tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45441105200530604972023-12-07T18:23:00.073-08:00journey through paradisea gardener's journalrusselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-46628966233483790192011-07-13T07:53:00.000-07:002011-07-13T20:42:25.088-07:00cecropia pachystachya<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuOlVmDhJ92AZn_KqqwYESaxx0mTM0I2CxPH3mj3tz7hk09o41fYgcX5tvodGXnZ1Yh17NJww58tCnTHwK2zL4M9K3q_bAToyD5scQ6fjEKvlRhjZwtmne7lG7FreeRIcW7rYSwhx9uQ/s1600/271144_220975451275137_211339352238747_607312_4908310_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuOlVmDhJ92AZn_KqqwYESaxx0mTM0I2CxPH3mj3tz7hk09o41fYgcX5tvodGXnZ1Yh17NJww58tCnTHwK2zL4M9K3q_bAToyD5scQ6fjEKvlRhjZwtmne7lG7FreeRIcW7rYSwhx9uQ/s200/271144_220975451275137_211339352238747_607312_4908310_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629048246925398482" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_wI3TVtFm-wQUl5CpCsEyCZpD5Sov3lN0bCzv1Eo6iC7Nfrwm-QQdrWvfMc1dOdLKd2shIpIqT62yLNxY73T3g0E7HFqTgzH8A_KuBXvISm2j7M6QW2HgJyUeTLaF-5OdqOckzzj-ko/s1600/269729_220975127941836_211339352238747_607307_6099831_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_wI3TVtFm-wQUl5CpCsEyCZpD5Sov3lN0bCzv1Eo6iC7Nfrwm-QQdrWvfMc1dOdLKd2shIpIqT62yLNxY73T3g0E7HFqTgzH8A_KuBXvISm2j7M6QW2HgJyUeTLaF-5OdqOckzzj-ko/s200/269729_220975127941836_211339352238747_607307_6099831_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629048246077051218" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBO-sWDavaP47zupvkkSi9CsTRWJ8pqsB86KNH8esJ7HpA9Wvdp6U8g7frI2C_gUCD6t9ZdBEqCtJVgzAvbAugXhPVbZBQMJG4xx_YqJCwBK6gJ-0pcMRWH6Klz9NSYxvGM4HqbQmEFQ0/s1600/267704_220975621275120_211339352238747_607314_6727917_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBO-sWDavaP47zupvkkSi9CsTRWJ8pqsB86KNH8esJ7HpA9Wvdp6U8g7frI2C_gUCD6t9ZdBEqCtJVgzAvbAugXhPVbZBQMJG4xx_YqJCwBK6gJ-0pcMRWH6Klz9NSYxvGM4HqbQmEFQ0/s200/267704_220975621275120_211339352238747_607314_6727917_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629048243322029906" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iEj2bvmXj7cw9bMjkTRI_T6OLoCh1TcSgWwz_ezyHCufFNdow-mKBoi8OHIRiPf79gUgleqQbDIAxecEKClxdDYOHmAZYGBvRxQCFHB9fOR6KSyRmggeT8FcrMXhTzqfbhO9scyz4x8/s1600/263684_220975184608497_211339352238747_607308_7450971_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iEj2bvmXj7cw9bMjkTRI_T6OLoCh1TcSgWwz_ezyHCufFNdow-mKBoi8OHIRiPf79gUgleqQbDIAxecEKClxdDYOHmAZYGBvRxQCFHB9fOR6KSyRmggeT8FcrMXhTzqfbhO9scyz4x8/s200/263684_220975184608497_211339352238747_607308_7450971_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629048237012856866" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4Nwb3PH0n_DEuCLM1GHxMpooWocjx0b-QUGGwWveN4IEVaLAM8eYOtMfaM7dOToZv2Mw9keNVbR0FjtzAclpzLQ782t4pn2l21EN7ZLkNV29pa65v05vuWtWac2g0WPrDv48Fbjc9uo/s1600/261649_220975524608463_211339352238747_607313_1686288_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4Nwb3PH0n_DEuCLM1GHxMpooWocjx0b-QUGGwWveN4IEVaLAM8eYOtMfaM7dOToZv2Mw9keNVbR0FjtzAclpzLQ782t4pn2l21EN7ZLkNV29pa65v05vuWtWac2g0WPrDv48Fbjc9uo/s200/261649_220975524608463_211339352238747_607313_1686288_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629048233884143714" /></a> I chanced upon this magnificent tree along the green corridor over the weekend. Whilst trawling through the internet for its ID, I stumbled upon this paper http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2010/2010nis199-209.pdf published by the Department of Biological Sciences at NUS. According to the authors, there are 2 known species of Cecropias in Singapore; the more common Cecropia pachystachya and and less common Cecropia peltata. To give you an idea of their distribution in Singapore, the former is quite commonly found around the North-western part of the island. The latter has 2 known populations, both around Tyersall area. <br /><br />There are about 61 species of Cecropia and they are generally small to medium-sized trees with few branches and with a candelabrum-like branching system. They have very large palmate and peltate leaves. They are generally considered pioneer trees which grow rapidly and thrive on disturbed areas such as areas razed by forest fires or open