My backyard:

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When my parents first purchased my home, it was a very barren and plain home. Nothing had been tampered with, and the previous owners had made no renovations. It seemed as though no one had even laid foot on it at all. The backyard was moderately sized, but there wasn’t much. A few shrubs and the lawn was overgrown with weeds. It wasn’t the most fabulous sight to witness, but my dad had made the effort into changing it and influenced me along the way.

After investing twelve years of labor into our backyard, my dad and I are proud to call it ours. The moderately sized backyard is separated from the forest and streets by an aged wooden fence. Surrounding the inside perimeter of that fence are miniature pine trees so during the winter, the backyard becomes its winter wonderland. The trees and fencing are a border that separates my backyard into its own world. Instead of shrubs, we planted flowers. They surround the inner perimeter of the backyard. No more than a yard apart, a flower bush is planted into the ground, hanging from vines, planted in a pot, or sprouting from the ground. The lawn that was once weed-infested is now free of thorns and bristles. Instead, it is properly nurtured for and every other week, my dad and I do our best to remake it into a miniature golf course. Furthermore, bricks and rocks were scavenged and acquired, and without damaging the tranquility of nature, we aligned paths and borders that blend into the surrounding scenery. The goal was to work together with nature to bring out the peacefulness it imparts. We did as much as possible to make sure every major or minor detail would blend. The only exception was the two jewels that occupy both sides of my backyard.

My garden:

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Walking through the side gate of my backyard, you are welcomed by a flower wall that surrounds the fence, drawing you closer to investigate. After making it past the gate, a path leads you into the core of the backyard. On both sides of this path lies the first jewel. These are the plants that love the sun and are hardier than the others. Green beans, leafy greens, and spring onions provide the bulk of our summer vegetable grocery list and usually the garden provides more than enough. My mom then uses our harvest to make soups, salads, and side entrees that leave you wondering why people dislike vegetables so much. The second jewel exists on the other side of the garden and this one consists more of herbs and plants that require a little more attention. Posts and rails are set up so the vines of squash and cucumbers can climb closer towards the sun. Herbs such as mint, thai basil, and perilla leaf lay low on the ground. They prefer the shade, which keeps them cool and this allows them to develop stronger and more intense flavors that hit you with full force when savored.

A jewel is only a rock or a gemstone until work has been done to it. One must polish the stone, cut it, sand it, polish it again, and repeat this process many times until it becomes the right shape and luster before it is considered a jewel. The same is applied to my garden. Each and every plant is cared individually since each one has its own likes and dislikes. One plant has to be watered a specific way, trimmed another way, and planted the way it wants to be planted. Each of these processes requires a lot of effort and persistence. Without the hard work my dad and I put into my garden, I would not be able to consider it a gem.

History:

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Fin