Visiting the unit on a weekend, we felt the bustling atmosphere of the soldiers planting and caring for flowers. From selecting seeds, sowing seedlings, potting, to fertilizing, watering, and pest control, everything was done skillfully and meticulously by the "Soldiers' Nursery Team," following the plan of their superiors.

Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Hong Hoang, Deputy Head of Political Affairs of Regiment 31, said that the unit is not only preparing flowers for display during the Lunar New Year, but also for decorating the 80th anniversary of the Regiment's founding (January 22, 1946 / January 22, 2026). The Regiment's command assigned this task to the grassroots shock troop unit. For the Tet flowers, the unit planted sunflowers, cockscomb, and marigolds in November, while pansies are expected to be planted in the third week of December.

Officers and soldiers of Battalion 7 (Regiment 31, Division 309, Military Region 7) tending to sunflowers.

He further shared that, based on the soil quality and the structure of the barracks grounds, each unit can plant other short-term flowering plants, but must ensure economy and harmony, avoiding scattered planting that would affect the overall landscape planning.

To learn more, we visited the flower nurseries of Battalion 7 (Regiment 31). Captain Bui Thanh Hiep, Deputy Political Officer of Battalion 7, said that this time, the unit planted more than 10,000 trees and flowers of various kinds to decorate the spring flower garden at the unit as well as to decorate for the anniversary celebration. Besides familiar short-lived flowers, the unit also planted corn and rice... to make the soldiers' spring celebration space more vibrant and reminiscent of the old countryside.

The unit's flower nursery.

Each flower, from seed to maturity, embodies the effort, affection, and faith of the unit's officers and soldiers. Everyone hopes that during holidays and festivals, the unit will always be adorned with flags and flowers, beautifying the landscape and practically enhancing the morale of the troops. Therefore, all stages are carried out seriously and meticulously.

Captain Bui Thanh Hiep shared that the unit utilizes and inherits materials such as soil, plastic pots, and shade nets from previous years. Organic fertilizer is always prepared year-round, made from waste products from the garden, dry leaves, and decaying plants. As for seeds, some are collected from withered flowers at the end of last year's season, and some are purchased using funds from the production fund and the "collecting scrap" savings model.

Limited irrigation water sources have made caring for the unit's flower gardens quite challenging. To overcome this, officers and soldiers have utilized daily household water, especially filtered and settled bathwater. Thanks to this innovative approach, the unit has saved a significant amount of water while ensuring the plants continue to thrive.

When asked about the duties of each member of the "Nursery Soldier Team," Sergeant Le Thanh Tin, Squad Leader of the Machine Gun Squad, Company 2, Battalion 7 (Regiment 31), shared: "The newly sprouted flower seedlings are carefully and meticulously cared for in the nursery, which is covered with netting. Here, the company assigns two comrades to be 'in charge' - who already had flower-growing skills before enlisting. As for the plants that have grown strong and are about a handspan tall, a group of soldiers will be responsible for transferring them to pots, placing them under the canopy of old trees or covering them daily to avoid the harsh sunlight. In the evening, the members take turns catching snails, green caterpillars, and other insects that harm the plants."

For many of the soldiers, accustomed to the harsh conditions of the training ground, nurturing these tiny seedlings until they bloom is no easy task. However, with dedication, commitment, and skillful hands, we believe that the officers and soldiers of the unit will have a vibrant flower garden ready for the 80th anniversary of the 31st Regiment's founding and the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/bo-doi-ron-rang-trong-hoa-tet-1014753