometimes grew on the street, or sometimes just grew on villager yards. When they grew, we couldn’t to control them. If we cut one plant, then tomorrow another baby Catharanthus showed up, again, and again. Yes, it’s Catharanthus Plant guys…!

Many people in my village hated this plant. Why? They thought it was  terrible plant and nothing. Even if my father, yeah, my father didn’t like this flower too. I asked my father “Dad why you doesn’t like this flower, it is nice flower I like that..” My father said “ you know young lady…we can not control this plant, when they are growing on our yards, then we can stop them to produce seed. So they grow and grow everywhere..” Oh I understood.

After many year ago.. I live in Singapore, then I saw this flower plant in nursery or shop plant. I saw the price is much more expensive than I thought. One pot Catharanthus plant is about SGD 6. Wow, the abandoned flower plant in my village, and now they change my mind. Sometimes we do not know about something, when we think some thing does not do good, in another place it’s a good thing. Since that time, I have tried to grow this plant. I wonder, how beautiful they are…

Two years ago, I bought this plant. But they died, and died. Oh, I thought it was easy to grow, but they didn’t here (in Singapore). Yeah, I realized, no yards, no garden, it sounds difficult to grow some plant. I must try, and try…well who knows, now I have some Catharanthus plant. I grew them by seeds that I bought few months ago. I left some of my Catharanthus plant when we moved in another house. I am happy with this result.

Well..this plant is so colorful, many colors they have. And my life would be happy and colorful It’s amazing, and beautiful life. Even if it was a abandon plant in my village, but I promise, I always keep this plant on my mini garden. Yeah, just enough space that I can grow some flower and plant on my flat. I love this time, growing the seeds, and wait them all grow, and see, how beautiful its flowers Happy gardening!

Note :

• Written by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
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When My Ancestors Tells Me About Nature

Do you like flower and plant? What kind of flower you like, what kind of plant you like? I believe you are such a kind people who loves nature. Yeah, I love flowers and plants so much! Who told me about flower and plant? It’s my ancestor guys… Can’t you believe that, sometimes our ancestor told us about nature for many years ago.

I love grow flower and plant by seeds. Sometimes I grow my plant or flower by stems. Yeah, I bought my seeds, and you know, sometimes my kind neighbor gave me some stems of plant. And… one of my lovely friends sent me many seeds. Thanks my friend I love to grow some roots that maybe can make my life so beautiful. Why? ‘Cause I am very happy when I look my flower and plant. That’s very interesting things on my life.

You know, long time ago when I was kid, everyday I visited my grandma. Me and my brother were riding a bike every single evening to see our grandma that lived alone in her home. I helped her to cut some stems of Jasmine flower branch that had buds and ready to bloom. Yeah, my grandma loved Jasmine flower, and she grew Jasmine plant in her yards. She asked to put Jasmine flower stems into a glass that filled a little a bit water. My grandma never said anything. And I just did what she said.

One day, my grandma said, “someday when I am gone, do what I do. Take some stems of Jasmine flower into glass, let them bloom. It’s for your ancestor, to honor your ancestors”. At the time, I didn’t know what my grandma means is. Maybe I was to young to know about that. But I always remember what my grandma said, “Jasmine flower to honor our ancestors”.

Many years, after my grandma passed away, I realized about something, “Jasmine flower to honor my  ancestors”. I am trying to grow Jasmine flower plant. I bought it two years ago. When I see my Jasmine plant, I can see my grandma there. When my Jasmine blooms, I can feel my grandma smell it and smile there. Wow! Maybe it sounds crazy, but I know what my grandma meant… She was trying to teach me about nature. Just small thing, grow Jasmine flower plant.

It’s just Jasmine flower plant. But, it’s sounds important  for my life. How could I loves Jasmine flower if my grandma didn’t said anything. It is not about to honor our ancestors, it’s about to love nature too. Our ancestors loves nature, they are trying to tell us how beautiful your life with nature around you, flower, plant, and trees…

You know what? Maybe you won’t to believe this. This Jasmine flower is very expensive in the city where my friend resides, Jambi-Indonesia. One of my friend told me, the price is about Rp. 180.000; or SGD 17-SGD 18 , WHAT?! I was shocked! Why Jasmine flower plant is so expensive there. I bought two years ago in Singapore, just about SGD 6. You want to know? It is because of many people doesn’t care about nature again. When the people doesn’t care about nature, they don’t care about flower and plant around them again. No one grow Jasmine flower in their yards. So, the price is raising now…

Long time ago, my father grew some Jasmine flowers in his yards. Some of our neighbor grown too. At the time, it’s easy to find Jasmine flower plant. A lot of people grown them. But now it’s not easy to see Jasmine flower plant there. No one care about this plant! So, maybe when we want to grow Jasmine flower plant now, buy from the shop plant, you will be shocked, ‘cause the price of Jasmine flower plant is expensive. I can’t believe this thing…!

Now, I can see how beautiful my Jasmine plant. Even if I don’t have yards, but my Jasmine plant is there, in my mini garden. It’s growing well and blooms many times. I can smell it, very nice to smell it! I am happy, and I believe my grandma is happy too… of course our ancestors would feel happy

Note :

• Written by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
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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
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