A View from the Window
Dirt Vigilante
Before...
...and After
Looking out of the window of her double-storey terrace house, Josephine Lee did not like what she saw. There were weeds, shrubs and trees growing on the small strip of land between her house and the highway and so, she decided that she would change the view.
That was six years ago. Today, the view from her window is like a picture frame. The vacant land along Lumut Highway and Jalan Raja Perempuan Muzwin at Taman Kledang in Menglembu had been transformed by her single-handedly into a beautiful landscaped garden.
Josephine or just “Jo” among her friends, spends weekends gardening and a good two hours trimming the grass.
She labours on despite being chided by council workers for wasting her time and creating more garden refuse for them to cart away, and neighbours who are at times more the problem than the solution.
In her garden, grows white and pink bougainvilleas, double-petal hibiscus and palms; there are planters of cannas, caladiums, heliconias, torenia, cordylines, Japanese roses, basil and rosemary, torch ginger (bunga kantan), a banana tree (pisang serendah), and even a watermelon patch which has yielded a couple of juicy fruits. A small patch of yellow peanut plant as ground cover provides accents. Park benches are there for anyone who cares to stop by.
It is common in an age of ‘instant’ things to have instant gardens if you can afford it. But to have a garden like Josephine’s is truly a ‘labour of love’. “It is not so much the money”, she says, but the joy of creating something beautiful.
If left alone, it would look like this
Where most tamans ‘pride’ themselves in creating more and more garbage dumps, at least there is a 20-metre strip along Jalan Raja Perempuan Muzwin that provides respite for the eyes and a rest for tired feet if need be.
Jo’s untiring efforts in beautifying the vacant land can put the Ipoh City Council’s parks and gardens division to shame.
Residents like her and the group in Hock Lee Garden are playing a role in bringing back the image of Ipoh as a clean and beautiful city.
It is residents like them that the city council should show its appreciation and reward them with a discount on their annual assessments.
VWSL
Category: Latest News, Thumbs Up
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super job, Jo. Well Done. It gives “greening” a whole new meaning.
Wow! Very beautiful and one can feel so peaceful and serene just by looking at the picture. Well done!
Am certain we will be guaranteed “instant Alpha” at your garden.
Will arrange with the members to “Alpha” at your “Shangrila”…..
Well done, my dear classmate Jo, we are all very proud of you. So, our next gathering should be a garden party then. We promise will not litter your beautiful garden!!
I would love to be her neighbor : ))
Please keep going !