Volunteers gather to clear away weeds and begin bringing the native garden vision to life.
In spring 2020, health professionals from the Dawoodi Bohra community of Dallas were inspired by the words of the Prophet Mohammed SA as he states: “The sight of greenery improves one’s vision.” The community’s children began to sell houseplants to raise funds for a native garden to be planted just outside their Masjid. The children were able to reach every Dawoodi Bohra household in the congregation and received a donation of $5 to $7 per plant.
In the summer of 2022, volunteers from the community began clearing away old shrubs, vines, and weeds from the garden beds outside the masjid. Plants were chosen for the beds based on the guidance of a local native gardening group called Friends of Irving Gardens (FIG). FIG’s mission is to promote the use of native plants to support local wildlife and ecosystems for a healthier world.
As the weather cooled in September, volunteers and children from the community planted lantana, coneflowers, butterfly weed, and Texas convent sage. Their hope was to create a healthy habitat for native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, and in the process, enhance their vision.
The group sought to bring the benefits of natural greenery to both the community members’ homes and Saifee Masjid, the place of worship of the Dawoodi Bohras of Dallas and Fort Worth. It was also important for them to involve the community’s children to instill a sense of responsibility and entrepreneurship in the future generation.