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Tucked away in Jannusan and nestled between the Al A'ali Mansoor gardens is a beautiful nursery with a tropical touch ... with the aim of making everything in the garden rosy in Bahrain.
It specialises in giving life to barren wastelands with expertise provided by horticulturalists and landscape artists and a secret ingredient in its potting soil.
Manager Caroline Al Shehabi - a Dutch national, who boasts a degree in agriculture and has made Bahrain her home for the past 21 years - says the nursery is in the business of showing people through 'live examples' of what can be done to add a touch of green to both outside and inside spaces.
She said: "You need not confine yourself to an air-conditioned environment in Bahrain forever. You can have green spaces and cool areas that will help people get out of their homes and enjoy their gardens.
"You can create a garden anywhere in Bahrain, even on a balcony. If it is a very windy location you simply have to build a barrier or a wind-break to make the area comfortable for the plants. All you need to do is to put the right plant in the right place with the right amount of shade and sun and give it the right environment to grow.
"Our plants, seeds and soil material are hardened to Bahrain and will not deteriorate in six months. We don't import plants and directly sell them.
"If you want to create a little patch in your garden we simply need to know if it is in full sun or in half shade. If you have a shaded location you can have shade-loving plants. And, if you have a sunny location you need plants that will survive the heat.
"Our experienced horticulturalists can tell you what will grow in what location and provide the right soil mixes. We call it our own recipe of mixture that plants love. And, indoor plants need a different potting soil to outdoor plants."
The nursery has a wide range of pots, statues, Balinese umbrellas, doors and other decorative items from Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia that can add an extra dimension to a garden. There are also a variety of designer metal pots from Italy for the indoors.
Caroline said that her customers enjoy the display and the feel of what they can do with different pots and plants in various combinations. She added: "We have small quantities of everything. There are selected items and are exclusive."
Jannusan Exotics specialises in water features and has water plants from Thailand and Indonesia. Fertilised clayey soil from Holland helps the water lilies and water hyacinths flourish. Caroline believes that it is this right mix of Asia and Europe that makes her water plants happy.
She said: "Even an old bathtub or large pot of at least one feet can be used to make a beautiful water feature. We have thalia, water canna, water weeds, floaters and water lettuce. Adding some fish in the water feature will help as it will otherwise attract mosquitoes. In summer they need to be moved to a shaded location."
The nursery offers a wide range of flowering plants - frangipanis, ixora, hibiscus, petunias, geraniums, jasmine, cannas, bonsais, grass, exotic plants including royal palms, ficus trees, orchids, bamboo and even has an olive tree in its experimental area.
Jannusan Exotics's experts are also in demand for designing corporate courtyards for large buildings as well as rooftop gardens.
Caroline's top tips
Bougainvillaeas can live without water for a couple of days and can easily add colour to your garden.
Compost in an outdoor garden will make excellent home-made fertiliser.
Ceramic pots are best. Plastic pots make the soil boiling hot.
The secret to keeping a beautiful garden is maintenance. It has to be taken care of, regularly fertilised and kept free of pests.
