The Garden - A conducive environment for students

What does it take to create a simple garden? 

Whether it's big, small or tiny, You have to start with small practical ideas and grow from there. 

It takes time and patience, as modification and changes take place all the time. A lot of effort and hard work too but once it's done, it's rewarding and amazing, remembering that at all times, this kind of work never stops. A beautiful garden can bring great joy and give peace of mind😊😍.

A friend sent me via watsapp about the 4 hormones to be happy.

 How we need these 4 hormones to stay happy- Endorphins, Dopamine, Serotinin, and Oxytocin.

It was shared by Edward Ng of Glowbest: Chemical aspects to happiness: I applied these thoughts to my gardening hobby, and it make sense😂😂😂.

When I do gardening, which is also a form of excercise, my body releases Endorphins. 

This hormone helps the body to cope with the pain of exercising. 

So we enjoy gardening because these hormone makes us happy.

The second hormone Dopamine is when we accomplish small or big tasks, it releases various levels of Dopamine. A good example is my passion fruit, which I planted about a year ago. When the plant became prolific, giving shades to my back yard, beautiful flowers giving out a nice smell,  abundant fruits dangling on the trellis making the garden look pretty. I feel proud and happy, especially when accomplishments were acknowledged and appreciated by my family and friends or even strangers.

The third hormone Serotonin is released when we act in a way that benefits others, such as going an extra mile to give something to others or to nature or society. This is where I shared my successful passion fruit plant to the world by writing a short story about it in my blog at no cost.

The last happy hormone is the Oxytocin, this is getting close to friends and family.

 Even hugging your family dog, cat, children and chicken😜 (i did have a few 😂 and it was fun having them around) playing in the garden releases Oxytocin.

So this is one of the ways how to be happy😂.

I, once visited a friend, Puan Sharifah who was the director of a college. 

There was a beautiful garden in the middle of this place. I was told the swing, the tables, chairs, benches, and some of the stuff on the fish pond were recycled stuff.

The created garden was the result of team work by the staff and students of the college such as the drivers, clerks, attendants, students, lecturers and herself. 

What a beautiful big garden it turned out to be. The garden also has a 'gazebo"! 

A 'gazebo' is a small building usually in the garden with a roof and open sides where most of the garden can be seen and enjoyed. The word 'Gazebo' to some, said in the 18th century as a joke word combining "gaze" with the Latin suffix "Ebo" meaning "I shall", therefore ending the meaning as " I shall see". 

The created garden has been a conducive learning environment for nursing and allied health students.

Gazebo in the middle of the garden

 A fish pond 😍

 Look at those fishes swimming gracefully💗

Awwww.... And these  little ducklings.🤣 

They are soooooo cute.💓💓 This cute video was contributed by Sharifah🌹

Students relaxing in front of the big fish pond. 

Breathing fresh air is much healthier in the garden.

The pond was also created by her colleagues and students, using many ideas to make the filters from recycled bottles. It is a great place to sit around, watching the fish swimming freely, and feeling the cool breeze blowing against your face. Amazing!👍

A short video for the fish pond😍

Filtering system for the fish pond, intelligently created by staff and students 

This lovely Mural painting is the original sketch of Puan Sharifah, and her students painted it for her as appreciation for teaching and guidance to become future nurses👍. The creative arrangement of rocks and plants to look like a 3D pond was also her idea. "Wow, these works are of excellent quality. So authentic!" The painting showed a deer on a hillslope, a tortoise on the big rock splashed by cool running river and an owl sitting on the branch of a tree in the forest. What did the painter have in mind when she drew this picture , I wonder?

When my husband saw this photo, he asked if the artist to kindly donate one to our home and he would be very happy to see this painting, hanging on our home walls.😂

Student Nurses' Corner

Medical Assistant's Corner. 

Behind the tutors and students, 

I noticed an "ambulance ". 🤔 

At a closer look, it's an artwork of an "ambulance", made from scaffolding and recycled metal scrap. 😁

 Internet access and electrical outlet at the Gazebo for students. 

Handmade benches at the 'gazebo ' for those who want to rest or relax with full view of the garden.

Creative art work for benches and chair from unwanted tree trunks.
 

Sitting area under the shades of trees in front of the fish pond. 

There was also a quiet corner called "The Dusun Hut" for those seeking solitude, to reflect and meditate😁

This cute little hut, reminds me of the Red Indian hut/tent in America/ Canada 🤣

This is everyone's favorite corner. It has a beautiful swing! It's lovely to watch students and staff enjoying this swing. The swing was also created by the director of this college, Puan Sharifah who is the brainchild of this garden project. 

Thank you, Sharifah🌹for contributing this lovely video clip. With the slow motion and right music in it, it's lovely to watch repetitively. wow!😂 I can imagine if a bride is on it, she will look very beautiful and special! 😍

Can anyone tell me who this beautiful elegant lady is? 😊 

Bridging the gap rustically; peaceful oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, a perfect example of many hands working in symphony.💓

 

This little bridge was completed before Nurses Day😊

Apart from the "gazebo", fish pond, a bridge and the swing, I was also amazed by the beautiful plants in the garden. Let's see if you can recognise any of them? 

Lipstick Palm is one of the most colourful and exotic palm tree's in the world!

Araucaria pine - a very popular ornamental tree in the garden

Ape plant sometimes called the "Elephant ears" are often used as landscaping plants, to give out a tropical appearance and ability to provide a shade in a garden.

Chinese windmill palm is one of the hardiest palms which has been cultivated in China and Japan for thousands of years

I am not sure of this one, is it Lily?

Broad leaf Palm Lily (Cordyline rubra) is an evergreen Australian plant found in warm rainforest. The broad, glossy, dark pinkish leaves glows like luminated plants making the garden looks magical, just like the movie called "Avatar"😂.

Costus Spiralis produce beautiful flowers when blooming season starts.

Lucky plant- Chinese believe to plant right in front of your house to bring in Luck! But don't look for me if you don't strike your lottery.😜

Bird nest fern is non poisonous. 

Fern has been shown to filter formaldehyde, Xylene and toluene.

Dracaena Fragran is also known as "happy plant" or "Corn plant", a popular ornamental  indoor and outdoor houseplant which produce fragrant flowers.

ZZ plant remove toxic air such as Toluene and Xylene from indoor air.

Chinese Evergreen helps to improve air quality by filtering the polluted air and toxin. 

This plant produces oxygen which assists in productivity and enriching health and well being, both in living and working spaces.  

Before I end this topic, I would like to thank my friend, Puan Sharifah for this pleasant visit as I got the opportunity to see such beautiful amazing garden in the college. ☺️

References
https://www.britannica.com/art/gazebo

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/gazebo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gazebo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Dictionaries

https://www.jaycjayc.com/lipstick-palmtree-cyrtostachys-renda/

https://www.canoeplants.com/ape.html

https://www.thesill.com/blogs/care-miscellaneous/why-you-need-plants-in-your-life

https://lifestyle.co.za/aglaonema-chinese-evergreen/
https://www.flowerpower.com.au/cordyline-rubra-8401600200p