These days, people scale mountains and travel the world in search of positive energy and peaceful vibes. But do we ever stop to consider cultivating that very same positivity within our own living spaces? When you return home exhausted after a long day at work, the rejuvenating energy your home environment feeds back into you is what truly matters.

Paving entire courtyards with concrete tiles might look neat, but it can never match the soul-healing freshness of natural greenery. Step into the hillside home of Elma and Nibu Abraham Mathew in Chethongara, near Ranni in Pathanamthitta, and you will immediately feel an effortless wave of vitality.

Designing a green sanctuary
Perched on a scenic slope, Elma's home is a masterclass in space-efficient landscaping. Rather than limiting plants to the borders of her gravel-paved courtyard, she has integrated them into the architecture itself. Greenery climbs up her car shed walls, drapes over cosy outhouses, and thrives in beautifully arranged vertical gardens. Lush green lawns and exotic fruit-bearing trees add a distinct charm to the entire property.

A silver jubilee of green love
For this couple, gardening has been an inseparable part of their 25-year marriage. Today, their home boasts over 500 varieties of ornamental plants neatly arranged in colourful, hand-painted pots. Foliage plants and succulents dominate the landscape. Since flowering plants are seasonal, Elma has purposefully curated a collection of year-round leafy beauties. This includes more than 50 varieties of Begonia, 15 species of Cactus, and 10 types of Aglaonema, alongside vibrant Bougainvillea and Adeniums, which are carefully protected under a custom rain shelter.

The secret to thriving plants
According to Elma, the sheer volume of plants matters less than how they are arranged and nurtured. She feeds them organic fertilisers once a fortnight to ensure lush, healthy growth. If the skies remain dry for more than two days, a thorough watering session is non-negotiable. Regular pruning is also key; her Bougainvilleas have already been neatly trimmed post-bloom. Elma credits her husband Nibu’s shared passion for the garden's impeccable state. Spending an hour and a half every evening watering and weeding is not a chore for this family—with their children joining in, it has become a cherished daily ritual.

Souvenirs from two decades of travel
For over 20 years, the family has followed a golden rule: never return from a holiday without bringing back a plant or two. This slow, intentional curation is how their magnificent botanical collection came to be. To successfully maintain a garden, Elma believes you need more than just space—you need a generous heart and a genuine connection with nature. Each plant has its own personality, and understanding the precise light and moisture conditions they require is the key to letting them shine in an aesthetically arranged, imaginative setup.