areas which are cleared for pasture. For this reason, they are considered invasive. They usually have succulent fruits which are sought after by many animals especially birds. Certain species like the Cecropia peltata are widely used in traditional medicine and every part of the plant is used to treat a diversity of ailments. Most species have a symbiotic relationship with ants which live in their hollow trunk. The ants in turn defend against attackers including creeping plants. <br /><br />Propagation is usually through seed dispersal. However, I noticed little plantlets growing along the trunk and decided to pick a few to see if they can be rooted. I think they make a wild and exotic addition to any garden.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-73654931574188101742011-07-05T00:20:00.000-07:002011-07-05T00:36:32.956-07:00new facebook page for 'journey through paradise'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZstGfx1iwPP4sDACFsTv_lIB7QL1qDf_vfuQFUnSf9L0XU437BfvRhyt5EFEMBlcERYQPVSU_askvEgbmmxKNnZ53vNrGZH6TgiyX2msIOSQXt2Euv2qHXPImsqL0cpnSDj_SqDcWkd0/s1600/IMG_9810%255B1%255D.PNG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZstGfx1iwPP4sDACFsTv_lIB7QL1qDf_vfuQFUnSf9L0XU437BfvRhyt5EFEMBlcERYQPVSU_askvEgbmmxKNnZ53vNrGZH6TgiyX2msIOSQXt2Euv2qHXPImsqL0cpnSDj_SqDcWkd0/s400/IMG_9810%255B1%255D.PNG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625768847148802706" /></a><br />This blog now has a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.213016238737725.52473.211339352238747#!/pages/journey-through-paradise/211339352238747?sk=wall?"> Facebook Page </a>. Check it out and press like to get regular updates. The purpose behind this FB page is not just to accompany the blog, but it serves as a more interactive platform to engage fellow plant and garden enthusiasts through comments, photo posting, sharing of tips etc.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-79511347616820629312011-07-04T23:28:00.000-07:002011-07-05T07:52:23.177-07:00going native<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdMNJOvMw5e7tVlU3gYJw-OxriItDfEEQ1kf3tpgZZNFPoFTWwFM31RomPOs_B_Zdts2yi5-04d67WGfL8_IBviGRu1hyphenhypheniLeLyue1Gpa0tXX83gxbBMUJdhI7DcCe9qqcj9Ryez40cGw/s1600/DSC02049%252520%252809%2529.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625762769740142562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdMNJOvMw5e7tVlU3gYJw-OxriItDfEEQ1kf3tpgZZNFPoFTWwFM31RomPOs_B_Zdts2yi5-04d67WGfL8_IBviGRu1hyphenhypheniLeLyue1Gpa0tXX83gxbBMUJdhI7DcCe9qqcj9Ryez40cGw/s200/DSC02049%252520%252809%2529.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplY1P2euBrqI_400FrPQ31A7vsZso0hUTGEVrZ7cPjcT-nDvSM-LUwezXL1eZoNkf2GeSd6QBFr7XfgYkvt89M094LBtEgqc8p3fbN64sYf8pjp6YNsBDvH7YKrkVdpOhMjbalRHeZAI/s1600/P1020131.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625762761447724178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplY1P2euBrqI_400FrPQ31A7vsZso0hUTGEVrZ7cPjcT-nDvSM-LUwezXL1eZoNkf2GeSd6QBFr7XfgYkvt89M094LBtEgqc8p3fbN64sYf8pjp6YNsBDvH7YKrkVdpOhMjbalRHeZAI/s200/P1020131.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOK4ibetJpnERoLBoQsa9YArbvbqUm8klzNQvzlEmjOdvkIhL5y6KX7nSVLY1HjSXLDM2R_m0OX-sqoeAwbHoIK0WDr2pPdO8-ybyCFiYX_ytaMQpsiwyP0STKYuST4JvT_5RGdSOawyU/s1600/DSCN6835.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625762755980315090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOK4ibetJpnERoLBoQsa9YArbvbqUm8klzNQvzlEmjOdvkIhL5y6KX7nSVLY1HjSXLDM2R_m0OX-sqoeAwbHoIK0WDr2pPdO8-ybyCFiYX_ytaMQpsiwyP0STKYuST4JvT_5RGdSOawyU/s200/DSCN6835.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvA55l6QjN6_wje10Fldbn-6LamoRnf6Oht_GmKnFWeWeADp-T3cklkIx9aX_yHrtNYIaSgiQUX_z1KmN3L8C8SedkmYNYNE_tI7kiFb4kId3WCxHaiOXJ4le11y2FWXWRVXBHGbH7BE/s1600/31943.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625762750647656034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvA55l6QjN6_wje10Fldbn-6LamoRnf6Oht_GmKnFWeWeADp-T3cklkIx9aX_yHrtNYIaSgiQUX_z1KmN3L8C8SedkmYNYNE_tI7kiFb4kId3WCxHaiOXJ4le11y2FWXWRVXBHGbH7BE/s200/31943.