“A host of golden daffodils
Beside the lake, beneath the trees
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze”
Wordsworth’s beautiful words conjure up visions of swaying colour, of large expanses of floral extravaganza, of nature and flora at its best. Sami’s garden translates this poetic vision into reality; a pure visual delight for the discerning eye and a colourful bonanza at its best. It is not about how much acreage one has or how much money one has. Rather, it is about a passion to see beauty grow and unfold. It is to coordinate Nature’s innumerable colours and shapes in one sweeping statement. What miracle has been wrought on this acre is unsurpassed.
Winning the coveted first place at gardening in Lahore does not come as a surprise. It is indeed an achievement, well deserved and celebrated. A large number of friends and acquaintances were invited by the gifted nature-lover and his gracious wife Beeli to savour this floral delight amidst these serene surroundings.
On entering the gates, the poor eyes – not accustomed to such a magnificent feast – had to blink hard, before absorbing the sheer magnitude of this floral opulence. Whichever way one’s eyes turned, they were rewarded with a treat, unparalleled by its sheer beauty. Flowers of all colours and hues lined the gentle slopes of this artistically manicured garden, covered with a lush green turf, many inches deep.
As you meandered your way though flowering cactuses, petunias, marigolds, Dahlias etc. towards the side and back of the house, you were treated to an even richer splash of colour and vibrance. Sami feels that even if a handful of friends and family can enjoy this bounty of Allah with him, his months of labour are well rewarded.
Allah promises us Paradise. We are told this will be a place under which rivers will flow and where flowers and fruits of all descriptions will abound. This visit was almost like a mini-glimpse of that promised garden.