Man plants thousands of pink flowers to get people to visit blind wife

Man plants thousands of pink flowers to get people to visit blind wife

All Mr Toshiyuki Kuroki, 86, wanted to do was to make his 79-year-old wife Yasuko, who became blind at the age of 52, happy again.

Married for 30 years, the elderly couple lived on a 3.3 sq m dairy farm in Shintomi town in Miyazaki prefecture, Japan, and tended to a herd of 60 cows every day.

But Mrs Kuroki suddenly encountered a problem with her eyes, and became blind within a week, according to Rocket News 24.

The couple had hoped to take a trip around Japan when they retired. Devastated that they could not fulfil that dream due to her blindness, Mrs Kuroki shut herself away from the world and cooped herself up in the house.

One day, Mr Kuroki chanced upon a pink shibazakura flower, also known as moss phlox, in the garden, which smelled as good as it looked.

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He thought that by having more blooms, his wife would be able to enjoy the scent, and people might come to visit the garden and that would make her feel better.

Mr Kuroki then spent the next two years creating the foundation for the garden, until a sea of bright pink flowers eventually surrounded their house.

More than two decades later, the garden has drawn visitors from surrounding towns and prefectures.

Up to 7,000 people would visit the garden every year from late March to April, when the flowers are in full bloom, to enjoy the pretty sight and learn more about the love story behind it.

Photos of a beaming Mrs Kuroki greeting visitors have also been shared on social media.

It seems like Mr Kuroki's idea was a success.


This article was first published on Feb 19, 2016.
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