Pink blooms

Rare persona... in you desert rose
In the sandy ocean, you devote for better life,
Amazing grace based on your strongest will
Days without rain while the sun vapor the strength
Resistant but beauty even the land is burning thee
Root of hopes now stronger to find water deeper
True charisma, exist in you, desert rose

 

Poem by Unwritten Soul

Pink blooms, attracts passerbys - even to the house dwellers returning home from work. Lovin' it because they will bloom, in a huge way, throughout the day, sunny, rainy, stormy, windy, night falls, under twinkling stars, etc. Immaculate over a week until it dries up and falls. I adore them, just leave them on their own (minimal care) - they will choose the time to bud and bloom. And when they do ... they made sure you'll notice!

Admiring from afar, see how wide and open their petals, as if standing out tall in glory, untainted. Such innocence and pure - vividly bright. Saying 'it's time to shine!'

Nature life's lesson, noted.

White Earrings

 

http://www.fukubonsai.com/2b7a.html
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Water%20Jasmine.html

Yellow Turnera catches filtered sunlight.

Persistence

[Stuck on blogging? Yup, been away and rusty.]

Wishing all Muslim friends, Selamat Hari Raya. Safe journeys to all during this 'Balik Kampung' fever. It's a time where families reunite over home-cooked meals, sharing joys and concerns. Children out to play. It's a long holiday, over the weekend. 

We somehow prefer to savour the tranquil and quietness in our patio; wafts of Kesidang's blooms and Water Jasmine fragrance next to us. Savouring the sight of Water Jasmine; like tiny bright white stars hanging from its branches. (I've relocate them filtered from evening sun, to be able to catch more rain when weather permits).

Truly a feel good factor - an escape from daily traffic congestion, hectic workload, demanding people, hazy weather, etc. Relieved - finally a weeklong of rain rejuvenates outdoor greens and flowering plants, cools the earth - keeping haze and dust at bay.

Yellow Turnera (which we fondly calls it 'Yellow Texas') used to be at where Water Jasmine is - now its big blooms giving brightness of colour in the mornings amongst the leafy plants; Calatheas, Longevity, Zebras. Its tendrils reminds me of 'Ikebana'.

White blooms always fascinating, its pureness and clarity. Can't never go out-of-style with whites in green environment.

Bountiful Episcias; growing wild nowadays so occasional trimming is required. Couple months, I've potted the trimmed ones for my office workspace, indoors next to a window. One failed bloom, hoping for more will come. A week ago, I potted another round of trimming upon a colleague's request. Sadly she's leaving us end of this month.

This year, see more colleagues leaving; or away on maternity; additional tasks and superiors; a walking wikipedia; demanding deadlines - the word s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d. 


-

Pretties in Pink and Red. Glorious under full sun, just to love them from afar and they bloom in succession, despite being over-shadowed by taller Heliconias.

Perhaps nature has its way of telling; do the best you could (and what you know and how to achieve), stand out and rise. The sun and rain will come. Have hope and faith in whatever you do, wherever you are, and however you feel.

Like the Pink Izora, tough and hardy - as it matures against all odds, it blooms in such splendor. Catches eyes, attracts attention and received appreciative glances.

Power of persistence.

Heaven's Clear Sky

How beautiful is the bright, clear sky above us! What a glorious sight it is! The sun, when it appears, proclaims as it rises how marvelous a thing - Sirach 43

Driving on highways, grining all the way - just how marvelous God's creation, Mother Nature shines. Rains and winds had swept away weeks of smog and mid day heat.

Feels like Heaven so close to us.

Sweet smelling Kesidang and Water Jasmine in blooms, cascading soft fragrance - close your eyes, breathe deeply and inhale sweetness of Mother Nature.

Wishing being greeted this way on the way to work - everyday.

(^_^)

Rainy start of Water Dragon

Like Kesidang, our pond flowering plant (alisma plantago-aquatica) hasn't bloom this year as well - spotted new buds on the way today. 

Wrightia religiosa made-bongsai blooms in abundance - very happy with frequent rain and sunshine. I trimmed on during spare time, but look forward to more time to slowly gradually shape its branches. 

Episcia growing well on its own - light watering and filtered sunlight. Lovely colored tones leaves punctuated by its bright crimson flowers, beautifies window sills. Perhaps fertilizing and over time - crystalizing at the bottom of its pot. It's so happy in its spot and I can't bear to shift it!

Bright Turneras grounded and bushy! Mum-inlaw locate it next to compete with towering 6 feet high non-fragrant Wrightia. White Wrightia blooms nonstop. Spotted a few neighbours growing white Wrightia fronting their garden, makes attractive welcome.  

5-petal blooms in yellow and white, quite a sight!

Inspecting blooms in varying colors, sizes and shapes all over the garden. His fav? 5-petal blooms in yellow and white; and white-purple plant in this pot; and the shrub (yet to find its name! Saved from the flowerbed) in the next pot.

Bloomless greens

Puzzled over our bloomless Kesidang; it has been somewhat rainy month as we greeted the Water Dragon 2012 year. Kesidang usually blooms well at this time of year - minimal harsh sunlight or sufficient low light coupled with generous and frequent waterings. We're contented with its lush fresh green leaves and healthy stems; makes wonderful filter/shade privacy to the patio area and healthy green backdrop.

Here, my son admires the view as much as we did.

To my delight, DYI One-Stop sells 4 feet high bamboo cane shaped "U", great for keeping twirling Kesidang in its place.

Happy 2011!

Happy 2011, Everyone and my dear Readers!

Your comments and thoughts posted in my blog are much appreciated. Happy that my blog captures your interest; planting, the scenes and creatures. My favourite is when we captured birds in our garden.

