December. I've suspected from the start that time really flies these days. It feels like 24 hours isn't enough for us to do much.
That's why time management is so important. And, I'm still learning and continuing to learn how to use my time productively.
In this December garden journal, I'm focusing on some of my surviving plants after traveling to my husband's family for two weeks.
My trip seemed impromptu. But I bravely made the decision to leave my plants behind, as it was the rainy season. I thought everything would be fine. But when my husband and I left the rental house and garden, it turned out there was no rain at all.
I had already harvested most of the plants, and I only left a few types behind. So, even if something unexpected happened, I wouldn't be stressed about it.
Some of the plants looked sad. Like my Chinese cabbage plants, they were so fresh at first. But when I got home, they looked miserable. I had absolutely no energy to survive.
I had to throw away some of the Chinese cabbage plants. But there were a few I could save. And after a few days of caring for them, the Chinese cabbage plants were already looking better. Oh, thank God.
After leaving my plants for two weeks, I learned which plants were strong and had the potential to grow new shoots.
The eggplant and basil plants were by far the strongest. They were doing well, and my eggplant plants were even producing flowers and fruit.
Look at the eggplants still growing strong on the eggplant plants. Eggplants are definitely recommended for those of you who have gardens with hot weather and rain.
Because I was away for two weeks, I collected the used planting medium from the plants I had harvested. Then I covered them with sacks.
Well, I also mixed the used planting medium with goat manure and burnt rice husks. Mixing used soil with burnt rice husks and goat manure will make a fertile planting medium. So, when I get back to gardening, this planting medium will be ready to use. I'm excited to start a new beginning at the beginning of the year.
In the raised bed where I store the planting medium, there are also two chilies that are growing very well.
You can see the chilies already covering the plants.
Meanwhile, in another area, I also have chili plants growing well. I'm grateful that these chili plants are very strong, even though I haven't cared for them for two weeks.
Meanwhile, moving on to my garden in another area. Next to the irrigation area, this area looks a bit messy. But it still has hope. There are chili plants growing strong and thriving. However, they seem to have a few disease symptoms. And that's normal, because the weather here is very hot.
I hope that by the beginning of the year, in 2026, I can manage my gardening time better, so that my two gardens in the area of my rental house will be even better than they were in 2025. Indeed, to experience improvement, we must take small steps. Don't give up on what we want to achieve. Keep up the spirit!
Best Regards,
Anggrek Lestari
Anggrek Lestari is an Indonesian fiction writer who has published two major books. Now She is a full-time content creator. She has a goal to share life, poem, and food content that makes others happy and can get inspiration.
Contact Person: authoranggreklestari@gmail.com
Discord: anggreklestari#3009