Gardening has become part of Kenyans' lifestyles. It is a hobby, a source of making money, and even therapy.
This year, BD Life travelled through several counties, sampling the beauty and resilience of gardens in Kenya. In this end-of-year review, we celebrate the gardens that captured the hearts of our readers.
How a 24-year-old harvests millions from an eighth of an acre
In 2018, Willand Charawe, a 24-year-old from Rongai in Kajiado County, began his journey into hydroponic farming. With a passion for farming and an innovative spirit, he turned an eighth of an acre into a profitable business.
Willand's interest in agriculture began as a child, working for local farmers and studying agriculture at Miramar International College and Chuka University. He embraced hydroponics - a soil-less farming method, highlighting the potential of small-scale farming when combined with innovation and modern technology - and grew peppers in an eight by 24-metre greenhouse using pumice as a planting medium.
Capsicum production has been lucrative, allowing him to earn up to Sh300,000 per month from one greenhouse. “The first harvest can give 400 kg, then it stabilises at 200 kg, then at 60 kg in the sixth month. At that point, you uproot the plant and start again," he says.
To counter misconceptions about the use of chemicals in greenhouse farming, he uses neem-based pesticides and sticky traps to ensure his produce is organic.
Bonface Mosoti's small 'Garden of Eden' in arid Kamulu
Bishop Bonface Mosoti's garden, Bonbern, is a powerful reflection of resilience and spiritual connection. Located in Kamulu, a semi-desert area 35 kilometres from Nairobi's central business district, this thriving oasis is transforming the landscape and redefining home.
The garden showcases the interplay between the Bishop's spiritual philosophy and the beauty of his surroundings. He views nature as a teacher, sharing lessons learned from previous gardening failures while adapting to the arid climate. His approach emphasises that every challenge is an opportunity for growth.
Bonbern is filled with fragrant plants such as Brunfelsia pauciflora, also known as Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow and Queen of the Night, as well as palms and creepers. Mosoti's design optimises the scent, with a strategically placed water fountain enhancing the aromas. The garden not only beautifies the space, but also reduces dust and conserves soil.
The garden also symbolises joy, love, and hope, with plants such as the Asoka tree for positivity and the Red Hibiscus as a symbol of love. Its sustainable drip irrigation system ensures that each plant thrives despite limited water resources.
"My garden makes me feel at home. I always look forward to coming home in the evening. I am always home by 6 pm. If it's the rainy season, the fire is lit and the windows are open. And the water fountain is there. So I listen to the sound of the water and get warm from the fireplace," says the father of four.
A view of Bishop Bonface Mosoti home garden in Kamulu on April 11, 2024.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Ultimately, the garden embodies how perseverance and a love of nature can transform challenging environments into places of beauty and inspiration.
"I had given up on this garden because of the drought. I could get stuck between watering plants or the garden since there was limited water. But resilience brought me here."
Dragon fruit farmers reap prosperity
Moses Muguna and Alice Waithera are two farmers who have transformed their lives through dragon fruit farming, earning millions each year.
Moses, who transitioned from being a farm labourer after 13 years on a dragon fruit farm, strategically accumulated seedlings during his tenure. Today, he grows 400 dragon fruit plants on his one-acre farm in Meru County, earning about Sh3 million annually by supplying retailers and supermarkets overwhelmed by demand.
Alice's journey on the other hand began during her travels to China, where she discovered the fruit's unique sweetness and high prices.
Inspired by its nutritional value and market potential, she returned to Kenya determined to grow it locally. Now she earns about Sh1.5 million a year from her dragon fruit farm, tapping into the growing demand for this exotic superfood.
Dragon fruit's superfood status, rich in beta-carotene, vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, has made it a favourite among health-conscious consumers and the vegan population. Its cultivation is sustainable, requiring minimal water and thriving in warm climates. Plants can produce crops for up to 30 years, making it an ideal crop for long-term farming ventures.
Despite its nascent status in Kenya, dragon fruit farming offers lucrative opportunities due to high demand and multiple uses, including fresh consumption and value-added products such as juices, jams, and herbal teas.