And thanks for visiting. Sometimes I visit this blog for inspiration. A great topic to share/show to interested gardeners, friends and colleagues as well.

Gosh time flies! I hadn't plant-blogging for over a year, and feeling rusty. Mummyhood is certainly a fulltime 24/7, a challenge but I'm loving every minute of it! My little boy's 6 months now, a keen observer and laughs easily. Plan a "gardening comeback" when he's over a year and could walk, to join me in the garden :) ... to create a happy garden.

Can't wait to revamp my flowerbed!

Here's to wishing everyone - a Sparkling New Year, 2011 and happy blogging/ planting/ sharing !!

Soon ...

Very soon ...

Looking good.

Punches and kicks all the way! I wonder if he'll like gardening? :P

Success with Pentas

Remember Egyptian Stars (Pentas Lanceolata) propagating project in Oct? Thanks to James Missier, these beautiful cutting survived (100%) and replanted into flowerbed. Now they're budding!

Look at the colour-variety of Pentas that you could choose. They looked like little trumpets hehe :D

Pinks and Whites arranged next to Joyweed (Alternanthera Dentata 'Purple Knight') for contrast. Darker reds enhance bright light colours to glow. I'm advised frequent trimming Joyweeds to adequate height because as they grow taller, its stem at base becomes hollow and weak. Guess they'll have to stay short *grins*. Oh by the way, Joyweeds easily propagated.

Will wait out till Pentas filled up the flowerbed for a good picture. The bed is highlighted at the ends with bright purple Globosa and bright oranges; Zinnia (right) and Gerbera Daisy (left).

Need help to identify the plants below.

Chinese favourite Joyweeds for being 'forever red' (red symbolize auspicious). The new orange flower 'forever prosper' and the evergreen plant 'forever live'.

"Loving someone is like caring for a garden, love it too much or too little and it dies, but love it just right and it will live forever." - Anonymous

Cross-breed?

I blogged in my last post about pulling out the old leggy Zinnias and Marigolds from the flowerbed. For months I've tried sowing its seeds to grow, I think 4 or 5 batches - I couldn't remember now. Seedlings grew to a foot tall then they all dried up so easily - perhaps from over-watering?

I replaced these flowers with Pentas. And what-da-ya-know? Spotted this lovely bright orange Zinnia, taking up the backstage right corner. Now we've planted its parents in the front row so I was amused that this shy seedling preferred otherwise.

What a minute ... I was just flipping those the old blogs and couldn't find . I had Zinnias 'Yellow Flame' and 'Pink' planted in June. They grew above 3 feet tall and became leggy with smaller blooms. I find it hard to grow their seeds. In Nov, I bought dwarf-looking Orange narrowleaf zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia) to replace them. Dreadful rainy spell destroyed all before I could plant them into ground and snap photos.

Could this be a "cross-breed" ? Wow.

Sweet smelling 'Bunga Kerak Nasi' or 'Kesidang' (and many more other local names) before and after bloom. This pest-free flowering vine plant bloomed a few times in Nov and Dec. They enjoyed the rainy spell :)

Lovely bright yellows (Turnera) glows in the gloomy and wet mornings. It has spread out a lot since Sep. 

A cutie moth (to me, but hubby insist it's a butterfly, what do you think?)

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.). It does looked somewhat like an Anthurium in white. I love having Anthuriums, they look exotic like Orchids and blooms could stay on over a month. In fact I bought Pink anthuriums twice, tried in sunny and cooler locations, without much luck.

I'm told that Peace Lily requires filtered sunlight or else its leaves will burn easily.

Desert Rose's bud 2 weeks later (Adenium Obesum).

morning sickness

Is morning sickness finally over? I really hope so.

I've been missing in action for awhile :P ... nausea overwhelms me throughout the day, it's depressing! I just could not be in the garden hence leaving all gardening duties to 'mother nature'. Hubby and MIL helps with waterings only on hot consecutive days. Terribly grateful having garden maintenance last month to weed, remove weak and old plants, trimmings and thinning everywhere, fertilizing and pesticides.

Suddenly I developed a keen sense of smell. Moths been laying eggs and caterpillar more frequent (weekly) leaving pungent feces and chewed Periwinkle leaves.
 

So we replaced the 6 feet tall Periwinkle with our beautiful grown Wrightia antidysenterica, now reaching 3 feet tall. The foldable support helps to give it a lift from those heavy downpour.

 

 

Planted Peace Lily on Wrightia's old pot, will post it soon. Its other names are Spathe Flower, White Anthurium, White Sails (Spathiphyllum spp.). Perhaps the 'white sails-like' attracted MIL as she loves the sea, ocean. Has air purifying properties, removing toxins from surrounding atmosphere. Love the deep green shiny broad leaves. Made sure its caterpillar-free :P

We've replaced our potted Periwinkles with newer flowering plant, yet to find out its name. Coming soon.

Pretty pink bloom, despited heavy downpour and wet season, and neglect. It's sustaining well compared to Red Christian Dior now naked (leave-less) brown stem. Seeing it about to bloom, gave natural fertilizer (recommended by Rose Nursery).

Desert Rose is budding too :)

Surprised really from the neglect and wet days, and its budding. Mother nature is helping :)

Desert Rose accompaniment with Bougainvillea and Sui Mui for the sunny (sunset) spot. Sadly Bougainvillea losing out most of its leaves from insufficient heat, as if hibernating. Sui Mui, more and more leaves.

Will be posting soon on our revamped flowerbed - design to weather the wet season and daily heavy downpours.

Thanks for visiting :D

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'.