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNTiNTMtVfeq9bnCGp-ap8shk3eTbvhN7Y81ZXnwLvt2FFb4-Tyi6JSkkkJz6Tbch0brdQUi5KzG5IztJx_fLw4JbUWOH7XxDeP6IyMHBFp_gnLoaWETSDxtVztgYvWy9fMd9WtPldTc/s1600/25_oct2a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625762748315600834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNTiNTMtVfeq9bnCGp-ap8shk3eTbvhN7Y81ZXnwLvt2FFb4-Tyi6JSkkkJz6Tbch0brdQUi5KzG5IztJx_fLw4JbUWOH7XxDeP6IyMHBFp_gnLoaWETSDxtVztgYvWy9fMd9WtPldTc/s200/25_oct2a.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAscLgl2cr8Eu_5Nwra4aGzA-y7jmuYE9iee3OeRjt8bB0KKi-SFtngb9RxDFpgjLxLy0OvYUKp7vojobDKlByN9ZEoyCR644qViDV9HO_dqaYT7fk1bm5N_cxIGzVwbN617G6Ir_bnc/s1600/4944733906_d33c01b964.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625764061101751042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAscLgl2cr8Eu_5Nwra4aGzA-y7jmuYE9iee3OeRjt8bB0KKi-SFtngb9RxDFpgjLxLy0OvYUKp7vojobDKlByN9ZEoyCR644qViDV9HO_dqaYT7fk1bm5N_cxIGzVwbN617G6Ir_bnc/s200/4944733906_d33c01b964.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am loving native plants at the moment. There is something distinctive about the look and feel of native plants in Singapore which I feel adds interest to any garden. Australia has an all out campaign to promote the cultivation and planting of native plants for conservation and environmental reasons. Whilst Singapore does not perhaps have the same dire reasons for such a campaign, I feel that the introduction, cultivation and planting of native plants into our gardens, pavement and wayside areas has many advantages.<br /><br />A plant species qualifies as native if it has occurred naturally in a place over a very long time, and was not introduced or cultivated from other places. Because of this, they are naturally adapted to Singapore’s equatorial climate and will thrive well without unnecessary fuss and attention. The growth of such plants also contributes towards conservation, not only of Singapore natural heritage but also towards conserving rare or endangered species of plants which have been threatened by urbanisation and the invasive impact of exotic or alien species. Over and above that, native plants also attract native fauna like birds, butterflies and even animals such as the palm civet cat.<br /><br />There are over 2000 native plant species recorded in Singapore. Out of this, some 81% have gone extinct or have become endangered. Only 19% can still be found commonly occurring in the wild.<br /><br />So far, i’ve tried to plant as many native plants into the new garden as possible, either acquiring them through nurseries or through cuttings or seeds picked from the wild during some of my field trips. To-date, my collection are as follows:-<br /><br />1. Tembusu (Fagraea fragans)<br />2. Paper Bark Tree (Melaleuca cajaputi)<br />3. Simpoh Ayer (Dillenia suffroticosa)<br />4. Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum)<br />5. Rose Myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa)<br />6. Rattleweed (Crotalaria retusa)<br />7. Stitled Simpoh (Dillenia grandifolia)<br />8. Cratoxylum cochinchinense<br /><br />NParks has published an article about growing native plants in their newsletter <a href="http://mygreenspace.nparks.gov.sg/keeping-it-local-with-native-ornamental-plants/"> My Green Space </a>. Check it out!russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-54340055673198313372011-07-04T00:41:00.001-07:002011-07-04T01:13:49.398-07:00Passiflora foetida<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKtin84TFWTQ0c2Bi2uLg6HEs-VVlptQEX31F0JA3aE7NXO3aweKpDP3YYvf-ufjOrs8a7tsRG99k6_zRAUGIHuC1P23uWvX-6gkpkTmJeiNGgtflk-2FKk93qEc4povUPtedJQI9DcA/s1600/261832_198744490176951_109257872458947_589566_2203846_n.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625405697586746050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKtin84TFWTQ0c2Bi2uLg6HEs-VVlptQEX31F0JA3aE7NXO3aweKpDP3YYvf-ufjOrs8a7tsRG99k6_zRAUGIHuC1P23uWvX-6gkpkTmJeiNGgtflk-2FKk93qEc4povUPtedJQI9DcA/s200/261832_198744490176951_109257872458947_589566_2203846_n.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYKQ-xQneF-6-WFGmfiaYi53oJ2irNwSI8Rj5mhGGtkISkTGinx6B8eReg4l6BrcKar0DWnfQRYILfWvi3OKVMFTunswTse-YMb71ZeKBM-j-I3_pb7YxnnkianFHkYrTeD3RZ1NtS1E/s1600/261460_198744650176935_109257872458947_589571_7739054_n.