The rose house of a Vietnamese woman in Japan

The front yard of Vy Pham’s house, 35, in Tochigi province is covered with roses every spring and summer, their fragrance filling the small neighborhood.

Across 100 m2, Vy cultivates 45 rose bushes, combined with dahlias, peonies, tulips, hydrangeas, pansies, and clematis. The plants are arranged in layers to create a harmonious layout without compromising the openness of the house.

Vy Pham, originally from Thai Binh, moved to Japan in 2014. Her early years there revolved around making a living, getting married, and raising two young children.

In late 2023, the Vietnamese woman found her "own space" with the front garden. "I was inspired by observing how the Japanese meticulously care for every plant pot and porch on street corners," Vy said. "The biggest motivation came from a compatriot who owned a splendid garden, which revived my childhood dream of having a rose garden."

The garden features many English and Japanese rose varieties, including famous ones like Golden Celebration, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Lady of Shalott, Queen of Sweden, and Lady Emma Hamilton. She also collects cut flower rose varieties specifically used for weddings, such as Kate, Miranda, Keira, and Constance.

Vy said the investment cost for specialized soil, fertilizers, and disease treatments for 50 rose bushes is quite high. "But I can sacrifice all other pleasures for the garden", she said.

In the early days, lacking experience, Vy had to translate gardening guides online and research different types of soil, fertilizers, and disease prevention medicines. Once, she applied NPK fertilizer but forgot to water, causing some rose bushes to dry out and die. She then had to find and buy the exact same varieties to replant.

Prominently in the garden is the Rainy Blue climbing rose, a popular purple variety with abundant clusters of delicate, long-stemmed flowers. Beside it is the deep yellow Golden Celebration climbing rose, known for its strong fragrance.

These two bushes face the main road, creating an impressive flower wall about 6 meters long each summer.

With her husband busy, Vy single-handedly manages all aspects of garden care. During hot summers, she prunes all the spring blooms; in the rainy season, she focuses on spraying fungicides. On windy days, the Vietnamese woman climbs ladders, erects poles, and ties ropes to prevent taller plants from uprooting. Every autumn and winter, she repeats the process of changing the soil in potted plants to ensure proper nutrition.

Despite her busy schedule, Vy said she tries to dedicate one to two hours daily to her garden. "Gardening doesn't add burden. On the contrary, when I'm stressed, just going out to weed or prune branches helps me relax", she said.

Positioned directly in front of her house and next to the road, the garden has become a familiar stop for many neighbors returning from work, who pause to admire and take photos.

After nearly three years, Vy believes the greatest reward is not the number of flower varieties or the size of the garden, but the patience of waiting for the flowers she nurtured to bloom and the habit of dedicating time to a beloved activity.