Hydrangea flowering

Can Hydrangea bloom twice on the same bloom? This puzzles me more. See flowers at top; those cute round balls in the center of 4 petals are buds! Flowers at bottom had their little buds bloomed. Has 2 stamen-like with shining silver tip. Plan to get a closer look tomorrow during the day.

I think it has sweet nectar because tiny crawlies (smaller than house ants and whitish colour, could they be 'aphids'?) moving upwards and downwards on this plant. I might not have exact recipe as Homemade Aphid control; but will try spraying with a solution of cooking oil, water and dish drop [1:1.5:0.24 cup].

Update Sep-30: I've added two pics (top and left) closeups on the blooms.

My bougainvillea blooming in bunches. Wonderful!

It bloomed well initially until I moved it next to a wall for creeping.

Then it was growing variegated leaves until it relocated back here.

Seems to be saying, "I'm lovin' here, so quit movin' me!".

Interesting Hydrangea Annabelle

Hydrangea Annabelle (Arborescence) bloomed fully after 3 weeks since planted into flowerbed.

Blue tinged or am I dreaming of Hydrangea Endless Summer (macrophylla) ? A quick check, my hydrangea's petals doesn't have sharp edges like Macrophylla. Rounded petals resembles closely to Annabelle.

A week later.

Heat is too great for Hydrangea, notice the middle (tallest) section wilted brown. On the bright side, less blooms means lighter weight so I needn't worry putting more support.

Strange hue, varying between blue and pink. Pic taken a month after planting. This is queer because Annabelle is naturally white and will not change color in response to soil pH and typically white flowering varieties can not be made to flower blue.

Hydrangea Annabelle proves more hardier than Hydrangea Macrophylla. An interesting site with tips to resolve Hydrangea Annabelle's droopy blooms.

Update Oct-6: My hydrangea has finished blooming, here's a snapshot of young hydrangea growing rapidly beside the mummy-plant.

Yellow brightens up

What's blooming beside the patio?

Yellow Alder (Turnera ulmifolia) blooms sporadically once from sunrise (about 6.30 am) until 3pm. If Yellow Alder is placed in full evening sun, then the bloom wilts earlier.

They are tropical hardy plants. I noticed they could survive afternoon till evening heat in full sun, 90+F. Leaves will droop as if to avoid the sun and to prevent further loss of moisture. After an hour or so from moderate watering, its leaves sprung up alive again. It didn't succumb to disease or pests and self seeds. When flower wilt and fall off leaving dried seed pod, so light its carried by wind. I would collect its seedling growing here and there in the garden, to replant next to Heliconia. I'm thinking orange-yellow-green mix on certain area of the garden.

Becareful not to over-water, leaves will yellow and drop off. In the begining, when its leaves droop had me worried and over-watered. This is our first pot, so you can see lots of missing leaves *grins*. I pruned a bit before Hari Raya - looks to me like a 'Ikebana'. Cute!

Davesgarden recommend this plant for xeriscaping.

A closeup on Yellow Alder's bloom; from afar it looked like a yellow hibicus, but a closer look one can see it doesn't have the staminal column with filamens at the end.

This bud will bloom tomorrow morning. Below 3 buds will bloom the next day. There will always be new buds everyday. Blooms bright yellow to keep my spirits up before leaving to work.

If you noticed, Yellow Alder pot swap places with Kesidang tree. We're experimenting if full sun will improve Kesidang tree. Its leaves turned yellow and drop off everyday had me worried. Looking for advice on Kesidang.

Pink Raya (Part 2)

Buds spotted a week ago and bloomed today.

Well it isn't exactly a perfect bloom like the ones from nursery Rose Specialist, Sg Buloh.

Thankfully the scent is the same. Place your nose 3-inches from the rose, a sniff of wonderful sweet smell like red syrup. Yumm!!

