Gardening with Wilson

Last Saturday marked a significant milestone in my gardening hobby and carrer. This was the first time that I gave a talk to the members of the Singapore Gardening Society and I must thank Mr Victor Lee who gave me this opportunity to do so. Mr Lee is the current Vice-President and Editor of the society.

My talk  entitled ‘Let’s grow culinary herbs and spices’ was delivered at Cluny Room in the RELC International Hotel. About thirty society members turned up and I was honoured by the presence of Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice who came all the way to the hotel to listen to my talk. Mr John Tan, President of the Singapore Gardening Society, gave an introduction about me before the session was started.

I elaborated on how one can be successful in growing Mediterranean herbs in Singapore’s hot, wet and humid tropical climate by using the right type of soil mix. I also took the opportunity to clarify the confusion that most Singaporeans have about the Indian Borage (Plectranthus amboinicus) and the true mint (Mentha spp.); wormwood (Artemisia scoparia/capillaris) and the true dill (Anethum graveolens). I also offered substitutes to difficult to grow culinary herbs like the coriander and tarragon. Sources where one can buy culinary herbs to grow in the garden were also shared with everyone.

At the end of the talk, a ziplock bag containing a packet of culinary herb seeds and two ginger rhizomes of the sand ginger (Kaempferia galanga) and Chinese keys (Boesenbergia rotunda), which were sponsored by me, were given to members so that they can get started with culinary herb growing once they get home.