Patricia Junior dedicated her youthful days in St Ann to a tiny garden complete with lilies, red and white hibiscuses, Alternanthera ficoidea ‘Joseph’s Coat’ and Zinnias. She always knew that one day she would create a garden on par with the best. This dream has become a reality, as she now has a lush garden she affectionately refers to as her “garden of blooms”, with far more varieties of flowers than she had in her first garden. When asked how her garden made her feel, she proudly responded, “My garden makes me feel complete. People who really love plants will understand that your garden is a part of you; and you must take care of it and love it the same way you care and love yourself.” She continued, “Personally I spend at least four hours every morning in my garden after my morning devotion with God. I use the time to look on how best I can improve the garden and tend to each plant. I also do it to be one with nature, to relax and to enjoy how beautiful Mother Nature can really be.”

Patricia’s Remedies:

* If you have insects such as caterpillars or antsthat eat the leaves of your plants , combine water, dishwashing liquid and isopropyl ‘rubbing’ alcohol in a spray bottle. Lightly mist plants once a week with the mixture.

* Though Actara is the best known cure for the removal of whiteflies from plants, Patricia recently discovered that the use of ant-powder insecticide also does the trick.

* If fungicides start to attack your plants, the best remedy is GreenCure, a potassium bicarbonate.

* If the blooms of your flowers do not seem to be flourishing as they should, you may try a bloom-booster fertiliser or 20-20-20 plant food.