Frightfully Hot, Rainless in Kemuning

We've endured 3 - 4 weeks of glaring sun in clear skies, under the blazing heat and by night, we're steaming after a good cold bath!

7-Day Weather Outlook in Selangor - isolated showers possibly rainless http://www.met.gov.my/htdocs2/data/S007E.html

Earthquake (magnitude 5.1 Richter) in Philippines on May-13 http://www.kjc.gov.my/home_e.html

On Labours holiday, we did some sightseeing of neighbouring gardens for ideas. Inspired to give our Lantanas a clean-look, we bought cane-sticks, 3' tall, from One-Stop. Easy fit into the ground as compared to the foldable plant support (see periwinkle).
Improvised with raffia string, I've gathered the Lantanas and achieved the neat-tall-look. Some pruning and adjusting for unimpeded growths & blooms.

Update May-19,'09: Wrote description as 'Spreading Sunset' in http://jaimeboey.blogspot.com/2009/01/as-iridescent-as-prism-in-morning-room.html also known as Horrida (native Lantana) can grow to form a shrub 8-feet tall and nearly as wide.

We also bought 2 pots of Pentas Lanceolata or Egyptian Star Cluster (Rubiaceae) was featured as Plant of the Week June 20-26, 2008 www.plantoftheweek.org/week465.shtml. Pentas adds colour-variety amongst Lantanas with similar growing habit - both known to be thriving in hot weather, between 32°-38°C (considered as landscape perennial shrub) and grows up to 2'-3' tall, spreads 14"-18" wide.

Right now its 2' shorter than Lantanas, is already so bushy and flowering profusely in huge clusters - I just can't wait for it grow into a shrub. Did you notice that both Pentas aren't the same? Flowers with white in the middle, the other has purplish or bluish center instead. These Pentas took a slimmer Lantanas spot which relocated next to its buddy-Lantana, combined size and sharing a cane-stick. Recommended watering at the base of the plant, just above the soil, or you could loose some flowers. Water once a day is sufficient, allow water to soak in soil before second round of watering. http://www.webindia123.com/garden/flowers/pentas.htmhttp://herselfshoustongarden.com/2007/09/egyptian-star-cluster-pentas.html

Pentas prefer a soil pH of 7, gardeners recommend adding lime annually to encourage profuse flowering. Propagate through stem cutting. Excessive drought and watering will cause severe yellowing and necrosis.

Update May-19,'09: Similar variety called 'Nova,' is a Georgia Gold Medal winner for 1999. Great for a Butterfly garden http://www.greenbeampro.com/content/view/1458/205/

Also a retired horticulturist recommends planting Pentas with Lantanas http://www.plantanswers.com/calvin_finch_articles/Plants_to_Attract_Butterflies.htm

We brought home from a nursery along Jalan Hicom, a pot of Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) and 3 pots of Melampodium paludosum (Gold Medallion or Butter Daisy).

Since Desert Rose known to take a good deal of neglect, I shall do so!

For maximum growth and flowering; 1) plant terracotta pot in well drained soil and 2) lots of fertilizer. http://mgonline.com/desertrose.html

By end of May, I envisioned a flower-bed on ground, in the front garden, filled with Thiam's favourite yellows; Medallions or Butter Daisy (pic below). It makes a fuss-free flower-bed because 1) profuse flowering 2) less than a foot tall, 3) sun-loving, 4) no deadheading.

Nursery caretaker recommends to avoid the flowers when watering. http://www.phillipoliver.net/melampodium.htm

Our new garden-additions proved to withstand the frightful heat & high humidity, showed signs of growth after a week since transplant. I had to restrain myself from over-watering. I could feel the vapours from the water hose the whole time after sunset. End of the evening-garden-ritual, I looked as if I've ran a 1km marathon!