Capsicum at Maina Willand Charawe green house in Rongai in this photo taken on May 22, 2024.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Inside Betty Kibara's wonderland
For Betty Kibara, her garden serves as a personal sanctuary, symbolising love and resilience, with a beehive that promotes biodiversity. It also acts as a community space for events and artistic endeavours, reflecting her investment of Sh200,000 well spent.
Located in Karen, the garden is a captivating blend of diversity, sustainability, and personal passion. It contains over 200 varieties of plants, including fruits, herbs, flowers, and vegetables. Roses are planted in the front garden in memory of her late mother, while the back garden features exotic plants such as fuchsia and soursop.
“I planted them last year in memory of my late mum Rose Mary. Every time I feel and smell the roses I remember that she is in a good place,” she says.
The garden also includes fruit trees such as avocados and bananas, supporting her goal of a self-sufficient, chemical-free lifestyle.
Betty's creativity shines through as she manages landscaping costs by using local help and YouTube tutorials to create a waterfall. She uses organic methods, including rabbit urine and chicken manure, and draws on her farming background to manage pests and adapt plants to the local climate.
Despite challenges such as whiteflies and weather-related setbacks, Betty remains resilient, learning and developing her garden. Her garden embodies the joy of cultivating life and inspires those who dream of their oasis.
How I squeezed over 100 potted plants on an eighth of land in my Karen home
Dorine Bolo's garden in Karen, Nairobi, is a remarkable example of creativity and thoughtful design in just an eighth of an acre. She has arranged over 100 potted plants, transforming her front yard into a vibrant display of colour and texture.
Unlike her neighbours, who prefer common plants such as durantas, Dorine has chosen a diverse selection including crotons, eugenias and lime cypress, reflecting her unique aesthetic.
Inspired as a child by her mother's flower shop, her garden is both a personal sanctuary and a functional space. Dorine uses pots extensively to control plant growth and enhance visual interest, and a pergola in her backyard provides a shaded area for relaxation.
She has invested nearly Sh1 million in her garden, managing costs through strategic purchasing and credit agreements with suppliers.
She promotes sustainability by harvesting rainwater with underground tanks. Her hands-on approach includes regular potting, repotting, and natural pest control.
Nandi farmer finds new joy after uprooting maize to plant flowers
In six years, Henry Rugut's garden in Nandi has been transformed from a barren maize field into a vibrant oasis. Covering just 0.5 acres, it features more than 500 plants, including roses, succulents, snake plants and colourful durantas.
Rugut's commitment to using easily propagated, fragrant, and colourful plants highlights the importance of community gardening, with the help of his friend Amos, who provided seedlings and guidance. The garden design includes a mix of Kikuyu grass and ornamental plants, along with tall trees that act as natural windbreakers, creating a serene atmosphere.
Rugut's favourite plant, the dahlia, represents his focus on hardy species. He learns about plant care through online resources and captures the beauty of his garden through photography. Overall, Mr Rugut's garden is a vibrant expression of passion and the transformative power of nature.
Whispers of time from 80-year-old Kitisuru garden
Numi Shah's garden at Kitisuru is a remarkable sanctuary that blends history and nature, reflecting her deep connection with the past. The garden features towering trees, some over 80 years old, with the bombax tree at its centre, a symbol of resilience and continuity. This tree is a gathering place for Numi's family, where they share meals and create memories.
Her approach to gardening prioritises conservation over reinvention. She carefully moved plants such as anthuriums, orchids, and rosemary from her previous home to ensure continuity in her garden's narrative.
"The maturity of this garden is what makes it special," she says. "It's not about perfection, it's about preserving what's already here."
Diversity adds to the charm of the garden, which features a vibrant herb garden and tropical plants such as traveller's palms and cycads.
Each element tells a story from the jacaranda whose purple petals cover the ground to the staghorn ferns that adorn the old trees.
Numi's garden blends old and new, creating a grounded, vibrant space that serves as a place for community and healing. Her philosophy is that gardens, like people, thrive on attention, patience, and understanding. Her garden is not just a collection of plants; it is a living memorial where history and nature are beautifully intertwined.