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625405695738792130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYKQ-xQneF-6-WFGmfiaYi53oJ2irNwSI8Rj5mhGGtkISkTGinx6B8eReg4l6BrcKar0DWnfQRYILfWvi3OKVMFTunswTse-YMb71ZeKBM-j-I3_pb7YxnnkianFHkYrTeD3RZ1NtS1E/s200/261460_198744650176935_109257872458947_589571_7739054_n.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSAEBUZy8D0dJJNboswiLwrm-Oz6W4FHHApnB2WRSPWgeewXR9RQWSN5wIEOVCgzgSjaluornx-b-0wrJuZj28TYXZHtvIY6OYGtSWp7Z0w0R17p0_3inWOQYmbUynyckSzcVgF21Jyg/s1600/268123_198744563510277_109257872458947_589569_6283693_n.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625405693563698098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSAEBUZy8D0dJJNboswiLwrm-Oz6W4FHHApnB2WRSPWgeewXR9RQWSN5wIEOVCgzgSjaluornx-b-0wrJuZj28TYXZHtvIY6OYGtSWp7Z0w0R17p0_3inWOQYmbUynyckSzcVgF21Jyg/s200/268123_198744563510277_109257872458947_589569_6283693_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />During my many field trips especially to areas which were formerly inhabited by villagers, I would often be on a look-out for the ‘lost’ plants of Singapore. These plants are ‘lost’ in the sense that they were either once common either as a native or cultivated plant but for some reason or other such as rapid development and urbanisation gone missing, extinct or have become endangered. Many of these plants cannot be found in our nursery trade, but most of which can be identified through various resources. Some of these plants have been mentioned and included in previous posts and I will continue to post updates every time I come across something ‘new’.<br /><br />On Saturday, I was rewarded with another ‘new’ find. The ‘lost’ plant I had found was the Passiflora foetida (common names include Love-in-a-Mist, Stinking Passionflower or wild water lemon). This species was sighted before on the mainland by several people but the one I found was on Lazarus Island. The flowers of this species is very atypically Passiflora-like”, with the exception that they are much smaller (size of a 50 cent coin and somewhat waxy). However the main distinguishing factor is the fruit which is no more than 2 to 3cm in diameter is encased with leafy sepals. When ripe, the fruit turns yellow and the seeds are small and black and embedded in a juicy pulp.<br /><br />The plant is allegedly protocarnivorous as the leafy sepals which encase the fruit are known to produce sticky, dew-like secretions containing digestive enzymes which help to trap insects. Whether it gains nourishment from its prey is uncertain.<br /><br />It is called a Stinking Passionflower because the leaves produce an unpleasant odour when crushed. When ripe, the fruit is eaten as it is while the young leaves and plant tips are often used in tea or as medicine to relieve sleeping problems.<br /><br />This species which is indigenous to the Amazon probably found its way to Singapore through cultivation as the fruit and leaves are edible. Whilst its status today is that of a weed, it is reportedly a useful weed as it is sometimes used as a ground cover at plantations. It also has an important ecological role as the young leaves and shoots are an important food source for Leopard Lacewings (Cethosa cyane) and Tawny Coaster (Acrarea terpiscore).russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-16668795520113091012011-07-01T01:46:00.000-07:002011-07-04T01:13:15.624-07:00creating paradise from scratchI thought it would be interesting to showcase the transformation of the garden from nothing to something. The whole process has taken me more than a month, mainly because I am only able to tend to the garden on weekends. Although most of the planting has been carried out, the garden is still very much work in progress because there are still some empty pockets plus it takes times before the plants to establish and “grow out”. Anyway, part of the fun of gardening is to add new plants from time to time, so one shouldn’t be too eager to fill it up.