Category: Plants and Flowers

How Can Pleasant Scents Improve Your Mood?

November 15th, 2025

Lately, I’ve become very fond of two essential oils: lavender and eucalyptus. Before bed, I put a few drops of lavender essential oil on my pillow. While waiting for sleep, I enjoy the scent and let my feelings sink into a happy, comfortable state. I often use eucalyptus when I’m feeling under the weather, whether it’s a headache, bloating, or the flu.

This habit is a recent development. Previously, I preferred perfumes with rich, expensive scents. The more expensive and unique the scent, the more prestigious it felt. I used essential oils only to freshen up my living room or bathroom. Meanwhile, I rarely used eucalyptus. I considered it to be an oil for older people.

This habit has just now become part of my daily life. Both eucalyptus and lavender provide a calming effect that perfume or other fragrances can’t. Their scents are deeply ingrained in my soul. Now, they’re a regular item on my shopping list.

In fact, I’ve long been a fan of natural scents derived from plants. In my front yard, I planted ylang-ylang and eucalyptus trees. I cut the ylang-ylang flowers, which have a strong scent, and the eucalyptus leaves, and put them in small bags. They create a fragrant aroma in my living room.

I live in a hot-weather city, and there aren’t many fragrant plants/flowers here. How fortunate you are to live in an area with so many fragrant flowers. I can only imagine how cheerful your mood will be among such plants.
HOYA BAKALAN TREN TAHUN INI?

March 26th, 2025
Hoya, kamu mungkin belum terlalu familiar dengan bunga yang satu ini ya. Aku mulai mengoleksinya pas booming tanaman hias waktu pandemi Covid-19 melanda dunia. Kalau melihat kegilaan bertanam bunga waktu itu, sekarang senyum-senyum sendiri.

Bayangkan…malam hari pun aku bawa senter ke halaman depan dan belakang untuk melihat perkembangan tanamanku, padahal baru pagi dan sorenya aku mengintip mereka. Waktu itu kok tanaman seperti lambaattt banget berkembang.

Nah aku beli Hoya ini dari toko online di Shxxxx. Ada ratusan jenis Hoya yang dijual, dari yang harga murah (ribuan rupiah) hingga yang agak mahal dari jenis variegata atau yang diimpor (puluhan ribuan rupiah). Semua datang hanya dengan dua atau tiga daun. Penjualnya pelit banget!

Bertahun-tahun kemudian, koleksi Hoyaku cukup banyak. Dan rimbun. Beberapa jenis Hoya bahkan merambat hingga ke dinding dan kanopi rumah. Berbunga? Ya, rajin dan tanpa kenal musim.

Kenapa aku tertarik Hoya?
- Daunnya cakep. Tebal, montok menggemaskan. Setiap jenis punya bentuk daun sendiri. Beda dengan anggrek yang bentuk daunnya nyaris sama. Meski belum mengeluarkan bunga, daun Hoya bisa jadi penambah keindahan rumah/halaman.
- Awalnya Hoya lambat bertumbuh, namun begitu mendapatkan posisi atau letak tanam yang pas, dia akan bertumbuh dengan kencang dan luar biasa. Aku memindahkan lokasi pot Hoya ke beberapa tempat, sampai menemukan posisi yang pas dan bikin dia tentram.
- Sekali berbunga, dia akan terus berbunga. Jangan dipangkas tongkol bunganya sebab di sana bunga baru akan bermunculan kembali.
- Media tanamnya gampang, mudah didapat. Aku menggunakan sabut kelapa kering yang sebelumnya telah direndam dengan Sodium Metabisulfat (SMB) untuk menghilangkan jamur dan bakteri, dan dipotong kecil-kecil. Agar bisa menyerap air lebih baik, aku menambahkan tanah kompos (dihasilkan dari komposter di rumahku).
- Bunga ini jenis tanaman merambat, yang aku suka banget karena bisa digantung atau ditempel di dinding. Tidak menyita space/ruang di rumah-rumah perkotaan yang biasanya berhalaman minim.
- Tak perlu disiram tiap hari dan perawatannya gampang. Untuk kamu yang sering keluar kota atau punya aktivitas lapangan yang tinggi, ini bunga yang cocok banget buat kamu rawat.
Kompas memprediksi bunga Hoya bakalan populer tahun 2025 ini.