Alice Migwi has loved flowers since she was a little girl. It is the little things that fascinate her most.
Now, her garden in Kajiado County is a striking example of resilience and creativity, thriving in a semi-arid environment through xeriscape landscaping.
Beginning her gardening journey in 2022, Alice transformed her old age home in Isinya from a failed attempt at lush flowers to a thriving one-acre garden with over 25 species of drought-tolerant plants, including succulents, agaves, aloe vera, and vibrant flowers such as marigolds and African daisies.
"Since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by flowers, especially roses and the mimosa. The little things fascinated me so much and so I always had a love and interest for plants. The more I ventured into it, the more I just fell in love with it," Ms Migwi recalls.
Her approach emphasises harmony with the environment, using a blend of black cotton soil and sand for effective drainage, allowing her plants to thrive with minimal watering. The creativity of the garden is enhanced by potted plants on her balcony using traditional kettles and cups, while indoor corridors filled with hoyas and aglaonema reflect her passion for nature.
Alice is also creating a 'pollinator hotspot' to support local wildlife such as bees, butterflies and hedgehogs. As a consultant and writer, she encourages her community to embrace gardening as a connection to nature, envisioning communal spaces where native plants and wildlife coexist.
Her garden represents her belief that gardening brings joy, healing and nourishment to the body and soul.
Juster Miriti's 25-year labour of love
Growing up surrounded by flowers, Juster Miriti has created a unique space that showcases her creativity and dedication.
Miriti's garden is a living testament to her lifelong passion for horticulture, deeply rooted in her family's agricultural heritage.
What sets her garden apart is its harmonious design, characterised by a thoughtful interplay of height, colour and texture. The use of different pot sizes and shapes, along with a rich palette of plants such as crotons, daisies and bougainvillaeas, creates a visually captivating environment.
One of the garden's most intriguing features is its sophisticated irrigation system. With 108,000 litres of stored water and an automated system that can be controlled by a smartphone, Juster has ingeniously addressed the challenge of maintaining her expansive garden, which occupies three-quarters of an acre. This innovative approach not only increases efficiency but also reflects her commitment to sustainable gardening practices.
Juster's garden is not just a collection of plants, but a living ecosystem. She uses organic methods, using natural fertilisers such as fish waste and crushed eggshells, and a gentle approach to pest control, recognising the importance of maintaining ecological balance.
Her thoughtful design includes "garden rooms" and heart-shaped plant arrangements that invite visitors to explore and appreciate the beauty of nature.
Her passion extends beyond her, own garden. She is an active member of gardening communities, sharing her knowledge and experience with other enthusiasts. Her vision of transforming her garden into a tourist destination underlines her desire to foster a sense of community and connection through gardening.
The lodge creates a green oasis to tame the arid heat
Aldrin Ojiambo's garden is a remarkable testament to resilience and creativity, thriving in the arid landscape of Lukenya, Athi River, just 55 kilometres from Nairobi. Initiated in 2016 to coincide with the opening of the Last Village Lodge, the garden was created to protect the property from harsh winds and dust.
Despite the scepticism of others, Ojiambo has planted thousands of trees, including acacias, royal palms, cycads, and baobabs, which now thrive in the extreme heat.
What sets Ojiambo's garden apart is his focus on hardiness and sustainability. He has layered trees, shrubs and groundcovers to conserve water and experimented with different plant species from across Kenya. Notable hardy species such as yellow acacia and neem trees contribute to his resilience, while vibrant flowers such as bougainvillea and birds of paradise add colour.
Ojiambo's philosophy is one of patience and learning from mistakes. Despite setbacks, including the loss of trees during droughts, he perseveres by planting more than necessary to ensure survival. The garden exemplifies how perseverance and adaptation can transform an inhospitable land into a thriving paradise.
With its diverse plants and tranquil setting, Ojiambo's garden has become a popular venue for intimate outdoor events, symbolising the power of nature, patience, and determination.
"I made this garden because I thought it wouldn't work, and everyone told us it wouldn't work. If we had started with the idea that it would work, we could have given up. I bought many lorries of trees worth Sh100,000 per truck," says Mr Ojiambo.
