Moth's first flight

Are you able to see it? (One) Highest on our West end of Periwinkle shrub and most vague.

Another hiding along the main stem Southward (Two), while the other two resting Northward (Three and Four).

(Five) Cliffhanger towards East end. While the last, the pic below, busy muching on a stem (Six). They were spotted mid-Oct.

False eyes appeared two days later.

This first caterpillar turning yellow, a colour change process. They're voracious muncher when green then they'll go dormant in brown and black colours before turning into a pupa in next 2 or 3 days then morphed into a moth in 2 weeks time.

This 'cutie' has somehow managed to crawl 26 feet away from the Periwinkle shrub to look for a hiding place amongst the river-washed-pebbles. During this period, brown caterpillar does "electric-shock" movements when it sense danger or something touches it. A defense mechanism.

Worried over the chances being crushed or stepped on, we placed it in a clear glass bowl with a layer of old newspaper. 'Cutie' crawled and nestled underneath the paper.

The rest? Well, they seem to have disappeared from the Periwinkle without a sight.

'Cutie' successfully morphed at night. Moth emerged from its pupa.

My DH ever concerned over it final survival, he soaked cotton pad with honey for 'cutie' to sip and energise. We'll never know if it enjoys the sweetness because its' movement is soooo slow.

The next morning, 'cutie' left us. DH made sure if surrounding was tampered by predators or pests, but none. So we assume it has successfully taken its first flight to freedom :)

Happy November 'Cutie'.

In the cold November rain

Rainy season has started.

Humongous and swelling buds after a 4-hour heavy downpour on Thursday, noon till night. Blooms a plenty after raining in the wee hours in the morning on Friday (1am till 6am) and drizzling until 9am.

Buds finally bloomed since last bloomed during Merdeka Day (Aug-31) and Hari Raya Adilfitri (Sep-20). New pair of leaves emerged, lower pair of leaves spotted early Oct. Since then new buds often singed and never seem to swell and bloom, while green leaves turned yellow and failling rapidly compared to new growth. It left us thinking perhaps it is dying. The sight of heavy downpours until you can't see shallow drains by the sides of the road (about 2-inch floods) was scary! But in fact it was a good sign for this thirsty Kesidang. Ah ha!

Kesidang's sweet scent filled the patio and surrounding garden, spreads into our dining and living. The wonderful fresh fragrance reminds my mum-inlaw her childhood dwelling days and fond memories :)

For me, it's a reminder that God create mother nature in its unexplained mysteries and always full of surprises. Life's like a box of chocolate.

Quirky

Strange plant, is it a weed? Grows slower than ordinary grass weeds. Quite cute, seems evergreen to me because no buds at sight.

Stranger still, Gerbera daisy in half ?

Torenia fournieri (Bluewings) bent into 2, circled in white. It has been 2 days and still green, fresh looking. It has a bud, I wonder if it will bloom?

Whaddaya know? 4 days later, the crippled Torenia stood up!

Blooms purplish blue in real life but the photos shows them in striking blue despite Periwinkles still looked pink on photos. Amazing.

Countless buds :)

Blooms 4 days later :)

Self seeds sown early June.

Seedlings emerged late July (shown in pic) and when they've grown, I've replanted into planter box mid-Sep for bigger space. Spotted buds in late Sep only then did I realised they were Dot's Torenias, given to us last June.

Of course we were delighted :)

Raindrops glisten

Rain! It's 24 deg C (74 deg F) this morning.

Very strong rain started at 2 am and lasted probably more than an hour. Found one of my Torenia fournieri (bluewings or wishbone flower) bent into 2 :( ... luckily 5 or 6 others are still ok with a pretty bloom still intact.

Will post their pictures soon :)