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GARDENING can be a very satisfying hobby. Besides the fragrance of the earth and the fresh air, there's the pleasure of seeing something new sprout from the soil: a flower, some green leaves or some weeds depending on how green-fingered you are.
But if you're too busy to spend time in the open air, why not bring a piece of the garden to your office desk. Yaxin Plaza at No 401, Changshou Road sells mini gardens suitable for a desk. One seed can contains two little bags of seeds, two bags of fertilizer, a bag of bedding materials similar to soil and a book of instructions. These cans come in two sizes: the larger which stands about as tall as a mug, and a smaller one which can sit in the palm of your hand. Smaller ones cost 15 yuan ($1.80) each and the larger is 22 yuan ($2.66). With a little TLC (tender loving care), these small pots can be made to sprout all kinds of blooms - seeds include colourful peppers, viola, balsam, sunflowers, daisies, strawberries and tomato plants in the small cans and carnation, forget-me-nots, watermelon, and morning glory in the larger. You will be amazed by how cherry tomatoes and strawberries can be made to prosper from such a small container. Plant them in the can which has perforations to allow excessive water to escape, and around two weeks later shoots will appear. New shoots appearing later should be weeded out to prevent overcrowding in your seed garden. With sufficient sunshine, water and regular fertilizer, you will have flowers and fruits in abundance in no time. Gift packs are also available in the shop. "People like to give these canned seeds as presents," said the sales girl. One plastic pack decorated with colourful ribbons is priced 30 yuan ($3.60)and a hard paper box is priced 36 yuan ($4.35). Inside the packaging, are the same cans as are sold on the counter so the salesgirl suggests you buy the separate cans which are cheaper but whose seeds are equally good. Flowers are a traditional gift used to represent feelings for all occasions but seeds can say something even nicer than cut flowers: they represent new life and growth. For the less horticulturally minded, the shop offers easier charges such as cacti or aloe plants. They come in brightly-coloured pots some of which are painted with simple patterns and designs. All pots cost 25 yuan ($3) each. The salesgirl can tell you what each flower or plant is associated with so you can choose just the right plant for anyone you have in mind. Leaflets inside each seed can for the mini gardens tell you about the characters of the plants you chose: a brief introduction to the plant, what the flower will look like, what it means, and most importantly, how to tend it. Shanghai Star |
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