CRISTY IN THE CITY: urban garden

urban garden

Monday, February 23, 2026

There’s something sweetly magical about discovering a flower that feels like it chose you.

This week, it was a cluster of soft purple asters blooming gently under the Bucida spinosa tree — delicate, cheerful, and surprisingly resilient. They looked like tiny stars sprinkled across green stems, catching the morning light just right. And of course, I had to learn how to grow them properly.

If you’re dreaming of adding a pop of romantic purple to your little city garden, here’s everything I’ve learned.

What I Love About Asters

Asters (often called Michaelmas daisies) are classic cottage-garden flowers with daisy-like petals and sunny centers. They’re charming without trying too hard. Not dramatic. Not fussy. Just effortlessly pretty.

They bring:

Soft color to small garden spaces

Pollinators like bees and butterflies

That “English garden in the city” vibe

Full morning sun

Well-draining soil

Consistent but not excessive watering

Mixed garden soil with compost for better drainage

Watered deeply 2–3 times a week

Pinched the stems early so they grow bushier

Removed faded blooms to encourage more flowers

Where They Thrive

In our tropical Philippine weather, asters love balance:

Too much water? They sulk.

Too much shade? They stretch and flop.

They’re happiest when things feel balanced — kind of like us.

A Little Secret for Fuller Blooms

If you gently pinch back the stems when they’re still young, they grow thicker and fuller. More branches = more flowers.

Think of it as encouraging them to glow up.

Why They Feel So Special

Asters bloom when many other flowers start fading. They show up late, but beautifully.

There’s something poetic about that.

They remind me that not everything blooms at the same time — and that’s perfectly okay.

If you’ve been thinking of adding something romantic but resilient to your garden, consider asters. You can buy them in a pot in your local plant garden. They’re proof that even in the middle of city life, softness and romance can thrive.

With love and petals,

🌸✨

Cristy in the City

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Autumn at the She Shed

My potting shed or the Shed Shed as IKEA succinctly puts it is my little refuge from the world. A tad bigger than a phone booth, it houses my gardening tool and my revolving collection of knick knacks that spark joy. Men may have their man caves to retreat to when they need to lick their wounds. Women on the other hand have their "she sheds" to recharge and nurture their souls.

September has arrived and the "ber" months are my favorite time of the year. I may live in a quintessential tropical world but I'll always be a four season kind of girl who loves to change along with ebbs and tides of nature. Autumn will always be the coziest season of the soul and women will always be drawn to this season whatever latitude they are in.

My mini pumpkin decors are out again and my soul is happy.

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Late-bloomer

I believe in the adage, Mother Nature knows best!

All the while I thought my Monstera Deliciosa acquired during the pandemic would wither and die. I placed it indoors for a year and sadly noticed its stunted growth. One morning I decided to bring it out in the garden for it to bask in warm sunshine. The rainy days came and its daily bath of monsoon rain surprisingly nourished its roots. Soon I started to see leaves unfurling. In due time, it bloomed to what it is today--a beautiful plant with luxuriant leaves.

If you have an indoor plant that's struggling to bloom, take it outdoors and let nature do its magic. You'll thank me later.

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Hola Plantita!

There are no street dancing and merrymaking activities this Dinagyang weekend due to the pandemic. It's eerily quiet and the mood is somber just like the downcast skies that have prevailed all week. Save for a few moments of sunshine, you would need a cup of your favorite brew or a slice of cake to brighten up the day. For me, a potful of flowers or a new glossy leafed plant would do the trick. Aside from its being Caturday, it's also a plantita kind of day. Yay!

After breakfast, my sister-law and teenage niece headed off to Plaza Jaro to check out the plant fair. Right after December, as tradition would have it, the plaza would usually be a noisy carnival of sorts filled with ukay-ukay merchandize, plant sales and exhibits, marble and ceramic markets and of course, the streetfood fare. This year, it's just all about plants, plants and more plants. I don't call myself a real plantita since my practical interest in plants is usually limited to culinary herbs and flowering plants. I'm not into collecting expensive or rare plants either since I don't have the time or the budget for it. Every January, I just buy a few plants from the Jaro Plaza market that I can add to my herb or flower garden.

The Jaro Plaza plant fair has a plant for every kind of gardener, plant enthusiast or die-hard plantita/plantito. You might just find the plant that will love you back. Check the market out as soon as you can. Bring lots of cash as the temptation will be great. Resistance will be futile.

The Jaro Plaza Plant Fair runs from January to February 6, 2021.

Update: Extended until February 15, 2021.