As good as gold: Khaw handles her precious stock with tender loving care.

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/1/25/sundaymetro/3010425&sec=sundaymetro

Sunday January 25, 2009
Orbs of citrus gold
Story and photos by GRACE CHEN

Auspicious vibes are felt as the kumquat turns gold.

THE joy on Khaw Mooi Luang’s face was evident as she walked through the rows of kumquat plants in her nursery.

Two months ago, about 400 of these potted trees had arrived from Langkap, Perak, when all the little limes were still green.

At Khaw’s nursery, the cool air of Cameron Highlands would coax the fruits to turn a golden orange.

According to Khaw, the limes need at least 55 days to turn “sunkist” orange and this change is a timely one for Chinese New Year.

In retrospect, her golden limes, which are a representation of wealth and prosperity, weren’t the only thing that was making this 47-year-old beam from ear to ear.

In every nook and corner of Khaw’s garden were all the auspicious signs of a good year ahead. The cherry tomato plants were living up to the saying of, “May gold and jade overflow at your doorstep” with plump orbs of red and green fruits.

The place was also awashed with splashes of red – a sign of luck – in the rows of poinsettias, kalanchoes and anthuriums.

To the Chinese, a home filled with these blooming plants at a New Year’s celebration is a symbol of rebirth and new growth. It is considered especially lucky if the household plant blooms on New Year’s Day for this foretells a year of prosperity.

As such, Khaw reckoned that one reason she has so much of luck on her side was because she was constantly surrounded by these auspicious plants.

“I don’t know how to describe it but I feel that my life has been very blessed. I have a happy family, my children are well-behaved, we have enough money and we are healthy. These are the things that I am grateful for,” revealed this mother of four, of which two of her elder daughters are twins who are studying in Form Five this year.

For Khaw, a beautiful life is about the simple, straightforward and back-to-basic things. This flower nursery owner has reason to count her blessings. Before this, she and her husband Yu Cheng Hwa, 54, were vegetable farmers.

A vegetable glut that happened between the late 80s and early 90s had nearly ruined them. After many years of just managing to make ends meet, Khaw and her husband decided that perhaps it would be a good time to diversify their skills into flower planting. Today, the couple are thriving well with the tourist market as shown by the number of hired hands they have.

On the question of whether people who work in plant nurseries live happier lives than their briefcase-toting peers, Khaw, who has been running her flower nursery for four years, commented that while she could not speak for others, she would describe hers as blissful and contented.

Khaw attributed this to the sense of fulfilment every time she sees her plants and flowers grow and bloom.

“To be able to coax a seed to produce its first green shoots, to see these shoots peek their heads out of the earth and to watch them grow to maturity and bear fruit is like seeing your own children grow,” said Khaw.

As children will reflect on their parents, Khaw said that it was a similar case with plants.

Like children, plants need guidance. From the time they are seedlings, Khaw said that they have to be potted in a proper manner, pruned, clipped, watered, given the right doses of light and fertilisers. Only then will the plant grow into a prim and proper bush. Otherwise, it will be out of shape and by then it may be too late to bend the branches into the correct angles for they have become brittle and will break. Khaw surmised that it is the same with children. “If they are not moulded when young, don’t hope that they will grow up to be model citizens.”

Khaw revealed that there is a level of energy to be felt when one is near the plants. As such, she has no qualms about admitting to an emotional attachment with them.

“While a garden full of blooms is a sight that will bring us immeasurable joy, you can also imagine the kind of sorrow we can feel when a plant dies,” Khaw said.

But this spring, there will be no tears for Khaw for nature has rewarded her with a bountiful harvest. As for the auspicious vibes, she will no doubt take along with her for the duration of the Year of the Ox.

To visit Khaw’s flower nursery, look her up at Lot 355, Bertam Valley, Ringlet, Cameron Highlands, 39200 Pahang (Tel: 05-495 7322 or 019-540 6190).