My journey with plants
Coming from a quaint, small town, border area, Gurdaspur, Punjab, I grew up in the company of lush, vibrant plants and towering trees. Both my grandmother and mother had special and soulful affection towards plants. We had a beautiful, green, thriving kitchen garden that was a source of many vegetables like tender bitter gourds, bottle gourd, lady finger, fragrant curry leaves and medicinal giloy, and the elders of the house took care of them as their children. They were nurtured with unwavering love, adding rich, organic manure from time to time.
I came to the bustling, fast–paced city of Hyderabad, where space is a crunch for one who wants to pursue gardening as a hobby. Still, the memory of green, serene surroundings around me had a profound impact on my mind, and it lingered on for years until recently, when I dared to think of growing small, little, delicate living creatures- plants in the only tiny balcony that is part of our modern flat.
Initially, the idea felt flat when it was resisted by the other members of the family as it was the only place in the entire house where they could sit in the open, cool air and look at the colourful, vast, ever changing sky and gossip in the evening and wanted that their needs should be prioritized and preferred that place to not to be occupied by what they saw as intruding living creatures. But, I somehow convinced them and promised them their space would not be encroached by the tiny plants that they thought to be their counterparts.
Soon, I got a green flag from everyone in the family and started a new journey, a rather beautiful, amazing journey with the plants. I began with the seeds from my kitchen, and a few precious varieties from my neighbour, Ms Geeta, who is very close to my heart, and was happier than I for my prospects, interests and sense of duty towards nature.
In a few weeks, the plants began to thrive, and now I have a beautiful garden on my balcony. It has given a rhythmic heartbeat to my once concrete home. The plants sway and dance when I pour water on them. I sometimes sing to my plants, and they respond by growing in leaps and bounds. My small garden, a corner, no less than heavenly bliss, is admired by one and all who visit our home.
Plants are a divine blessing of God. After my long, tiring day’s work, I spend some peaceful time with my plants. They rejuvenate my life and help me uplift my emotions, helping me prepare for the next day’s work. I have now red hibiscus, healing giloy, a few ornamental plants, graceful palm, holy tulsi, evergreen money plant and many more.
By –
Ms Anunidhi Sharma
