Secret Garden
A Pocket of Quiet.
Taken at Sonya’s Garden. September 2005.
If you were to spend the whole day in this little garden cove, what would you do?
My ideal home would include a sprawling garden with different kinds of flowers and bright green plants. Sadly, I do not have space for a garden in our tiny little condo. Double sadly, I do not have a green thumb.
I was traumatized by tomatoes I planted in high school. It was a class project and my little tomato area was right beside the rest of my groupmates’. While their plants were tall and green and their tomatoes plump and red, my own little patch screamed for 911. My plants were dry and didn’t even bear fruit. Frustrating. I gave up on planting from that day on.
Daddy has a green thumb. He doesn’t have any formal training and never really studied gardening but my my, the gardens in my parents’ home are so beautiful. The plants are tall and come to life when the breeze moves them. The flowers are all colored so brightly and look so healthy. I love sitting in their veranda and just listen to the rustling of the leaves as the wind goes by. It brings me peace.
If I had a garden and a little cove just like the one in the photograph, I’d probably do a lot of my writing and reading there. I’d also try to learn how to turn my thumb green so I can nurture flora. It’d be a great place to have morning breakfast, afternoon tea or a romantic dinner. Ah someday, dreams of my fantasy garden will come true.
September 12th, 2005 at 11:02 am
as simple as it may sound, if i were in a little garden cove, i would just sit there, take a deep, relaxed breath, and savor the silence. my reality involves a screaming baby, a leaky faucet, a constantly grunting washing machine, and an upstairs neighbor with three active wannabe track stars.
o, blissful silence amidst God’s greenery, and i will be content.
September 12th, 2005 at 11:07 am
speaking of Sonya’s…the food gets to be nakakasawa na rin after a while, but the ambience is something else.
ang ganda ng garden ng dad mo!
September 12th, 2005 at 1:01 pm
haven’t been there but have heard a lot of good things about the place.:)
September 12th, 2005 at 1:15 pm
meeyagirl: Those are beautiful sentiments. Yes, I too would spend quiet time with myself there, a welcome break from a day’s reality.
jojo: Yeah, the food’s nakakasawa, that’s why I didn’t blog about it hehehe. Pero I love the gardens talaga… and yup, my Dad has an amazing garden back home!
jey: Try to go sometimes. It’s a great experience!
September 12th, 2005 at 2:11 pm
Have a nap !
September 12th, 2005 at 2:35 pm
hi toni! i’d love to have a garden with loads of beautiful flowers but like you i don’t have a green thumb. but if i could afford a gardener and have one of those lovely cove, i’d spend my days there reading and SLEEPING!
September 12th, 2005 at 3:10 pm
HI Toni.
What a beautiful place that is, if I were in that little garden, I would simply relax and feel the wind that will sway my hair. Savor the smell of the nice greenery.
Hay ang sarap
September 12th, 2005 at 3:17 pm
I’d read, read, read!
And also it looks like a really nice place to talk to God.
Not necessarily pray, but just talk to Him…
September 12th, 2005 at 6:15 pm
sidney: Ah yes! And I’ll take your picture this time!
dexie: What a life!!!
jeanny: Relaxing diba? Sigh.
bea: Or just sit still and listen.
September 13th, 2005 at 7:44 am
Wow, beautiful. I’d probably do the same as meeyagirl, just sit and relax. Sooner or later, I’d probably get as many of my loved ones to enjoy such calm and serenity - that always improves everyone’s moods!
September 13th, 2005 at 7:52 am
someday, when R and I eventually moves to a more permanent home, there will be flowers, lots of it!
September 13th, 2005 at 9:54 am
mare: Definitely a mood booster! And it is a perfect place to relax with loved ones.
tin: I wish for that to come true!
September 13th, 2005 at 12:57 pm
Ooooh. I’d be sleeping. And when I’m awake, I’d be reading a good book. And then sleep again.
September 13th, 2005 at 1:30 pm
watson: Now that’s the good life
September 13th, 2005 at 10:57 pm
ang ganda naman niyan…relaxing!
