Gardening for me is a passion which grew with time, starting from my childhood and went through phases. I grew up in cantonments, where we lived in houses, with big gardens, allotted to my father on postings to different stations. I remember the first time I planted a seed, was in Shimla. It was an experiment out of a textbook, and I placed rajma beans on wet cotton wool which sprouted after two days and a plant was born. I planted six of these plants in fertile soil and would watch them grow everyday into creepers. These creepers gave us ½ Kg of organically grown rajma, and I can’t express the thrill that I got out of it. This was the beginning of my passion for growing flowers and vegetables.
The second phase started while I was still in school, Class VIII in Chandigarh…..’The City Beautiful’. Taking a walk in the streets of the city, early in the morning, the fragrance of flowers from houses to your left and right would have a rejuvenating effect on your mind and soul. My school had the most beautiful roses. All this inspired me to create a beautiful garden in my maternal grandparents’ house, which was almost 2000 Sq. yds. The turning point was, when I got to know about the Co-op Kitchen Garden Society of Chandigarh, which was set up by Mr. Randhawa, who is considered to be the most dynamic Chief Commissioner of the Union Territory till date. This kitchen Garden Society had a team of experts to advise and had the best variety of flower and vegetable seeds and seedlings. A monthly circular on what to do and how to do was sent to all members, on a monthly subscription of Rs. 100/-.
I created a beautiful garden in my grandparents’ house, which had 32 species of labeled roses of the best variety. I collected daffodils of different colours and seasonal flowers all which were all labeled. Looking at all the plants in full bloom would give me a kind of joy and happiness that I can’t express. We had Raspberries, Strawberries, Mangoes, Litchi and more growing in the house, plus organically grown vegetables from the Kitchen garden.
So my love for gardens kept growing. We managed to get prizes for our garden in one of the cantonments…..and the story goes on. I love to spruce up the garden of VV Club. We entered a competition for the first time before the Pandemic and got a Second Prize for the Club Garden from All India Kitchen Garden Association. In the winters, the moment you enter VV Club you are greeted with beautiful flowers and that has a very positive effect on those who see them. Why? Beecause, amidst all the stress and anxiety, flowers are a source of tranquility. Flower fragrance and colours promote a sense of serenity. Flowers are not just a thing of beauty. They are a blossoming house of therapeutic effects… a sheer beauty that gives psychological happiness. So grow plants/flowers, for they bring Joy, Serenity, and health to the soul.
