This week, on Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #169, I.J Khanewala is guest-hosting and he’s challenging everyone to take a second look at the ordinary. Sometimes, those things can surprise you or even put a smile on your face.
Some people don’t understand this. I had a friend once asks why I take up gardening as a hobby. “Gardening is what people do in their retirement.”
As someone struggling with stress and anxiety daily, I find gardening very relaxing and rewarding in a way even though some may characterize what I’m growing as “ordinary supermarket vegetables.”
Ever since I started gardening this year, it became a habit that I would take a lap around the garden each day, to see how my plants are doing. Since I added a lot of new plants at the end of August, I would pay closer attention to them to make sure they are adapting okay.
The other day, right before the sky began to pour like no tomorrow (it rained for 2 days), I went out and took some pictures. To others, what I was doing may seem silly but to me, it was important to document, even a head of your ordinary butter lettuce.
In fact, this head of lettuce isn’t ordinary at all. I had grown it using primarily gray water – water came from my showers and vegetable and fruit washing in the kitchen. I feel particularly proud of it as we have been in the midst of drought all summer long. Reusing indoor water should help, every little bit helps.
I’m a relatively easy person to please. After all, living with a family like mine, I have to be. So things like this ordinary flower (also grown using gray water) blossoming in my garden will bring a smile any day and it looks like I will finally get to see my cosmos blossoming during the last days of fall.
This is Another Story 
The fruits of your efforts are certainly turning great. You are putting your heart in your garden and this will not disappoint you.
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Absolutely, there’s a saying, “if you treat a plant right, it will give back in abundance quantities.” I don’t know who said it but it’s my motto in the garden.
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the lettuce looks good. Thats a great use of gray water.
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Thank you.
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Nothing is ordinary when you look at it with love, as you show us here. A great response to the challenge.
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Absolutely, it’s like looking at something in a new light. 🙂
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I love that you’re repurposing the water, Yinglan. Wonderful! And your plants are thriving beautifully. I think you’ve made a great choice for a hobby. It’s relaxing and at the same time very practical. You’re helping the environment and growing food! Perfect!
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Absolutely, I’m glad you think so. 😀
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Good for you on the repurposed water Yinglan. Your garden looks terrific and I loved your little closing flower.
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Thank you. 🙂
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I love your closeups. They really show the beauty of creation.
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Thank you. They really do.
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Nice post for this challenge. My neighbor is an avid gardener and says it relaxes her. Your using recycled water is great and I bet your garden loves it. You are helping nature.
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Gardening is certainly relaxing. It’s like hiking without the physical intensity of climbing a mountain. I feel I’m closer to nature too as the earth is part of nature. I know my veggies love that water especially when I spoon-feed it the water (helps it absorb better). 😀
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Excellent! Well done.
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Thank you.
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This is wonderful. 🙂 Much love to your growing garden and yourself.
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Thank you. 🙂
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