Spring

Mr. Leki Dorji tending his flower pots.

Every morning before we start our classes, one of the most frequently asked questions is ''What is the temperature today?'' When asked, A student checks the reading from the thermometer. The practice of recording the daily temperature has been helpful to track the gradual changes in the atmospheric temperature. Over the last few months we have recorded the gradual rise in the temperature. Today  we have 23 degrees Celsius on the record.
Through the rise in temperature and the experience of warmth every day, we can feel the approach of new season. The visible changes happening in nature have prompted a few students to talk about the current change in the seasons. A few of them have witnessed the blossomming of flowers in and around the Institute gardens. The beautiful flowers of peach trees in the jungle opposite  the Institute is an obvious sign of spring.

Beautiful orchid flowers from class garden

Back in the class, our student Mr. Tshewang Wangdi
recently started to adorn our small class flower garden. He dug the flower bed, put fertile soil over it, planted few more flowers and started to water them. Now he is very happy to see the spring glow of a few beautiful orchid flowers growing.  

Another student, Mr. Leki Dorji passionately works in the garden. Most of his holiday time could be spent gardening, or either in the CGI garden or maintaining his own flower pots back in his room. With good background knowledge in agriculture and farming, he knowsit's now a season of growth. Recently, he wentto the communities of Bangtsho and Rekhey, in Dewathang, in search of chilli plants. He came back with a few bundles, enough to fill in his garden. Today, in his garden, we can see those chillies growing green and a few inches tall. He also sowed bean seeds, coriander, and spring onions.

Mr. Leki Dorji's flower pots

With the spring season in full swing, His work has just begun . There is a lot to do before he can harvest. He told us that one important element in growing plants organic fertilizers fetched from the jungle and brought to the garden. Another vital element is watering, and he has rubber pipe that takes water into his garden. Finding time in the morning and evening is the best time to water, he explained. He also added that this time of the year isthe time to transplant especially for chillies, because monsoon season will wash away small chilli plants. If you don’t transplant them, you may never grow chillies.

Back in his room, he has little corner of flowers filled with flower pots made from clay, worn out buckets, cans, and plastic bottles. I could see beautiful budding and little bright flowers blossom from that private garden.

Mr. Leki Dorji in his vegetable garden, after chilli plantation.

Last year, Mr. Leki Dorji received a prize from the Institute for being an active and hard working boy in the agriculture garden.

There are also a few other students who have maintained their own small garden in the nook of their rooms. A few days ago a group of students came to me. They shared their idea to go into the forest to collect flower plants to grow in our class garden. I felt it was great idea, and the fact  that they came up with and it shows their interest and love of nature. 

Dawa