<br /><br />The process started from the removal and replacement of the soil in the entire garden. Adhering to the advice of garden experts, I replaced about 1ft deep of soil throughout the entire garden. Mr Lee (from World Farm) who has been providing me with invaluable assistance and advice organised the transportation of levelling soil. In all, the garden needed about 7 ten tonne truckloads of levelling soil. I also ordered 5 jumbo bags of good quality mixed soil from Mr Lee and this was to be used when planting the larger trees and plants. Once the soil works were completed, the next stage was to transport all my plants from the old place. It’s amazing how I managed to pack everything into the old place, because it took all of 5 truck-loads to ship everything across. However, things were a little disorganised and chaotic at the point of dis-embarkation which resulted in plants being strewn all over the garden in a haphazard fashion. This increased my stress levels considerably as I had to work out where some of the more “precious” ones were located. I started to consolidate the plants into various locations based on 2 considerations; species and light/heat requirements. The ones which were more heat and light sensitive such as ferns, orchids, some costuses and alpinias had to be kept under a make-shift shade cloth area. The rest were pretty much at the mercy of the sun, especially at noon.<br /><br />The next stage was the sourcing and buying of trees and other plants. I got my supply from World Farm in the end with much help from my friend Guan who works there. World Farm has been very helpful to the point where they would even deliver plants which I order through email even without me having to pay for them first. When choosing the trees, the 3 keywords I had in mind were “jungle”, “native”, biodiversity”. Essentially, I wanted to create a somewhat natural jungle paradise with a good mix palm trees, native plants, gingers, bromeliads, ferns and my all time favourite, costuses. To-date, I have more than 40 costus species and hybrids and plan on increasing this collection. I love costuses because they have lush foliage, possess beautiful spiralling forms, are extremely hardy and dead easy to maintain and cultivate. Plus, they are still relatively new as a landscape plant with only C. Woodsonii, C. Green Mountain, C. Osae and C. Curvibracteatus being used mostly.<br /><br />I also wanted to go native not just because they are attractive and promote and encourage bio-diversity but also because a lot of them are under threat or are endangered due to rapid development and urbanisation. Plants like the Dillenia suffroticosa provide both shelter and food to a whole host of animals and birds. They are also a good ‘filler” for the garden and are quick and easy to grow. Other native plants and trees include the Tembusu (Fagrea fragrans), various ferns, the Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum), Dillenia grandiflora and these 2 young native trees which I have not managed to ID yet. These two, along with the Singapore Rhododendron were found growing in the garden before construction, so I decided to save them. I also uprooted a white form of the Singapore Rhododendron but sadly, it did not survive.<br /><br />The last keyword is biodiversity. I wanted a garden which promoted and supported biodiversity. To this end, I grew plants which encourage would attract butterflies, nectar-loving birds, changeable lizards and various other insects, birds and mammals.<br /><br />In terms of structure, the idea I had in mind was to create layers or different sections in the long garden; from modern and minimalist to general flowering shrubs followed a bromeliad section and a section for shade-loving plants such as licuala grandis, tree ferns and various gingers. The last section is the back garden where the tall trees and palms can be found, along with the majority of the costus, rare and exotic heliconias, calatheas, musas and much more. There are also 2 other sections located within the back garden; a section for fruit trees, herbs and vegetables and the other is a giant cage-like structure to house all my hanging plants like tillandsias and hoyas, as well as orchids and a nursery for young plants which I intend to cultivate.