Spring has sprung and we all know what they say about April showers bring May flowers. Although Bahrain does not technically experience a spring season, there is still plenty that can be grown during these months. In fact, there could be no better time to explore gardening as a therapeutic and rewarding practice.
The uncertainty of the regional conflict has taken a toll on our emotional wellbeing, and we could all use a pick-me-up.
Experts say that exposure to nature even for a short while has the power to boost our immune system, enhance cognitive function, improve heart health, promote better sleep quality, and reduce stress.
Several studies indicate that gardening specifically can reduce feelings of isolation and improve the mood.
“There were moments when I felt overwhelmed or emotionally tired, and just sitting with my plants helped me breathe a little easier,” Bahraini plant enthusiast Jenan Abdulla told GulfWeekly.
“Studies show that even touching the soil with bare hands can have a calming, healing effect, and I truly feel that,” added the nature lover from Hamad town, known for her vibrant edible flowers.
These blooms can be safely used in cooking or as garnishes for drinks and cakes.
The self-taught gardener also has a regular harvest of tomatoes, including varieties not found in local supermarkets.
“I love simple, resilient plants especially herbs like mint and basil. I also recommend growing heat-tolerant ones like mulukhiyah, sesame, purslane (‘barbeir’) and the fragrant Bahraini jasmine.
“For indoors, I prefer low-maintenance greenery. Peace lilies and snake plant are two of my personal favourites and work as air purifiers,” she explained.
Gardening can also be an excellent tool to navigate grief. Homemaker and avid writer Sheela Pai from Riffa found comfort through the practice after losing her mother.
“I went through a dark phase. My husband was frequently away on business those days. At the time, I sought solace in gardening,” the Indian expatriate revealed.
“I grow periwinkles and jasmines and yes, sunflowers too for the birds. My tiny indoor therapy zone has pothos aplenty, spider plant, coleus and snake plant – an oxygen producing variety,” she added.
Former Juffair resident Rohini Sunderam also found solace in her garden while navigating periods of grief.
“At this time of the year, I remember switching out the petunias for portulaca – a hardy, heat-tolerant, colourful addition to pots or beds. Bougainvillea too are at their most gorgeous,” recounted the author and poet, who continues to adorn her home with blooms in Canada where she now lives.
While some like Rohini carry their passion for blooms across seas, there are others who are intimidated or dejected by initial unsuccessful attempts at growing plants. Rashida Merchant from Adliya believes this need not be the case. The homemaker started her planting journey during the Covid-19 pandemic. At first, some of the plants she cared for did not survive. However, she did not give up.
“I planted one leaf from that drooped plant and kept it near my other healthy plants because there’s this belief that plants respond to their surroundings, almost like they have emotions. I wanted it to feel encouraged. For a long time, there was no visible change but eventually, I noticed roots. Today, that same plant has grown into a really beautiful one,” she added.
Shutterbug Parvathi Ramanandan also started small. The novice plantsmen from Ghuraifa unearthed her passion for gardens around four years ago.
“While bougainvillea are an absolute favourite, off late, I have taken a liking to sunflowers as well. Vincas, marigolds, hibiscus and petunias add a pop of colour to our garden,” she said, adding that she and her family find spending time in the garden calming especially in these intense times.
“Listening to the birds and the rustle of the leaves in the wind, and watching the swaying branches and the sunlight filter in through the trees and create shadows and patterns is extremely soothing.”
The Indian expatriate also grows vegetables such as tomatoes and brinjals, and shares her love for green spaces with her sons, Atharv, eight, and Parth, four, who both attend Sacred Heart School in Isa Town. Like Parvathi, Shabastha Sirshad from Budaiya also grows seasonal vegetables like moringa, curry leaves, brinjals, coriander and green chillies.
“I also have flowers such as petunia, sunflower and Madagascar periwinkle,” she said, showcasing items from her summer garden.
Summers in Bahrain can be harsh but that doesn’t stop Pakistani management consultant Wajih Ahmed from growing blooms in his ‘sanctuary’. The Saar resident has been into the practice for many years. During the summer, he grows chillies and Madagascar periwinkle, to beautify his patio.
Outdoor spaces truly offer a change of scene and respite from a long work day. Having said that, growing indoor plants can also make a world of a difference and uplift spirits, as Filipina banker Arlyn Gorospe discovered.
The new plant mum’s ‘quest’ began last December, when a friend gave her a potted bloom.
“I felt a sense of accomplishment when I saw how quickly it was growing,” she said. Since then, she has added to her collection.
“My sister, a certified plantita, told me that blooms thrive on conversation, like babies, so when I wake up in the morning, I talk to them. I play some relaxing music and open my windows to let the fresh air in while I tend to them,” she added.
The professional product consultant from Sanabis explained that living away from her family has been tough but gardening relieves her of stress and lessens feelings of homesickness.
Among the many plants she tends to, the seven finger plant is one of Arlyn’s favourites because it is low maintenance.
“It cleanses bad energy, brings good fortune,” she remarked.
Another local indoor plant enthusiast is Indian expatriate Nivedita Roy. She has always lived in an apartment, which she has transformed into a colourful paradise.
“I inherited my love for plants from my mother. She is 80 years old but still maintains her garden back home,” the Al Raja School teacher from Adliya said.
“Each morning, I water my plants and talk to them and they seem to respond with their dainty petals. Watching them flourish is therapeutic especially during these times and it gives me something to look forward to,” added the mother-of-two, who has lived in Bahrain for the last 20 years.
“The ZZ plant, snake plant, anthuriums, peace lily, money plant and pathos do very well with less water and indirect sunlight.
“Geraniums, zebras, marigolds, desert rose, roses, hibiscus, poinsettia and chrysanthemums grow well too,” she added.
Variety: Jenan’s tomato harvest
Duo: Parth, left, and Atharv, right, with vegetables from their garden
Arlyn
Plant mum: Nivedita with her treasures
Arty: Sheela’s framed blooms.
Sheela
&uuid=(email))