The Desire to See Results Quickly

My garden today feels much richer compared to back then. The variety of flowers, flowering trees, herbs, and vegetables that bloom with the seasons has increased, and the wooden bench I built under the ginkgo tree, as well as the archway at the entrance to the backyard, have settled in nicely. The roses, clematis, and blackberries climbing the archway have also grown considerably. The mugunghwa tree I planted as a screen next to the terrace has grown enough to fulfill its purpose and now blooms abundantly in the summer.

Furthermore, at the beginning of this year, I had a small, single-seater gazebo built in the backyard, and planted a Kimukko (a type of climbing rose) to entwine around it. For now, it’s just diligently extending its slender branches, but I’m sure next year small yellow roses will bloom.

It’s only recently that I’ve become able to patiently watch plants grow like this. While I’m generally a bit of a daydreamer, I become quite impatient when I’m in work mode. I suspect this is because I’ve spent many years in the hair and makeup profession, where the “beauty” I envision can be created in just a few tens of minutes. This desire to see the results of my imagination quickly is what made me so impatient.

With that personality, when I first started gardening last year, I’d get anxious even after planting, constantly disappointed, thinking, “Oh, it’s not blooming yet…” or “It’s still so small.” Seeing me fret like that, someone shared the secret to cultivating a relationship with plants. They told me, “You know, you should just forget that you planted it. Then you won’t be waiting impatiently, and when it blooms, you’ll feel like you’ve gained a bonus.”

That made perfect sense. Waiting impatiently only leads to frustration, and when something finally blooms, you might think, “It’s about time.” But if you forget, there’s no frustration, and when it does bloom, you can feel a genuine sense of joy and gratitude, thinking, “Wow, it’s blooming!” It’s about aligning yourself with nature’s rhythm, not your own.—Gardening is teaching me just that.

I Hope Nature Allows All Living Things to Thrive

“There’s So Much to Learn from Nature!” (2)

With Each Sprout of Green, the Space Feels Infused with Life

My garden has become more diverse, and the effort involved has increased proportionally. Yet, perhaps because I’ve grown accustomed to it, I feel significantly more at ease than last year. Familiarity is truly a blessing.

This newfound ease has led my greening project to extend beyond the garden to the sunroom on the second floor. Originally, this space, with its skylight and open walls, was designated for the outdoor air conditioning unit. But thinking it was a waste of space, I had the unit moved outside and the concrete floor covered with durable decking material used for ship decks. What was once a dead space transformed into a veranda, and with a chair and a potted conifer, it became a relaxing area.

For a while, I was content with that, but then I had windows installed so I could use it even in colder weather. It then truly became a sunroom (as the name suggests). Driven by a desire to make it even more comfortable, I added more conifer varieties, replaced the chair with a daybed, and arranged numerous cushions. Suddenly, it transformed into a tranquil space perfect for naps! Since then, this has become my most comfortable spot.

A space can change dramatically with just a little ingenuity and effort. Adding “greenery” can instantly transform its atmosphere. Come to think of it, the president of the construction company that built my house once said something like, “A house is 60% structure, 40% landscaping.” At the time, I doubted if landscaping could change a house’s impression by as much as 40%, but I now see he was right. The house, which initially felt so bare, became more vibrant with each addition of green, as if infused with life. It was like the transition from black-and-white television to color.

Witnessing the effects of greenery and its growth so close at hand naturally fills me with admiration for nature’s power. “To think that such tiny seeds and seedlings can grow this large, bear such magnificent flowers and fruits… it’s truly amazing,” I find myself sincerely impressed. Of course, human growth into adulthood is equally remarkable. Thinking about this, I’ve come to earnestly and personally wish that “nature, and indeed the Earth, would allow all living things to continue to grow healthily.” I suppose I have my garden to thank for this newfound perspective. Indeed, there’s so much to learn from nature!