<br /><br />Given that i’m a one-man show, progress will naturally be somewhat slow and I suppose the garden will perpetually be work-in-progress. But I think that is what gardening is all about and that’s what I enjoy about it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRT_TyXEGOX8SX8gHAEBSqVwwTadJN5W8NH7PGNeftSvF2pH4yp9wzq40AEYVUT_9moZLrNAX0H1AAwdgHVvp4c4HNZ0wIqleCFFy_tnylPP4eLXKSTmLfPxejKxNx3auUavbrULtNMI/s1600/250090_151635778238714_102369459832013_315275_1004186_n.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625406971243406882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRT_TyXEGOX8SX8gHAEBSqVwwTadJN5W8NH7PGNeftSvF2pH4yp9wzq40AEYVUT_9moZLrNAX0H1AAwdgHVvp4c4HNZ0wIqleCFFy_tnylPP4eLXKSTmLfPxejKxNx3auUavbrULtNMI/s200/250090_151635778238714_102369459832013_315275_1004186_n.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrNqGYxxmvNi2biHX2sM29a9G8OYOf1VAUpru5tnBR00ovNtI6Yl34RgMqzvaAy8wKCiqR0jFgGVNZ0R0Wm_yukGqM5hTKVP3OeyOoQJxGJ7UhuqwIb7RSoSTlAOBvGOs2QaCUArzjs0/s1600/252339_151635731572052_102369459832013_315274_3513609_n.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625406967133070370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrNqGYxxmvNi2biHX2sM29a9G8OYOf1VAUpru5tnBR00ovNtI6Yl34RgMqzvaAy8wKCiqR0jFgGVNZ0R0Wm_yukGqM5hTKVP3OeyOoQJxGJ7UhuqwIb7RSoSTlAOBvGOs2QaCUArzjs0/s200/252339_151635731572052_102369459832013_315274_3513609_n.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBvgPuZo2wa_iwI2rBut8DBU33shRN9x0Jhgl0tEny31Z29LPa9nPsvynCIXkDSOYLCjgyVX6S6ubxCT-KIlhqieVODvCxvEamko1EkHtOBUm4sVduVqXRK40Ttc_kzZOg42oXuvXZg8/s1600/250939_151635684905390_102369459832013_315273_7088213_n.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625406962527933394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBvgPuZo2wa_iwI2rBut8DBU33shRN9x0Jhgl0tEny31Z29LPa9nPsvynCIXkDSOYLCjgyVX6S6ubxCT-KIlhqieVODvCxvEamko1EkHtOBUm4sVduVqXRK40Ttc_kzZOg42oXuvXZg8/s200/250939_151635684905390_102369459832013_315273_7088213_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKcrpzdi86pyHHhUojJUChbSvgP_EKCqnbCmH2WvQy_jFdSS7B7nqhVflr-Ekv4spq0j13eDsyrJ0VrMlRXDIZsfhbH_aIoYbH2BoMBRkuVsE8KIjPNEcpM_43x5Vhae_Gj-HvUKWWI4/s1600/IMG_7857.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624305575110220178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKcrpzdi86pyHHhUojJUChbSvgP_EKCqnbCmH2WvQy_jFdSS7B7nqhVflr-Ekv4spq0j13eDsyrJ0VrMlRXDIZsfhbH_aIoYbH2BoMBRkuVsE8KIjPNEcpM_43x5Vhae_Gj-HvUKWWI4/s200/IMG_7857.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VS1h6SSNKJ8izdM1U3S_s9AsnmjOAz8CJmau4GT9YuXpgH6xSAD6qnJdKXHl6mf-43niLFldczZVwFmNRjqlSpTUpPnYcmM7rnffiOM_GVtzeInK0clMzCrYtaqjDKfs9xjDjoCqIck/s1600/IMG_7847.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624305572776897362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VS1h6SSNKJ8izdM1U3S_s9AsnmjOAz8CJmau4GT9YuXpgH6xSAD6qnJdKXHl6mf-43niLFldczZVwFmNRjqlSpTUpPnYcmM7rnffiOM_GVtzeInK0clMzCrYtaqjDKfs9xjDjoCqIck/s200/IMG_7847.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituohVo8fewl1IINHFwcOGfR9e7_HUgN_gZ-EaoaLC64d8_ekZQMgNX2Y2NvvqJzpfZJy2MnUdSwqS83zRLrYQLnPz1G7cpdVJcv3p0qAywF_ERBlW1LbAfCWkXk-Sy6ip44qqxhJegG4/s1600/IMG_7841.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624305567572043314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituohVo8fewl1IINHFwcOGfR9e7_HUgN_gZ-EaoaLC64d8_ekZQMgNX2Y2NvvqJzpfZJy2MnUdSwqS83zRLrYQLnPz1G7cpdVJcv3p0qAywF_ERBlW1LbAfCWkXk-Sy6ip44qqxhJegG4/s200/IMG_7841.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi42_CYvfWO5tip3tG6LsxTZXZAGD6rITtbmb0ef_2s1J9aFY3Nl1dlqdqzDnEWpdfTHqJ-N7ZExKbR4-Rpf1k7UN1FBBHRBfHHW9R6sM2TCvRV9nKbs_WRmzqWaSuPWyQ8LQFRxheZA/s1600/IMG_7838.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624305560978235538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi42_CYvfWO5tip3tG6LsxTZXZAGD6rITtbmb0ef_2s1J9aFY3Nl1dlqdqzDnEWpdfTHqJ-N7ZExKbR4-Rpf1k7UN1FBBHRBfHHW9R6sM2TCvRV9nKbs_WRmzqWaSuPWyQ8LQFRxheZA/s200/IMG_7838.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxksVkYv_YZxUIcVyPRxeDbE3U_NnYyPnpGMEO3gPcmU7eyM2WVnkObkFhuIzAmNoE03uUxTKoI1kEfqXdl10EDJZmeHcVUsYuQVyX8sYytTpGNPYQT52z5hFpe8j_zaQI9jqNJv9up4A/s1600/IMG_7829.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624305554032846210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxksVkYv_YZxUIcVyPRxeDbE3U_NnYyPnpGMEO3gPcmU7eyM2WVnkObkFhuIzAmNoE03uUxTKoI1kEfqXdl10EDJZmeHcVUsYuQVyX8sYytTpGNPYQT52z5hFpe8j_zaQI9jqNJv9up4A/s200/IMG_7829.