Greetings, Hive friends!
Whenever I feel restless, anxious, or stressed, my mother-in-law's garden is always my refuge. Most of the time, I just stay there staring at the leaves or flowers in front of me, sometimes staring blankly, hoping to find the answers to what's bugging me appearing in those leaves and flowers just like magic. I know it's impossible but the simple act of being there, surrounded by nature brings a sense of calm. I always emerge feeling recharged. Here are photos of what I took in her garden during one of those moments.
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Her garden is filled with the resilient, everyday orchids that thrive and flourish in our tropical climate, as you can see in these pictures. One memory that stands out is that it was during a rainy season, with a tropical storm advised to be coming; my mother-in-law was in a hurry going back and forth in her garden. She was practically sprinting to get every single orchid pole safely under the shed. It was hilarious, but also so touching—you could tell those orchids were her absolute priority! I guess that's what happens when you truly love your plants.
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Seeing her in panic, I immediately stopped what I was doing to help. Relief washed over her face, as she was alone in her efforts. The boys were busy securing the roof against the impending storm, and the orchid poles were too heavy for her to move all by herself. We could feel the storm closing in.
We managed to move most of her plants into the shed, and those that wouldn't fit, we sheltered under the lanai table, covering them with an old tarpaulin for wind protection. For hours, the storm was hitting us with a relentless barrage of wind and rain. She anxiously checked the surroundings repeatedly. It was one of the most intense typhoons we'd experienced. The damage was extensive; our area was isolated for days. Fallen trees blocked roads, making land travel impossible, and power outages resulted from damaged poles.
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When the storm finally stopped at dawn, we went outside using the lighter with flashlight attachment to see what had happened. It was totally black outside and we can't see anything. Our house being concrete, was still standing, but we hadn't slept a wink. The roof had sounded like it was going to fly off, and it was terrifying. It held, but we knew we'd need to reinforce it. The shed was partially breached, but it had protected most of her plants, but those left outside were beyond recognition. The garden was devastated, a chaotic mix of debris and torn leaves. We were grateful for the plants we'd managed to secure in the shed.
Our area is situated in a typhoon-prone region, where we typically endure around ten storms each year. While not all are as intense as the one I described, they consistently cause damage. I'm constantly amazed by my mother-in-laws resilience; she always manages to rebuild her garden, nurturing it back to life after each storm.
Aside from her beloved orchids, she grows a beautiful selection of flowering plants. I love seeing the different colors of daisies, the bright santan, and the classic roses. There are also a few other types that I'm not familiar with.
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In the quiet refuge of her garden, I find solace and recharge, a reminder of the healing power of nature. I hope you, too, have a place where you can find peace and strength, a sanctuary to weather life's storms.
Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog!
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you @gardenhive for my new banner!
All photos were taken by me, unless stated otherwise.
The lead image was edited using Canva.
Your mother-in-laws garden has some beautiful treasures. I can see how this is good place to take refuge. Great photos by the way. I have to wait a few more weeks to see the blooming powers of spring here.
I know what you mean, being surrounded with flowers or the trees and the green plants. It's enough to lift up someone's spirit. That's also the reason why I love to have a walk in our backyard where it was surrounded with different plants, trees and flowers.
Anyways, these flowers are all lovely though. Their beautiful and bright color also is just so pretty, it's hard not to notice them.
Your banner looks beautiful!