The Wonder of Growing Things

The state of our garden is featured in the third installment of this series, in "BISES Summer Issue VOL. 67." It also includes photos from before the construction, and when I compare them, I'm surprised by the transformation, thinking, "Wow, it’s changed this much!" It truly makes me realize how quickly people forget the past when they become accustomed to their current surroundings. Moreover, it's deeply moving to be shown so clearly the truth that 'thinking leads to action, which changes reality' (perhaps that's too dramatic!?).

There’s something else that deeply impresses me: the sheer vitality of plants. Seedlings I worried would never grow, thinking, "Will these tiny, fragile things survive?" have now grown to over a meter tall. Things that were merely bulbous roots (in other words, bulbs) have sprouted leaves and are now blooming beautifully. Truly, every time I look, it’s fascinating and admirable how they grow and grow. Isn't the greatest joy of gardening watching this transformation? It’s also rewarding how they respond to our care by blooming beautifully or continuing to bloom for a long time. For example, I meticulously deadhead spent blooms, thin out overgrown herbs to ensure they don’t shade other plants, and for the rose bush afflicted with rust, I carefully observe it and promptly prune away any affected parts… etc. Time flies by when I’m tending to them, and there’s always just one more thing to do. I find myself thinking, "Just a little more, just a little more," and it never ends.

Of course, not all seedlings thrive. Some have withered without growing, perhaps due to unsuitable conditions or soil. Others have succumbed to drought from a moment's inattention during their growth. But the most arduous task of all is weeding the lawn. Especially in the backyard, which was previously overgrown with weeds, they grow so densely and vigorously! Even if I spend the entire morning pulling them all out, sweating profusely, it’s disheartening to see new ones popping up by the afternoon. And to pull them out by the root, I twist my right wrist, but after two or three hours of work, the strain not only affects my right wrist but also my neck. My chiropractor, seeing my condition, just shakes his head and says, "You don't have to push yourself that hard..." The battle against weeds is the main gardening activity during the summer.

The Ultimate Goal: A "Dream Garden"

Actually, the initial aim of this landscaping project was to reduce the lawn area in the backyard and ease the burden of weeding. That's why I conceived the idea of creating brick paths and flowerbeds. My ultimate goal was a garden where even a little bit of weed growth would add to its charm. With this in mind, I started the garden construction, and the result is a garden so enchanting that I can lose myself in its beauty (self-praise!). The idea of reducing weeding led to the creation of this enchanting garden, which is surely a prime example of turning a pinch into an opportunity, as the saying goes!?

So, for now, I'm managing to maintain the garden created for the "BISES" series. But a garden is a living thing; it changes its appearance daily. Each plant has its own blooming season, and annuals eventually wither. Planting new flowers will undoubtedly alter the garden's look once again. Even if there's a moment of "perfection," it won't last forever. Moreover, without care, a garden will quickly become neglected. It's only through hands-on experience that I've realized the obvious truth: continuous love and attention are essential for gardening.

As a gardening novice, I refer to two books. One is "Gardening, You See" (written by Miruku Tajima, PHP), which explains basic and detailed gardening concepts (which are crucial) through manga, making it very easy to understand and engaging. Even I can grasp it easily, nodding along, "I see, I see," and find it incredibly useful. The other book is "Horticultural Encyclopedia" (written by Ai Satouchi, Fukuinkan Shoten), a gift from Yawo Ohno, the gardener and illustrator who produced my garden. This is a gardening book that can be enjoyed by both children and adults, and in a way, it can be seen as a philosophical text. It makes me realize that the important things in gardening and in life are the same.

Now, the ultimate goal for my garden is what Kenichiro Mogi wrote in one of his books: a "dream garden." How wonderful it would be to create a garden that perfectly fits this description; I often dream of it. And becoming someone who can create such a garden is also my current aspiration.