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQDXSWzY7hur2YtcAovjR-4vtwJb2CIqh44lfIwOTH4VIjcYleGLx2NTJXT5TCXe_TIP3s8zOLFpg0LCm5WzpPOgDaf7goZU5DfkISX1alfuHl_lwOrBgVYt_EEvVdh_y3cpYsQbQoHY/s1600/IMG_9419.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624306129161277970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQDXSWzY7hur2YtcAovjR-4vtwJb2CIqh44lfIwOTH4VIjcYleGLx2NTJXT5TCXe_TIP3s8zOLFpg0LCm5WzpPOgDaf7goZU5DfkISX1alfuHl_lwOrBgVYt_EEvVdh_y3cpYsQbQoHY/s200/IMG_9419.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIpt7olRMyulAm7bYT8-TOC03ja9rbpk1wAvJwSJpAR-NoXuJyiDmmo3HPQK7fR29stcwqCU6kxdNvv4e_hWBZzIOn-1y2Qbl6I86lCaVvGXNuNJTyK9H5QS5lrLycZ_qJme6tUuLdVw/s1600/IMG_8942.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624306123231436706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIpt7olRMyulAm7bYT8-TOC03ja9rbpk1wAvJwSJpAR-NoXuJyiDmmo3HPQK7fR29stcwqCU6kxdNvv4e_hWBZzIOn-1y2Qbl6I86lCaVvGXNuNJTyK9H5QS5lrLycZ_qJme6tUuLdVw/s200/IMG_8942.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt9Ygl540FLQmytSk_UtAlWslMklmBXS5hE-VB-9qSGM_HWcFgco11Ch9U0C57hSClJnWX40uZt8QhvGG1pha1fK4Z-TYeHfsMINT8SotiNuc_N7v0oVw4miDb4UYYcatiKs09wPdsaE/s1600/IMG_8939.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624306118641797714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt9Ygl540FLQmytSk_UtAlWslMklmBXS5hE-VB-9qSGM_HWcFgco11Ch9U0C57hSClJnWX40uZt8QhvGG1pha1fK4Z-TYeHfsMINT8SotiNuc_N7v0oVw4miDb4UYYcatiKs09wPdsaE/s200/IMG_8939.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhJmvcWxSEf_wDhna3cd1iPzwndB3-BMciCA7rkkXGOiJG-yO-ChFcbUaQa73l-XzPN826Wqc6cyadaHkk7hSO1KZ1VvEpUh3OAR2D7sLtfGvRg6gd8RvnQqzXrVqu9PcRfqFTs54eyQ/s1600/IMG_7863.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624306108730999714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhJmvcWxSEf_wDhna3cd1iPzwndB3-BMciCA7rkkXGOiJG-yO-ChFcbUaQa73l-XzPN826Wqc6cyadaHkk7hSO1KZ1VvEpUh3OAR2D7sLtfGvRg6gd8RvnQqzXrVqu9PcRfqFTs54eyQ/s200/IMG_7863.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5DglDsFF7y-wCa9jbBLjHL2Ewq7Q-TBfmoonr8F2T2mv_259pQDdNGfzJf0l4mU_zqH-t8x0jI5VxfGZGI2M8iAM3Led8N7nnk2vGRPL0nDc3meP7ERhvWrZgTvwPcFnkfk621K9ba8/s1600/IMG_7864.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624306106243335346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5DglDsFF7y-wCa9jbBLjHL2Ewq7Q-TBfmoonr8F2T2mv_259pQDdNGfzJf0l4mU_zqH-t8x0jI5VxfGZGI2M8iAM3Led8N7nnk2vGRPL0nDc3meP7ERhvWrZgTvwPcFnkfk621K9ba8/s200/IMG_7864.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH8t404EfUbYFx-tzCLfKm7-OYM2Vs0eJVUPeqLj-gFTEI0uVEiVdEKtdFtr5_P_taNOmFAClw1SFjq7w4bgs_0P7Bya3fL-RaQKLggDC36Mnu9KHPea6pPJRw3HD7a4gtvSL4s5Xc80/s1600/IMG_8948.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624307174746142578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH8t404EfUbYFx-tzCLfKm7-OYM2Vs0eJVUPeqLj-gFTEI0uVEiVdEKtdFtr5_P_taNOmFAClw1SFjq7w4bgs_0P7Bya3fL-RaQKLggDC36Mnu9KHPea6pPJRw3HD7a4gtvSL4s5Xc80/s200/IMG_8948.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZMDliLHZ9P6dPDT3uIyM4ygpLUtGK7RDuIujNpl-IXV1Ismtf6q8P97HzK5KuQ4FIhk2biWsOh6AmE-uV1bLTW3rg2rD8_1OfJv5N8_oowO1bDp9GXjhnyDFh3jdeAtcv2u60whjVMk/s1600/IMG_9415.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624307166561834546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZMDliLHZ9P6dPDT3uIyM4ygpLUtGK7RDuIujNpl-IXV1Ismtf6q8P97HzK5KuQ4FIhk2biWsOh6AmE-uV1bLTW3rg2rD8_1OfJv5N8_oowO1bDp9GXjhnyDFh3jdeAtcv2u60whjVMk/s200/IMG_9415.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbLpNms4QEystU7ePXqM2JtxR2al7X88-aubVvnRlJ7l8IHRMGzmPY_RdGxItE53Whvz3Kkg4mMh5JHNo_CwmsBkULBerHKtfyTka2YxE4Yiq1HZ2Nu8HxOMLZ9sAIew6AwBv9SaqahQ/s1600/IMG_9433.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624307163088761954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbLpNms4QEystU7ePXqM2JtxR2al7X88-aubVvnRlJ7l8IHRMGzmPY_RdGxItE53Whvz3Kkg4mMh5JHNo_CwmsBkULBerHKtfyTka2YxE4Yiq1HZ2Nu8HxOMLZ9sAIew6AwBv9SaqahQ/s200/IMG_9433.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj9yBMHLfCB64i0jWcyIpx9BHi0qBjfmJMAw458vhH6-sfsKPGrjTDkIDMR1MnuI3UTsjufDMLT7zdFmeo3HTQW4jf7Bg45h971tLzp5x3bhyOQqz_Cerff7sd4DUCsFLJUpuj-konlU/s1600/IMG_9428.