Jenny Konopka’s garden is full of flowers, colour, and a lot of love.
For Konopka, gardening is more than a hobby. It is something she has enjoyed for as long as she can remember.

“It’s my passion. I love it,” she says.

Konopka grows a variety of plants outdoors and keeps many indoor plants in her home as well. Among her favourites are orchids. She has more than 10 potted orchids inside her house.
She also helps bring colour to St. Peter Celestin Catholic Church in Slave Lake by planting flowers there.

“It’s really fun,” she says.

Gardening gives Konopka a chance to slow down and enjoy watching her plants grow. She describes it as relaxing, especially when the flowers begin to bloom after weeks of care.

A few years ago, her lilies grew so well that she picked them and turned them into a bouquet.
“I also love rearranging them,” she says. “If given a chance, I would love to work in a flower shop!”
Like every gardener, Konopka has also had plants that did not survive.

But a few setbacks have not stopped her from planting, watering, and trying again.

“I still love to see my plants growing,” she says.

Julia Magsombol

Lakeside Leader