To Plant A Garden Is To Believe In Tomorrow

Audrey Hepburn’s love for gardening influenced her fashion and style, but it was also her appreciation of plants that gave her hope for what fate had in store for her.

When I was around 9, my dad moved us to a huge house. It was probably his dream come true, especially because it had a great space for gardening. He had always been an avid nature lover, and I adored that about him because it made him sensitive and accessible to my eyes (he was very strict). When we went on road trips, he would constantly ask us to look out the window and point out Earth’s wonders because it was important for him to cultivate in us an appreciation for nature. Every Sunday, he assigned tasks to my siblings and me to work in the garden, but it was mostly directed towards pulling the weeds out! Hahahaha. It was also in that house that my dad supported my dream of raising pigeons! He built them a house in a pine tree, and I would climb a little ladder to feed them. They had squabs, and it gave me such a wonderful sense of purpose. They are exceptional because their babies stay in the nest for a relatively long time (up to 4 to 5 weeks) and are almost the size of an adult when they fledge. It felt like forever until they would finally come out of the nest!

I believe my grandmother (my dad’s mom) planted the love of plants and animals in my dad, leading by example. I have memories of them talking about the plants in her garden while I played in it, and one road trip that has stayed with me throughout my life is when my dad took us to a strawberry farm, and mamita (my grandmother) came along. She got to pick and eat them right in the field; it was a joyous and unforgettable day. 

It was when I moved to Hawaii that I took up gardening to keep me from losing myself. Sadly, we were dealing with my ex-husband’s erratic behaviour, and planting was another way of distracting my kids from what was going on. I am deeply grateful because I found solace in them, which kept me sane. Sadness reignited my dormant love for plants that my dad had fostered in me. They got me through. 

Audrey was right, our vibrant friends can push you to look forward to the next day, and I needed it. 

After divorcing, I was growing peppers by the dozen, grew a pineapple, and it was also in Hawaii that I planted the first avocado tree I had started from seed! When we moved, it went to my friend Ranjana’s home along with all my orchids.

As I mentioned before, getting a couple of plants after arriving got me thinking about how strongly I feel about having them around, but it especially lights up my heart when they bloom, and bees come to visit. I thought, why not build a business that could have it all? After all, we needed to make a living and what better way than to do something you love!

Flora is breathtaking! I am always photographing flowers; it’s like a reflex, but I don’t take them for granted because I know they are key to bees' survival. Suddenly, my sadness began to fade a little more, and I got to building our business plan.

I want a legacy that would transcend generations to come. I like to be optimistic and believe that I will see the fruits from the avocado seeds I am growing now, but if I don’t, my children will.

Buddhism doesn’t support reincarnation, and I don’t know if I completely agree, but it teaches that the way to transcend is through the lives you touch, including your children, students, friends, plants, animals, and even strangers. I like that very much, because it's about being kind to each other, including all living beings.

If speaking kindly to plants helps them grow, imagine what speaking kindly to a human can do.

Our purpose.

Talk to us.

My lovely lovely purrito looking at one of my orchids.

I like banana trees very much because when they bloom butterflies go crazy, it is so pretty to see.

My first avocado grown from seed! I will always be so proud of it.

My first tomato! It was the first plant I had bought and the one that helped me the most to survive.

I was walking in front of Kaanapali hotels and I find this incredible view!

This flower I only found it after Makena, and bees enjoy it very much.

Tropical flowers are so lovely and comforting. Seeing them all over Maui is alway a treat.

My friend Ranjana has a house overlooking Haiku and Paia, and I had to take a photo.

Maui has a lavender farm, and many people don't know. It is located in Kula.

Maui Tropical Plantation grows sunflowers.

Those were the first peppers I grew and it was impressive how much they love the rain.

When we lived in Haiku, there was a neighbor that had coffee plants! The colors are so beautiful.