As the new year begins with strong resolve and good intentions, we often focus on healthy pursuits such as exercise, reducing stress, and maintaining a positive attitude. I propose time in a garden is a great way to keep one’s resolve for better living all year.
Category: Asia
Singapore’s Gardens By the Bay
Gardens By the Bay in Singapore opened in 2012, and over 50 million visitors have explored the gardens since then. This year, I was one of them! For years I have seen pictures of the forest of Super trees and fantasized about walking into that space. Doing it was a dream come true, and I allowed enough time (8 am to 8 pm) to see all five key attractions – Cloud Forest Dome, Flower Dome, Floral Fantasy, OCBC Skyway, and Supertree Observatory,
A Flower Pot Connection
I have 142 flower pots in my garden, several were made in Vietnam. I purchased them at my local nursery, less than 3 miles from my garden.
I’ve just returned from traveling in Asia, and one of the places I visited was Vietnam. My awareness of Vietnam began in the late 60s. I had a pre-teen crush on our assistant county extension agent, who was in charge of the 4-H programs. To my great dismay, I discovered he was leaving his position to go to Vietnam to help with agricultural projects there. He even studied the Vietnamese language for a year before he went.
Kenji’s Garden, Kyoto
My Traveling Gardener journey began because I loved seeing beautiful flowers. Then, traveling to Kyoto, Japan, I am now in love with rocks! Standing rocks, flat rocks, rocks striated in colors, textured and engraved rocks. By chance, our guide suggested we would enjoy a private garden created by his friend’s father, Kenji Nakahara. So we drove down a small street and stopped at a gate just a few feet from the edge of the street. Stone foo dogs guard the entrance on each side.