This archive report was first published on 31 August 2019.
Aruna Chandaria's Green Oasis ¶
Located in Nairobi's Muthaiga, Aruna Chandaria's five-acre garden is a true paradise, boasting a diverse array of plants, shrubs, and trees from around the world.
As a qualified teacher of Ikebana, an age-old Asian art, Aruna has spent years perfecting her gardening skills, which she has honed through extensive travel and study.
Her garden, which includes three greenhouses, is home to a stunning collection of orchids, as well as Bonsai trees, which she has learned to create and care for during her trips to Japan.
One of the highlights of the garden is the rock garden, which Aruna and her husband Manu designed together soon after they moved in 1969. The garden features a gushing waterfall, a pond filled with water lilies and bamboo, and a bottlebrush tree that retains its bright red flowers even in Nairobi's cold 'winter' months.
Despite the challenges of maintaining a garden in Nairobi's climate, Aruna has developed a system to keep her plants thriving, including using mesh to protect her orchids from mischievous monkeys.
Today, Aruna still walks the grounds every day, giving instructions to her staff and ensuring that the garden remains in its well-tended state.