I'm guessing it's Cramoisi Supérieur (or China Rose or Agrippina). A quote by Soulgardenlove "In my garden September 26, 2007 LOVE IT!! :) Cramoisi Supérieur is sweet!."

Yesterday, it looked like this. We had really strong winds after midnight followed by heavy downpour that lasted a few hours.

So I was pleasantly surprised by it beautiful bloom this morning.

Or it could be Louise Odier, a Bourbon Rose. Davy's Lousiana Gardening mentioned how easy to grow this rose, blooms year-round and like an evergreen. I just hope I got this rose named right!

Elegant bright lilac pink rose - don't you agree?
Very fragrant of raspberry and deep Damask rose. More of these blooms, its fragrance could fill your garden 2 feet away.




The center of the rose is quartered framed by outwardly folding petals, which form an intricate lacing of concentric circles (see pic). This rose can grow up to 8 feet high on Dave's garden.

It can be vulnerable to blackspot and mildew, so precautions may be necessary. Dave suggests to plant Louise Odier as center stage in your garden, void of other bright plants so that the rose's fine features can be accentuated.

Next to China Rose or Bourbon Rose (I seriously don't know which)

is the 'Christian Dior' rose bloomed together with it. I'm getting Dior blooms half the original purchased size. It is a medium red Hybrid Tea rose with large flowers. The scent not as strong, perhaps the size of bloom carry the strength of its scent? But with both roses in bloom, I could sniff them 2 feet away!

Update Sep-24: It was time to fertilise the roses, I was manouvering my 20 liter watering-can and ...  Ack! China Rose or Bourbon Rose went into pieces, all petals fell. Gosh! So delicate?

Leaving solo Dior Rose bloom.

Pink Hari Raya

Pink-coloured Hari Raya. Selamat Hari Raya to all fellow muslims. A wonderful weather, breezy-cool minus the rain.

This year we celebrate Hari Raya with a long week of holiday starting Saturday until Tuesday (4 days). It's a festive occasion of get-together, catching ups and heavy traffic on major highways.

Usually the cities would be quiet and serene as many city folks would be travelling towards suburban or rural areas during the long leave from work and school.

Fragrant Patio

We were looking for something to perfumate our patio. Preferably nature's scent as natural as it can be. Neighbours had wild orchids, ragoon creepers, indian jasmine, etc. So we're out seeking in Sg Buloh.

Nursery caretaker calls it 'Kesidang' or Vallaris Glabra or 'Bread Flower', Apocynaceae family. Impressive tropical vines that is very popular in Thailand and other South-East Asia countries. Mum-in-law fondly recalls it as 'Bunga Kerak Nasi' (more details below) . Both names applies, I was quite amused for a plant with 2 Malay names. Anyway, I found out that this special heavily scented plant was chosen 'state flower' of Melaka (located southwestern-central part of peninsular Malaysia). Kesidang a popular choice for decoration amongst the elite. Traditional Malay brides would decorate their hair with kesidang flower or used in ritual ceremonies. Kesidang symbolically represents the humble character and personality of the people of Melaka whom are friendly and courteous.

Left pic, poor plant underwent a hell ride in a Honda City. 5' tall and 15-inches wide - it's huge. Right pic, final touch up. The stems are small and flexible yet hard, consist a type of latex (white resin liquid) when cut.

In Peninsular Malaysia; the northerners would call it 'Pokok Bunga Kerak Nasi' (Rice Crust or Bread Flower). It is also called as 'Bunga Tikam Seladang' in East Coast. In the Western countries, it is known as the 'Bread Flower'. Plants believed to have originated from the islands of Java. Characterise by its longitunal woody and flexible stem like creepers. Commonly found on rooftops of pergolas, trellises in gardens, perimeter fencing or near windows; places to enjoy its fragrance. You can trim it to shaped into a hedge.

That's my foot, I couldn't carry it on my own. Tried dragging it to the side, ruining the grass in the process. I think it weighs more than me!

