People often ask me,
“Why do you grow roses in Singapore?”
I simply smile.
Because many years ago, I believed roses could only thrive in countries with cool climates and four distinct seasons. I thought Singapore—with its year-round heat, high humidity, and frequent tropical rain—was one of the last places where roses could truly flourish.
But instead of accepting that belief, I decided to test it for myself.
My first few attempts ended in failure.
Some roses died shortly after planting. Others struggled for months before finally giving up. There were moments when I questioned whether I was asking too much from a flower that seemed better suited to another climate.
Yet every failed rose taught me something.
Rather than blaming the weather or the plant, I asked myself a different question:
“What haven’t I understood yet?”
That question changed everything.
I began studying rose cultivation more deeply—not only from books and experienced growers around the world, but also from the roses themselves. Every yellow leaf, every blind shoot, every damaged root system became a lesson. Over time, those lessons slowly turned into experience.
Today, when I look at the roses blooming in my Singapore garden, I don’t just see beautiful flowers.
I see years of patience.
Countless mistakes.
Continuous learning.
And a determination to never give up.
Growing roses has taught me that success is rarely about having perfect conditions. More often, it comes from understanding, adapting, and persevering when things don’t go as planned.
I don’t believe my roses bloom because I’m exceptionally talented.
I believe they bloom because I refused to stop learning from every failure.
Perhaps that’s the greatest lesson roses have given me—not only about gardening, but about life itself.
Success doesn’t belong to those who never fail.
It belongs to those who are willing to try just one more time.
🌹 The key to success is simply to try one more time.