CONVERSATIONS WITH MOM: Daily routine, orchids and gardening on the roof top

Sewing, Cooking and Gardening. Three things my mom enjoys doing but gardening is on top of her list.

Taken at Singapore's Botanical Garden

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU GOT SO PASSIONATE ABOUT GARDENING?

It was 1963. We were staying at Cebu (Philippines). I got into orchids. I had so many orchids. Every market day, I would buy roses and orchids. Our neighbor, who was Chinese, had a collection of rare plants and that's where I got adenium and rhodaspatha plants.

Adenium Harry Potter?

Adenium Swazicum

WHY DO YOU LOVE PLANTS?

Gardening is a good therapy for me. Talking to the plants, and sometimes humming a song, in one way or the other, relieves the sadness and heaviness inside.

Mom's adenuim seedlings starting to bloom even though they are still young.

WHERE DO YOU BUY THE BULBS?

I don't buy bulbs. I use seeds from the plants.

WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU DO IN THE MORNING? WHAT'S YOUR ROUTINE?

I drink a cup of coffee in the morning. After my coffee, I tend to my plants. If they need watering, I water them; I clean the leaves by their pot, and check the soil. I talk to my plants. If I see one of them is showing her beauty, I thank her. I thank them all for making me happy. When I am surrounded by my plants, I feel fulfilled.

Mom's Pachypoduim Lamerei (Madagascar palm ) now in bloom

WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP?

The latest time I wake up is 6:00 AM and the earliest is 3:00AM. Today I got up at 3:00 AM and it was difficult to go back to sleep. After lunch I take a nap, sometimes for 30 minutes. I feel more tired if I nap for more than an hour.

WHAT TIME DO YOU GO TO BED?

It depends. When I’m tired the earliest is eight o’clock. However, most of the time, after an hour, I wake up.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE MORNING?

At the end of the day, I look forward to another day to see the beauty of nature. Not only do I look forward to seeing the beauty of my plants, I look forward to having peace of mind.

What about you? Do you enjoy gardening?

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