Nurturing nature in Antara

There are not many things quite as relaxing as nurturing a plant and witnessing it grow and thrive. Especially for people working in positions that experience stress, gardening is more than a hobby; it’s a form of therapy.  
 
Your Antara home will already be surrounded by plenty of verdant greens: well-kept lawns, beautiful, blooming bushes and large palm trees providing some truly appreciated shade. The state of these is monitored and handled by dedicated staff. But, these are there for you to enjoy the benefits they provide. If you want to get your own fingers in the dirt, so to speak, it’s a different thing. 
 
For example, let’s discuss your backyard. Riyadh has a hot, dry climate, but the sheer quantity of flora and water within Antara helps cool it off and increase air humidity compared to outside. As such, your backyard could be a garden for you to play with. Which, incidentally, is ideal for several plants, decorative or not. However, specifically in Riyadh, many plant-lovers also opt to keep plants in pots indoors.  
 
Indoors, plants like a beautiful monstera or a ficus can thrive, so long as you take care of their soil, water them and keep them by a window. Your experience may vary depending on the direction the window is facing or the type and variegation of plant you choose, but generally, and especially in the Riyadh climate, you’ll want to keep the soil from completely drying out, and definitely to water it thoroughly if you happen to find their pot is bone-dry!  
 
If, however, you prefer to keep plants on a balcony or deck, or if you want to convert your roof terrace into a garden of pots, planters and greens and flowers, you can’t go wrong with adding some bird of paradise plants, a wide variety of flowers indigenous and already adapted to the Riyadh climate, or cacti. And if you want to combine the hobby with utility, a roof with some planters is a great place to grow aloe vera, tomatoes, watermelons, or varieties of herbs, roots and leafs like basil, spinach, scallions and more. 
 
For those you have already ventured into the hobby, you’ll be happy to know Riyadh is well-equipped for you. Many shops and professionals will be available for supplies, seeds, seedlings or advice. In fact, just 10 minutes away from Antara you’ll find shops like Sultan Gardens or Beautiful Garden Nursery that can provide you with all you need to get started or expand your collection of flora.  
 
For those that haven’t yet had the pleasure of attempting to grow plants, the ample sunlight, and the hardy nature of plants indigenous to Saudi Arabia means it’s a perfect time to start and enjoy the unique feeling of nurturing a seed into a healthy grown plant.