Since I have started writing this column, I have been wanting to interview a fellow gardener and share some of their knowledge. To be honest with you, the idea was a bit scary to me, since I have never interviewed anyone. So for my first interview I picked someone who I knew would be understanding and will be a good person to practice my interviewing skills with. So please meet my husband, Philip Lau. He has been happily married to me for 20 years and recently got into gardening. He is the type of gardner that learned how to enjoy gardening and his approach is perfect for someone who is starting to garden. Here is what I asked him:
At what age have you started gardening?
53!
Why then?
I had the time to develop the interest.
What got you into gardening?
My wife. She has her own area where she gardens and so I started noticing what was growing and blooming. Her pointing out specific plants when we are out and about sparked my interest.
Do you have a specific plant you grow or do you grow everything? And why those plants?
Geraniums. They are hardy, low maintenance, continually blooming with new beautiful colors, and relatively inexpensive because of propagation.
How do you propagate geraniums?
Simply cut of a branch from an existing plant and place it into soil in another pot, water, and vuala.
Where do you get your plants?
My wife’s clients, Buy Nothing or neighbors that are disposing of their plants (put them on the street). I have only bought some. In addition you can always find pots on Buy Nothing. So you lower the cost of your hobby.
Do you have a favorite geraniums?
Not really, they all are beautiful. I like the red one the least.
What do you like about gardening?
That you can’t make it grow any faster or slower. You need to observe and see what their needs and wants are. Also they need to be cared for, so there is a sense of responsibility.
Do you have any advise for a new Gardners?
Start small and start slow. One pot, one cutting, and that’s it. I would also say depending on your personality be careful not to over do it. Next thing you know, you are caring for 40 pots.
Best part of gardening:
Grab your cup of coffee, sit, and enjoy your garden.
In addition I want to add that Philip plants his geraniums in pots only. He waters them by hand. He also dead heads the flowers after they bloom weekly. He now has about 20 pots and he is very selective in what he gets and how he sets it up. Gardening most definitely relaxes him and he specifically enjoys propagating them. He has learned to appreciate the process of growing a small cutting. I hope reading this will help someone who just wants to start gardening. Because even though Philip has a wife who is a gardner, his geraniums are his only and I am only asked for consultations when things are not looking great.
I am hoping that this interview with Philip will inspire some of you that have been thinking about gardening, to get that first cutting and see what happens. Just remember to start small as he has warned you.
Happy Gardening!
Joanna Kotwis
