Bonding Over Gardening - A Different Perspective

Plants thrive on love, so does relationships. I am sharing my life experience to support the same.

I have been married into a joint family, comprising of FIL, MIL, BIL, SIL and DH, for five years now.

Last year, my MIL passed away suddenly, and her death had created a great setback in my FIL's life. He lost his most trusted partner and it was very difficult to witness his pain, since, he has been a jovial and very caring FIL to me.

I like gardening, and it was during this time, that I coincidentally sowed a few coriander seeds and methi seeds, which were leftover from our kitchen, into tiny clay pots, which lay abandoned on our big terrace.

After my MIL's death, my FIL, used to hang around solitary on our terrace, loitering and lost in his own thoughts. He somehow spotted my lil planted seedlings at a corner, and started taking interest in their growth and kept me company whenever i went upstairs to water and look after them.

Gradually, he too became keenly interested, and started getting potted plants from the nearby nursery and I soon realized that we both used to spend our evenings together looking after the plants and bonding over watering and caressing the tiny tots.

Now, we have a full fledged terrace garden, including 100+ pots, flowerrs, fruits, bonsai etc. FIL spends his time actively at the rooftop, and the garden has given him a lot of solace to overcome his grief. It has also bonded both of us together, in a special way.

So much so, that a year has passed by, since my MIL passed away and on her first death anniversary, FIL and I decorated her photo for yearly puja rites, with fresh white flowers from our garden. I have attached pic here for you all to witness the fact:

Plants and relationships, thrive on love and care.

I am so happy to see my FIL today, talking to everyone about his garden, and engaging himself and moving on in life. U lose ur life partner - its a great grief, but my FIL has now got other lil green babies as partners to nurture.

 

Ni

@radv....thanks so much. Infact I am standing on my terrace now, seeing him plucking away dried leaves from plants. Very metamorphical to the way of him plucking away deep grief to make way for new greener and happy memories to grow.

 

@iyerviji..mam...i am so overwhelmed to see your feedback on my write-up.

 

@Srama, thanks so much for your appreciation and for nominating my write-up. That was a pleasant surprise. And yes, I have posted one pic for you all to see. It's under Media->gardening. Will share more soon. Thanks a lot, once again.

 

@anupartha, thanks so much for your blessings and appreciation.