(The) Love (of Gardening) is in the Air

As a prelude to ushering the most romantic day in the world, I thought I should jot a few notes about my love for gardening.

Call it sweet nothings or fretting over the mundane, but Don Freeman said, “ When it comes down to it, the only knowledge that matters is how to purify water, how to grow food, how to cook, how to build and how to love. Funnily, we are not taught any of these in school…”

 

Naturally, this post is dedicated to point number two; how to grow food. Not only do we need to grow food, we need to grow or foster the growth of all the living plants we see around us that have a profound impact on our environment. In fact,  in an earlier post, I wrote extensively about the restorative nature of urban gardening.

Theo with Fiddle Leaf FigThink for a moment if there were no trees. Life as we know it would not exist on Earth without trees because they produce most of the oxygen that humans and wildlife breathe. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen using the process of photosynthesis. There would also be no rain without trees, since trees absorb water from the soil and release it through evapotranspiration.

 

You know what else wouldnt exist? That mango that you’ve just enjoyed for breakfast this morning! That too wouldn’t exist as trees provide a supply of fruit, lumber and seeds.

 

Furthermore, dead trees that fall and get buried in the soil eventually provide fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum products, among other things. Animals that depend on plants/trees such as squirrels and birds would go extinct. Therefore, the benefits of plant life are immense.

French Lavender in Nanjala Tribute PotAs we live in the city, let’s make extra effort to mind what we are doing to contribute to Nature’s magic – the air we breathe, the sweet fruits and the flora and fauna’s beauty and animals. Let’s not take for granted what power we possess when tending to a kitchen garden, balcony plants, outdoor garden or even a large ‘shamba’.

People garden to see something grow, to interact with nature, to share, to leave a mark. No matter how small a garden, the aspect of nurturing plants makes us whole. So go on, start small. If you would like to try starting one, here is a curated collection of indoor and outdoor plants that could easily start you off; for your home or office space.

 

Or better still, perhaps you are looking for a perfect Valentines gift for a loved one. What would be a better prezzie than a ‘gift of life’.

Aerial view of Fiddle Leaf Fig TreeRemember, that “The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.” – Gertrude Jekyll

 

Happy Valentines to you all from Shop Nanjala ♥️

Photo credits: ©2019 The Nanjala Company

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