New Straits Times
"Little Eden" section
on Saturday, March 11, 2000.
of Art
I hang them side by side with my plants, along the wall under the porch. They include a pair of wooden Borneo shields given to me by a friend.
Next to my orchids is a sompoton (a musical instrument from Sabah, made of bamboo).
My garden is just the small porch area in front of my house. I am lucky to get a house with a small pond and waterfall built by the previous owner. He had also left me 19 Taiwanese carps.
My whole garden is tiled, except for one corner that is about three metres by three metres in size.
Algae grew on this spot and it made the corner looks hideous. As O dod mpt jave sufficient funds to tile up this area, I had to find ways to beautify it.
One day, I came across a picture which gave me the idea to use rocks and granite stones to cover up the ugly cemented ground.
The granite stones were place strategically to create a rock garden for that corner.
Pots of orchids (for example Golden Showers and others whose names I do not know) were used to decorate this spot. I have also put a big pot of bird's nest in this corner.
Due to the limited space, I hang my plants under the porch, along the wall and grill door.
Hung together with these plants is my collection of wind chimes, which come in ceramic, wood, metal and bamboo.
These wind chimes provide a soothing tinkling sound as they sway with the breeze. I love to spend my afternoon in the living room, enjoying the music the chimes make. It's very therapeutic especially after a long, stressful day at work.
My plants are grown in different mediums. I have two miniature bird's nests growing on a small piece of plank. My orchids are grown on a piec of tree trunk bought from a nursery for RM3.
A staghorn hangs from a traditional cendol mould made of coconut shell. I got this from the Shah Alam Stadium flea market.
Another pot of plant hangs from a big sea shell. To me, all these makkke my garden "a work of art".
It is definitely the Little Eden I go to enjoy the beautiful blooming orchids and get charmed by the tinkling of my good luck wind chimes.