Kamu yang juga suka Hoya, silakan berbagi pengalamanmu merawat tanaman hias ini. Aku tunggu….
THE CONQUEROR OF PLANTS

March 24th, 2025

I really want to have the skill to care for plants so that they look lush and elegant and diligently flower or bear fruit. I enjoy gardening for a long time. But I admit, I do everything mediocrely. I water and fertilize the plants but haven’t paid attention to lighting, good pruning, or developing shoots. A true gardener should understand that, don’t you?

Maybe someday, I’ll learn it again. For now, let it be as it is.

FYI, in my country, people naturally skilled in caring for plants or livestock are often called ‘the cool hand’ or Bertangan Dingin (in Bahasa Indonesia). What terminology is used in your country?

My friends, let’s take a look at my front yard garden. It’s green but a bit disordered, don’t you?

My garden under the bright sunshine
VIRTUAL GIFT FROM MORNING WALK

January 3rd, 2025

I whispered, “We are the lucky ones who woke up this morning while others were still sleeping.”

On the first day of January 2025, I woke up early and started my morning walk. Some neighbors’ houses and windows were still closed, and the streets were quiet. Usually, when walking along the road, I worry that a careless motorcyclist will hit me from behind.

That morning, those worries disappeared. My feelings were so light. I enjoyed the tranquility. Passing by some people sweeping the front yard and watering the flowers on the porch, I whispered that we were the lucky ones who woke up this morning while others were still sleeping.

As the virtual gifts to all my readers, here are some wildflowers I photographed on my way home.

Cheers.
WILDFLOWERS AND LIVING A MEANINGFUL LIFE

December 30th, 2024

Wildflowers look lovely and strong simultaneously, while the flowers planted in pots look classy but fragile.

I love photographing flowers on the side of the road or in the bushes. I value them more than the pretty flowers in pots on a beautiful porch. They look lovely and strong simultaneously, while the flowers planted in pots look classy but fragile.

My friends often laugh at my crouching pose when taking these photos. An unusual hobby, they say.

I see wildflowers from a different perspective. Humans have been fooled by the flashy, bold, and dazzling appearance for so long. Something natural and easy to find in nature is often considered nothing special, without a price. I think that attitude is built by the industry that produces expensive goods and is supported by the human tendency towards luxury.

I like nice things (some of which are expensive, yes) but not in an excessive way. I am aware of my financial capabilities. Also, I know that peace and contentment can be obtained in other ways, such as finding beauty in ordinary places or on the outskirts.

Recently, I have been trying to develop more positive habits to make my day worthwhile. Photographing nature is one of them.

What are some others? Enjoying a sunrise or sunset, walking in a park or garden (I perfect it by walking silently while dhikr), listening to birdsong, and playing in the sand. Reading a favorite book, listening to music, and writing in a journal are also valuable.

Alhamdulillah, I have been doing some of them for a long time and will continue establishing and making them a part of my peaceful life.
My Friend Hated Papaya

December 13th, 2024

Who doesn’t know papaya?

I think everyone must know papaya. This yellow-to-orange fruit grows effortlessly and bears fruit all year round. In Asian countries, papaya is commonly served as a dessert along with oranges and bananas.

Papaya can grow itself because its seeds are accidentally spread when someone throws them out of the trash. It is not surprising that many papaya trees are found around houses with yards.

This is my friend’s story. Her house in the countryside was surrounded by a subsistence garden that produced vegetables and fruits. There were many papaya trees around the house.

Because her family is quite large, the mother manages her expenses carefully. Their garden brought about eggs, vegetables, and fruits to meet the family’s food needs.

Rather than buying other fruits, Mother served papaya on the dining table every day. My friend felt nauseous seeing and eating papaya, but she and her siblings had to eat. Her parents did not allow food to be wasted.

No day without papaya was so attached to her mind. When she got a job and earned his own income, she stopped eating papaya.

“It’s a relief not to see papaya on my dining table anymore,” she said and laughed.

Indeed, papaya was once associated with the lower-income group. Papaya used to have no market value, in contrast to grapes, apples, and pears, which are known as fruits for the middle class and are a bit expensive.

