Gardening with Wilson

It was a crazy Saturday, I have to admit. Although this weekend was a long one for most of us in Singapore due to the Good Friday public holiday, I did not really get the chance to rest! On Saturday, I had to both deliver gardening talk in the afternoon as well as participate in the GCS gathering later that evening! I was totally exhausted when I came home at midnight.

Throughout the entire of Friday, I was preparing for my gardening talk. It was the first one that I had to deliver in MANDARIN! I have always been giving talks in the language that I had been most comfortable – English. Giving it in Mandarin is a totally different ball-game altogether. I had to relearn all my gardening related vocabulary! Not to mention, I have to present everything in a manner that the layman out there can understand without excessive jargon.

On Saturday afternoon itself, I was surprised by the extremely good turnout at the Radin Mas Hall at the Bukit Merah Community Library where I delivered the talk, despite the lack of widespread publicity efforts. All that was done was traditional, which included the putting up of a banner and some printed posters around the library! I must say I was stressed because I thought I could not give my best. But I have two very helpful ladies sitting in the front row who prompted me with some words to help me complete my sentences!

I must also thank my two female labmates (Mindy & Chi Tze) and other GCS members (esp. Xuan Hong) who came to support me at the talk. This was the first time that I had people from my lab who came to listen to my talks. I was pleasantly surprised by their kind gesture where they both gave me some gifts – a soft toy shaped like a flower and a box of chocolates – thanks!

At the start of the talk… I was getting kind of nervous then!

Look at the size of the audience!

Explaining to a member of the audience about the hydroponics kit that one can make at home.

After the talk, there was another event that awaited me. It was the Green Culture Singapore gathering that was held at Guilin View. Thanks to Phillipe and Albert who were there earlier to get everything ready so that the gathering could proceed smoothly. We have about 50 members who attended the gathering and had a simple lucky draw of airplants, a potluck with a delicious spread of food and lots of mingling!

Below are two pictures taken by a fellow GCS member who is an avid and very accomplished photographer – Phillip Tan.

The big family photo

Lots of interaction and good food.