Elvis Sutherland often receives compliments from casual observers who admire his horticultural work. His artistry can be seen in the flower garden outside the Ministry of Public Service building on Waterloo Street, and his efforts have transformed that part of the street.
At present there are over a dozen flower varieties in the garden which has been in existence from the time Minister of Public Services Jennifer Westford took office.
According to Elvis, who is now 64, the idea came from Minister Westford, who liked the idea of having a flower garden in front of the ministry, rather than the vegetable garden which was already there. At that time, Elvis, who had been employed with the ministry as a security officer for a number of years, was asked to assist with ensuring the ministry’s compound and the immediate surroundings were kept tidy, and he readily agreed.
From ensuring the cleanliness of the compound, Elvis was subsequently asked to take care of the garden after he stopped working as a security officer at the ministry.
According to Elvis, gardening is a profession which requires a lot of time and effort, something which he does not mind since he enjoys what he does. His job is more than just a means for him to earn an income, he said, since he also gets a sense of relaxation from gardening; it is simply something he loves to do.
Elvis also said that he is not surprised that persons admire his handiwork, and that compliments have become the norm now. However, in some instances the praise would come with job offers to take care of flower gardens at people’s homes.
The flowers at the Waterloo Street location are chosen by Elvis himself, and he collects seeds from various persons. He then plants the seeds in a nursery where they germinate and start to grow. The young plants are then transferred to the garden once they are mature enough.
When asked who decides on the lay-out of the plants, Elvis replied, “Well I does try to make little designs with the plants from my own creativity.”
According to Elvis, preparation of the soil is the key to great plants. He does not put his plants in soil alone but uses a mixture of soil and ashes generated from the burning of dead leaves. For him, this is important, and it is reflected in the appearance of the plants.
A typical working day for Elvis starts around 4 pm from Monday to Friday. Once he is settled in he begins his job by picking the dead leaves off the plants, and this is followed by watering, pruning and moulding.
Elvis also mentioned that his garden is still incomplete since one of his favourite plants, the rose, is missing. He plans to add a rose bush as soon as he gets his hands on one. He also has plans to add a few other varieties to the complement and create more designs to enhance the garden’s appearance.
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