My father turned 58 this year. He retired from his 36 years
teaching profession two years ago and been a busier man ever since. As the more
hair going grey every day, there’s one thing that has never change with him.
That is his passion towards gardening.
I remember vividly when I was a small girl, my father worked
hard making in our backyard garden to feast his passion. Back then, I used to
munch into fresh cucumber just like that. He grew cucumber, bitter gourd,
lady’s finger and many more. Believe it or not, the size of the cucumber is as
big as an adult’s calf. There were too much for us. Therefore, we shared the
harvest with our neighbors.
These are photos of my father’s green yard I took the last
weekend. The Chinese celery bushes are the lushest.
He also grew basil which he took the seed secretly from Hospital Putrajaya’s herbal garden when I was admitted there two years ago. I think this one is the 5th or 6th generation grown here.
Here are some lemon grass bushes. My father once said “A
(Malay) house is not complete without lemon grass bush”. I have four bushes of
lemon grass grown at my yard. I didn’t even remember the last time I bought
lemon grass stalk for cooking. My aunt from village even surprised I had lemon
grass grown at the back of my kitchen (which she did have any), ready for home
cooked every day meal.
These two young seedlings are ajwain’s. Again, my father
secretly took the seed from a mature plant at Cameron Highland’s MARDI. At
first, I was skeptical on the ability of the plant to survive in the hotter
climate in the lowland. Surprisingly, it survived. Can’t wait to see they grow
to bigger plant. Through my readings, ajwain or bishop’s seed are mainly used
as herb in Pakistani’s cooking. It is also believe as one of lactogenic food. I
will definitely try to cook a few dishes using this herb.
I think this one is lime tree. My father enjoys sipping
chilled lime drinks in a hot weather evening.
Turmeric is one of many herbs in my father's green yard.
Either the rhizomes or leaves are great for flavoring and coloring in almost
Malay dishes.
This is one big
ginger torch plant. The height of it has almost exceeding the tip of my
parent’s house. It has produced a lot of flowers which my mother always uses it
as one of main ingredients in making Assam dishes. I also planted one at my
home and still a long way to go to reach this big. Mine was still two feet tall.
This empty plot was used to be filled with kailan, kangkung,
round cabbage, chili, brinjal and many more. However, it was left bare
unattended since December last year when my father had an accident. His leg was
badly injured when one of the backpack grass cutter’s blade snapped and cut his
right calf. It cut almost 70% through major blood vein in his calf. More than
that, the doctor may have to amputate his right leg. That was his second time.
The first time was almost 12 years ago where he injured his right toe.