The size of its lush green leave, 6-inches. Looks like sirih. Broad leaves are known for its hardiness and high tolerance to drought, hot sun and high humdity. In other words, maintenance-free!

Requires adequate sunlight and watering for optimum flower production rate, and a good drainage.

It is easy to care and tolerates wide range of conditions. It can be trained as a compact bush and is good for container culture. Its sweet mildly fragrant like cut pandan leaves, travels 2 - 3 feet radius and it is very noticeable early in the morning. Some wrote that the scent is a cross between Jasmine and Pandan.

Moderate growth woody climber with pendulous of fragrant off-white, cup-like, 5-petals flowers inflorecences that grows from the branch near tip of a stem. In the middle, 5 white balls and a cone in the center. Buds take turns to bloom in each cluster. Blooming period could last 3 - 4 days. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Here, tiny ants taking sip of its nectar.

Yikes yellow leaves! Nor's Paradise advised that Kesidang leaves will easily turn yellow and fall off if insufficient water.

A week later, more leaves (here and there) turned yellow and dropped. We moved it to a sunnier spot and I found we're not alone. Dr Abdul Ghani Hussain from Kedah (northern Peninsular Malaysia) wrote about his Kesidang fallen leaves and bare stem from neglect. A noticeable change when he moved it to a sunny side of the garden and some pampering, Kesidang fragrant blooms nonstop day and night. Fragrance is refreshing to some. His research on this plant extent to medicinal values. 

Will update you on our Kesidang progress ;-)

Busy Bee

Snapshots on a bee on Lantanas this morning.


As a child, was told to run away to avoid getting bee sting. On a instinct the moment I heard a buzzing-swish, I was about to flee. I stopped to think, this bee is after the nectar, not me. Standing still, trying my very best to catch a perfect shot (*sigh* need to upgrade this camera-la).


Little bee is spoilt for choice, so busy buzzing from one stem to the other. Couldn't care less about my presence. It seem to want to own the whole garden brimming with Lantanas' striking colours.

Other striking blooms; Gomphrena Globosa and Gerbera Daisy. Gerbera looks tired, sun-bleached, despite its stem and leaves healthy sheen of green.

Blue? Yes? Yes?

Yellow Alder (Turnera), self-sown in July outside of our perimeter wall. I brought it in, saved from grass-cutters. Matures 2 months later, now blooming beside Heliconia.

Pothos (mixed of variegated, deep green), you can say this "rojak" synonymous for mixed-up and messy. If uncontrolled will lead to what we'll call 'jungle-look'. For Chinese, we love healthy greens that symbolise money. Most leafy evergreen with sheen of green is favored for good fengshui. Pothos on southwest window sill while Episcia, northwest. Episcia grown from cuttings and replanted into the window-box late July, is catching up with Pothos that was planted in March. When it does, it'll be full of chilli red blooms!

Did some tidying up over the weekend. Garden needs some primping; anxious over the coming family renunion. This gathering coincides with a annual major festival celebrated by our muslim friends. It is a special occasion where muslim families reunite after fasting from dawn to dusk for 29 or 30 days (also known as 'Ramadan' month) is called 'Hari Raya Adilfitri' (Celebration Day of Fasting). Public holidays for 2 days. Therefore many, other races included, will take the opportunity to travel for a long vacation or out-station visitation.

Small planter boxes half-filled with blooms and greens. I combined into a bigger planted box, spread them in rows with spaces in between for better growth.

A good advice, to gently dig circling round the base of stem and avoid its roots, 2-inches deep then lift. Slowly disentangle twined roots with both hands. To reuse soil, stir to breakdown compacted soil and mix. Fill the new box with a thin layer of coco peat, with 2 inches deep of soil. Pressed to compact the soil then make an-inch deep hole to place the seedling. Top up with more soil in between after you are satisfied with the placement of all the seedlings. Pressed lightly to compact soil, this minimises air pockets where fungal disease thrive easily. Lastly, water.