Marcia’s garden
published: Sunday | July 23, 2006

Avia Ustanny, Outlook Writer

The great attention to detail in the small-town garden is the first big indication that in this Waterworks residence lives someone who is serious about plants. Around the medium-sized green lawn with its single swing, plants are artfully arranged to create a relaxation zone which pleases the eye.

“I will squeeze (necks) for this garden,” Marcia McKenzie – the wife of Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie, told Outlook.

“I spend a lot of time on them (the plants) and money. When I lose a plant I am sad for the whole day. I have always had a passion for gardening.”

So aware is her family of her passion that when her husband comes home late at night with a new plant in tow, he wakes her up just to see the pleasure on her face. The homemaker loves to cook and listen to news and talk shows, but, for her, gardening takes first place. Even in the first family home in Marine Park, St. Catherine, her crotons and roses flourished.

In 2002, Marcia McKenzie decided to go into orchids, partnering these in her garden with new varieties of roses.

She explains, “One of the things that drive me is that we receive so many bouquets with orchids. I never knew much about them and we were always losing them.” That year, she successfully started doing research, the best of which she received from MegaMart’s garden care centre. There, she learnt about avoiding too much watering, using fungicide, plant food and the general frequency of care.

Repot them

“Now, I can cut them (the orchids) myself and repot them. I did lose some on the way but I have definitely improved.”

So large is the collection of orchids in the relatively small space that almost every room of the house has a plant – excepting the bedrooms where superstition has prevented their placement.

“They say that plants are not good for the bedroom. Or is it the other way around?” she quips.

In the front garden, to the sides of the house in the backyard and in her small greenhouse natives – vandas, catelayas, dendrobiums and other orchids – thrive. Other plants which have found a home in her garden are gerberas, miniature cactus, anthuriums, a wide variety of ferns and cocoa plants.

Marcia McKenzie has had all the time in the world to tend her plants since she started staying at home to give more attention to her growing sons – Marcus and Matthew – in the mid-90s. Now that the boys are older, her poodles – including Boo, Molly, Winnie and Kiki – and plants feel her attentions even more lavishly.

Plants and dogs coexist – this, after the poodles were made to realise how important the growing plants were to the matron of the house. Now, the poodles will swiftly attack lizards and other pests which might hurt them.

Two hours every morning are spent in the garden, and in the afternoons the mayor’s wife is on the road scouting for pots, other garden accessories and supplies. “Anytime my plants need me I am there for them,” she states.

Because of a sinus problem, she is assisted in spraying by the home’s security guard, who also has green fingers. “Yesterday we trimmed the vandas and gave them some plant food. This morning was just an examination.”

Very unselfconsciously, McKenzie keeps up a running dialogue with her plants, apologising to one orchid as she moves it away so that another can be photographed.

“I talk to them just as how I talk to my puppies. I tell them they are beautiful. Those which have only green leaves are beautiful too.