For the last three years I’ve been gardening by planting and taking care of a small green island (the way I call it) in a public backyard nearby my house in Kyiv. Before, it was an abandoned place that looked lonely and sad. I thought, what if I try and create something joyful instead. I decided to start my garden.

I googled and saw a picture with beautiful white and green leaves, the description said ‘invasive grass’. I started by planting a couple of separate sticks. Since then, each spring during the last three years I have found myself anxiously waiting for a small plant to slightly wake up and gently appear after the winter sleep with a basket of water and a smile. It was so joyful and exciting.

Within three years the island grew into a gorgeous 6 meters pano. The growing canvas was gently invading the space around.

People are used to thinking that invasion is something negative, but what about the concept when beauty invades something? Instead of being invaded by anger and hate, I want people to cover the planet with love and care, about nature, about their own mental health, just as this grass naturally was crawling. I want them to plant joy. Watering the idea of gratitude and celebration the kindness of mother nature, the energy and the inspiration it gives.