The air is cool this rainy day, silvery droplets are on the leaves, and puddles of rain water soak the socks and shoes of my playful 5 year-old boy. He complained of wet feet when we arrived by the doorstep of his classroom. I told him that he will have to wear his school slippers the rest of the day, gave him a kiss and said my goodbyes. My more independent older daughter had already left my side, lured by the squeals of her playing classmates.
I am a pluviophile and gardens are lovely on a rainy day, so I went about capturing the peace and beauty around me.
The school has been my kids' home away from home for 6 years now and will continue the next 7 years to come. I like its small-school ambiance, the non-traditional curriculum that fosters love of learning, the fact that my kids are eager to go there every school day, the spacious lay-out of the buildings, and the garden full of native tropical trees, plants, flowers, and even vegetables.
The long entrance path is verdant with Indian trees (Polyalthia longifolia) to the left and coconut trees to the right, with splashes of bright yellow, chartreuse, burgundy and orange from the variagated San Francisco plants (Codiaeum variegatum). At the end of the walkway, the principal or a teacher greets a cheery "Good morning", or enthusiastically shakes the hand of every child before they proceed to their rooms or play with their classmates in the playground before classes start.
On days I fetch my kids and arrive early, I sit by the breezy bahay kubo (native Philippine hut) and read a book. Mosquitoes love to bite me, but the carpet of Philippine oregano (Origanum vulgare) surrounding the hut deters mosquitoes, so I sit carefree gazing once in a while at the grass-covered soccer field, the bright red and blue rock-climbing wall, and my kids enjoying their outdoor play under the canopy of giant trees.
I noticed that the garden beds are packed with various native colorful plants, both decorative and for consumption. I once saw the gardener pour compost on the soil, which must be the reason for the robust and healthy look of the plants.
Gardeners have a happy and friendly disposition. In fact, it was easy to talk to the school gardener about the plants, ask their names and inquire on how he takes care of them. I was so relaxed talking to him that I lost my shyness and asked for cuttings of some plants I wanted for my own garden. He was so kind and gave me more than what I asked for. :)
Student activities and projects include planting and taking care of vegetables, herbs and fruits, so these comprise about a quarter of the plants in the school garden. I remember that during their preschool years, both my kids excitedly told me that they planted peanuts and watered them. A few months later, I got news that they were harvested, cooked in class, and eaten picnic-style at the bahay kubo on a day approaching the Masskara festival. My kids will be my mentor when the time comes that I will plant my own peanuts, too!
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