My Gardening Journey

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

My interest in gardening started when I took Botany as a subject in FSC.
My teacher a renowned botanist Dr. R R Stewart wanted me to become a botanist but my father a Medical man wanted me to follow his footsteps.
Like Farhan I kept the fire alive be growing whatever I could , where ever I went.
After retirement in my own home I started in earnest.
My main garden is rectangular about 80 feet by 50 feet, I started with 90% lawn and 10% flower beds (seasonal).
I started gathering permanent plants and purchased whatever was offered or could find, it has been hit and trial ever since.
I purchased and planted two NAGPURI SANGTRA plants and nurtured them to fruiting and they turned out ordinary EARLY FRUITER. They were replaced by others which turned out as Secre Malta, they were also up rooted. The Cikoo, Figs and Amroods were also removed after fruiting for one or another reason.
An Ipomia vine imported from South Africa covered my entire porch in two years was loaded with thousands of white flowers which could be seen only at night, it got replaced with Wisteria.
Fully grown Beaumontia and white wisteria were also removed as were not to my liking.
I have tried/grown every bulb, corm and rhizome that I could find, some I did not like, others did not like me. Same is true of bushes/shrubs.
Now my garden is 40% lawn, 55% area under perennials and 5% for the seasonal.
I now grow only those plants which require minimum labour and no special attention. Those that do not tolerate local heat or cold are not replaced.
Yes my list is now limited and maximum space is occupied by the plants I like the most.
Arif

[Mustansir Billah]

Arif sb. I would only say that when there is a will there is a way and Now(maybe) you got all you have ever seeked.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

The above narrative was for my forum friends to help them understand me and my comments and there absence on the posts in the forum.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Gardening is like any profession. First you gain general knowledge by growing whatever comes to your fancy or you can lay your hands on, later you start limiting your field and finally you specialise in a specific field and devote most of your time on few plants.
You start with planting seedlings from nursery and end up breeding and developing your own plants and collecting exotic plants.
Every stage is more and more gratifying.
Way back some body asked is it a hobby or an addiction, to me it is an addiction.

[mikhurram]

Well said Arif Sahib. You have summed it up very nicely and it resonates with my gardening timeline.

[Mustansir Billah]

Arif sb. I am nowadays doing what you have described earlier. Collecting as many plants as I could and experimenting with them also. Its like scientific theory 1st general Idea 2nd experimenting 3rd Doing it again and again 4th Theory and lastly Scientific formula.