September 14th, 2005 at 1:54 am
the moment i saw the picture, una kong naisip “ay, ang sarp namang magbasa sa spot na ito!” hehehe:) i guess that answered the question, yeah?:)
September 14th, 2005 at 1:56 am
We’re planning to put together a zen garden in our backyard. Honestly though, I think my husband will do all the plant work since, I, like you, do not have a green thumb.
September 14th, 2005 at 2:50 pm
haven’t been to sonya’s garden. would love to try it one of these days. what kind of food do they serve? they also have bed and breakfast, uh? nice place…would love to have a graden too…kelan kaya yun?
September 14th, 2005 at 6:44 pm
annabanana: Sonya’s Garden is a beautiful place. I placed a link to Sonya’s Garden in that entry — click on it to learn more about the place! Hindi nga lang complete ang site nila. Sonya’s Garden serves fresh salad, pasta, bread with different spreads and dessert. Iisa lang ang menu na, very standard. Ganito ang typical meal nila: You’re served a bowl of greens, and then bowls with the different salad ingredients like a bowl of pineapples, a bowl of shredded carrots, beans, mashed hard-boiled eggs, at marami pang iba. And then she has her yummy dressing. Sarap talaga promise. I have a pending post on the salad I ate, I’ll post it up one of these days. And then after the salad, you’re served bread with different spreads — anchovy spread, pesto, sundried tomato spread, kesong puti (not sure) and then may isa pang hindi ko maalala. And then you’re served pasta naman, the noodles vary. At the time we went there they were serving linguini. Then you’re given two bowls with different sauces, one red sauce (crushed tomatoes with herbs) and then white sauce. Tapos ganun ulit, bowls with different food you can put in your pasta — shrimp, capers, olives, mushrooms, etc. For dessert, you get turon (with langka or banana inside) and fried kamote with sugar syrup.Along with dessert, you’re served fresh mint tea. Yum. During the whole meal, you have bottomless fresh dalandan juice.Ang sarap, promise.
Sometimes we take walks in between courses so we don’t stuff ourselves too quickly. Hehe. Other times we just finish the whole meal and then take long walks in her sprawling garden. Sana pagnakarating ka sa Philippines ulit, daan kayo ng husband mo doon. It’s a very quiet and private place.
And I hope your dreams of a garden come true too!
September 14th, 2005 at 6:45 pm
justice: super relaxing!
tintin: Wow, that’s a great idea! I’m guessing your husband has the green thumb?
You can be his cheerleader while he does the planting. You know, make him iced tea, prepare sandwiches for his break, that thing. *L* You have a lovely home, I am certain your garden will make your whole home even lovelier!
diane: Sana makapunta tayong ROYGBV together sometime. I’m certain YOU’re gonna love it there!
September 15th, 2005 at 9:00 am
I would be either reading a book, try writing a poem, sketching in my mind several ideas (I couldn’t draw because I will be lying down for sure) I can do for a painting or just simply bum around. Most likely, it would be the last. What can I do? I am lazy, hahaha
September 15th, 2005 at 9:43 am
i’ve been there, yes it’s really so relaxing. ang sarap mangarap na may ganyan din akong garden sa bahay namin. but i’ve never tasted their food, i have to admit it’s somewhat pricey. worth it ba?
September 16th, 2005 at 2:12 pm
tito r: Not lazy, just a laid-back creative thinker!
eye: The food’s not fantastic but it’s delicious nonetheless. Definitely an experience!
September 20th, 2005 at 2:27 pm
I would like to come and visit sonya’s garden again when I’m in mla. One of my fave spot. Tranquilty!
September 20th, 2005 at 4:19 pm
I’ll read and listen to my iPod, but it has to be relaxing music. But I also like just staring into space, it’s therapeutic for me.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:34 am
“Daddy”? “Wifely steps”? Are you twelve? Are you a fundie? I love my husband, but being a wife is just one small part of who I am. How many male bloggers do you know who use “husband” as the title of anything they do?
Have you ever considered having a life of your own that is not a shadow of somebody else’s?