Now, Papaya in Indonesia has a selling value. The new variety of California papaya captures the hearts of consumers with its orange flesh and skin and sugary taste. This type is sold in supermarkets, unlike local papayas, which are usually sold in traditional markets or on the side of the road.

My friend started eating papaya again, although not every day.
I’ve made peace with papaya, she said, again laughing.
5 Good Things for My Mental Health

December 4th, 2024

Daily writing prompt
Share five things you’re good at.
View all responses

These five things have been a part of me for years. They keep me motivated and calm among many unpleasant things out there:

1. Cooking

Cooking. I am good at cooking Sumatera cuisine that’s famous for curry and fried dishes. My mother taught me to cook Rendang, Chicken Curry, Dendeng Balado, etc.

2. Gardening

I have a collection of plants in the front and back yards. Most are tropical plants, including Hoyas, Philodendrons, Succulents, and Caladiums. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I spent most of my time in the garden. I also grow spider plants, sansevieria, and golden pothos, which are good for purifying polluted air.

3. Cleaning the house

I never consider this as a regular household chore, the benefits are so many for my family and my peace of mind. A clean and tidy house gives positive energy to all of us. I feel calmer and ready to continue my days after cleaning or tidying up unused items in the house.

4. Pouring out ideas, experiences, and journeys on journals, and my social media, including blogs, Instagram, TikTok, etc.

5. Writing Articles

I am a regular writer for several mass media in Jambi, and occasionally write scientific papers in several national and international journals.

Life is not always smooth. One needs a mechanism to survive by having positive hobbies or activities. Thank goodness I have these five good things. All seems simple to others but for me, it’s important to maintain sanity.
A Cup of Coffee for a Better World

December 2nd, 2024

Coffee is a source of energy for me. Its taste and aroma can improve my mood and clear my mind. I have been drinking coffee for more than 30 years. Now I have changed my drinking coffee habit from coffee with sugar to low or no-sugar.

Drinking coffee creates a sensation. that is not easy to explain. For health reasons, I now reduce my coffee and tea consumption, to only one cup daily.

The province where I live, Jambi, is one of the coffee plantation centers in Indonesia. We have three types of coffee; Arabica coffee from the highlands, especially in Kerinci and Jangkat (a sub-district in Merangin), and Liberica coffee from the lowlands, especially in Tanjung Jabung Barat and Tanjung Jabung Timur Regencies. Between the highlands and lowlands, there is Robusta coffee produced by Merangin Regency.

Liberica Coffee from Tanjung Jabung Barat Regency.

Coffee cafes are mushrooming in every corner of the city. Even in rural areas such as Kayu Aro at the foot of Mount Kerinci, you can easily enjoy hot coffee in modern cafes or simple stalls.

At home, I also collect coffee from various regions in Jambi and Indonesia. I feel it is the privilege of someone who lives amidst the wealth of coffee. Sometimes I give Jambi coffee as a small gift to friends from out of town.
A Pleasant Moment in the Paddy Land

November 30th, 2024

There are many things that would make you happy if you open your mind to appreciate it. Me, walking in the paddy land always stimulates the sensation of pleasure and serenity.

As I stepped on the embankment, I saw the green field with farmers wearing striking old clothes, water flowing on the ground, wildflowers, butterflies, and dragonflies. As a naturalist, everything I watch in nature makes me awestruck, record it in my mind and express it in my writing and video content.

You may not be able to feel pleasant in the same way as I. When I brought this wild fern to my car to be planted at home, the locals wondered and asked, what for?

Shortly I answered, this fern will be a graceful plant on my pot. They laughed in disbelief.
Open-access Land and the Wildlife Flowers

November 29th, 2024

This huge area was broken by illegal gold mining. The stone and gravel came up from the bowels of the earth and little ponds here and there. The land cannot be planted, the humus already run out.

Despite that condition, pretty and bright wildflowers catch my eye. No one cares but they look wonderful.

To rehabilitate the ex-gold mining area, my office and the residents work together on a project named The Open-access Land Reclamation. We have been working on the land to shape an agroforestry park.

We had been planting forest trees (Ketapang Kencana, bamboo, queen’s flower, banyan) and fruit trees (mango, durian, and matoa). Within three years, these trees would grow bigger, and bear fruit.

This is not easy work, dealing with the local people is challenging. We continue convincing them to stop illegal mining and be kind to the environment.