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624307158567205682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj9yBMHLfCB64i0jWcyIpx9BHi0qBjfmJMAw458vhH6-sfsKPGrjTDkIDMR1MnuI3UTsjufDMLT7zdFmeo3HTQW4jf7Bg45h971tLzp5x3bhyOQqz_Cerff7sd4DUCsFLJUpuj-konlU/s200/IMG_9428.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXjLIvWytDc-oKgCbAk0oPTgY9M1JEPEiMLIm-wX60vhf26r96T0TzXtZS1A4xkZYHDVdMBWo9U98U1yBOEDf2KhD8mSMkHnW9cxtY_F851QOge3ftcEBBERWbHC0w1zfAWrSP2bQY4s/s1600/IMG_8988.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624307152538767506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXjLIvWytDc-oKgCbAk0oPTgY9M1JEPEiMLIm-wX60vhf26r96T0TzXtZS1A4xkZYHDVdMBWo9U98U1yBOEDf2KhD8mSMkHnW9cxtY_F851QOge3ftcEBBERWbHC0w1zfAWrSP2bQY4s/s200/IMG_8988.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKS4o9ybhyvnzjCsif0RLUUcKdGDeW5SutHx0FwpeZLJfkOCkM3YNx6FkZRgvmDDiXoKPipJaKpU7OlEyf6-a_58hRKe6-wyo3dWJRvpotr3_cWrhs1pybtknDO2jiONFOP3c25ms5jE/s1600/IMG_7834.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624304036578198786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKS4o9ybhyvnzjCsif0RLUUcKdGDeW5SutHx0FwpeZLJfkOCkM3YNx6FkZRgvmDDiXoKPipJaKpU7OlEyf6-a_58hRKe6-wyo3dWJRvpotr3_cWrhs1pybtknDO2jiONFOP3c25ms5jE/s200/IMG_7834.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlItfbE_7Ge1lAmxvVCyE39zmOO3VlujcndoqT7tJHsX3yVXRwzt83oEk9Yb0eTPqUkyzxToHd9vJGM8Dom6AdJNXa2S0ZREPslLY17Gl7q5eVqqjBkQHl2uGbvbXof2SWp-JixuoNXkQ/s1600/IMG_7825.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624304028483446482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlItfbE_7Ge1lAmxvVCyE39zmOO3VlujcndoqT7tJHsX3yVXRwzt83oEk9Yb0eTPqUkyzxToHd9vJGM8Dom6AdJNXa2S0ZREPslLY17Gl7q5eVqqjBkQHl2uGbvbXof2SWp-JixuoNXkQ/s200/IMG_7825.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ3aGsojyDuIkL-fwQgxvFxv8DRyXS11hAzt8ncR_3nFlPCqywqpw8qrNzOZ4PRy4KOWPOtr9b4iyWy0-z6opA9OHaDIVmYKZL88A6kjFII4zol8w6u4Do7OVdfael7WzRmyS8W79kqM/s1600/IMG_7792.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624304023453608594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ3aGsojyDuIkL-fwQgxvFxv8DRyXS11hAzt8ncR_3nFlPCqywqpw8qrNzOZ4PRy4KOWPOtr9b4iyWy0-z6opA9OHaDIVmYKZL88A6kjFII4zol8w6u4Do7OVdfael7WzRmyS8W79kqM/s200/IMG_7792.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGGTsf1mFv4h17Hi4cMh_MVCoe-HUdyB7NWFXPgAIz3yIEge2gApehNgTe4Wl5qsOKjNefQTxp9qa-s0FyHyCw4rA1KqvRB6fP1rYjjFl68PkTj8RfYfyvZqOnn-HhvIbk8qNi8HIol8/s1600/IMG_7773.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624304018547973922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGGTsf1mFv4h17Hi4cMh_MVCoe-HUdyB7NWFXPgAIz3yIEge2gApehNgTe4Wl5qsOKjNefQTxp9qa-s0FyHyCw4rA1KqvRB6fP1rYjjFl68PkTj8RfYfyvZqOnn-HhvIbk8qNi8HIol8/s200/IMG_7773.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNWAgO7JxTDF-8p14AI2DLpRcBlBxL4WS4jyuF3RgCQK28QgVBXThy1l_90DZ7Q3RV1tarWTgs6GhNVOpmO1Jcfhl0rWIwSSYdO8LXsHooRjKsRJ6OTcElgxdL-AlK51B1w00iPr1CvI/s1600/IMG_7055.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624304014351545842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNWAgO7JxTDF-8p14AI2DLpRcBlBxL4WS4jyuF3RgCQK28QgVBXThy1l_90DZ7Q3RV1tarWTgs6GhNVOpmO1Jcfhl0rWIwSSYdO8LXsHooRjKsRJ6OTcElgxdL-AlK51B1w00iPr1CvI/s200/IMG_7055.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH0tLTUn9F5Ol27-ha1pO9Dc5mtcWF2mBL-lH2dPH9ZWslvR2Vh64K6UuYmLXS53EA4b_e1qWzTpwNHKEdd0dH2h01Cebn6UstWY2toy6fe3cwMTOOjS7iPngKruwxMKklpB7SmFC_j8/s1600/IMG_7846.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624304987092002210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH0tLTUn9F5Ol27-ha1pO9Dc5mtcWF2mBL-lH2dPH9ZWslvR2Vh64K6UuYmLXS53EA4b_e1qWzTpwNHKEdd0dH2h01Cebn6UstWY2toy6fe3cwMTOOjS7iPngKruwxMKklpB7SmFC_j8/s200/IMG_7846.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsP_jk9duuz4KFX_zs9YYsJqmRUEvnriNiyIIvfYuu6vH2JSL2x0jr4PzOjThK5NC4DS8OGn6u7-nvHZ7TsNAjm2SGQS5gxDizIxWLWWxC-7ylLnKIYcUZOj3w-E6vyS3fNV8edEQT1kg/s1600/IMG_9421.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624306649719687554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsP_jk9duuz4KFX_zs9YYsJqmRUEvnriNiyIIvfYuu6vH2JSL2x0jr4PzOjThK5NC4DS8OGn6u7-nvHZ7TsNAjm2SGQS5gxDizIxWLWWxC-7ylLnKIYcUZOj3w-E6vyS3fNV8edEQT1kg/s200/IMG_9421.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircaWrGHLaixSTKkjLH962R8R77ewpSn-hU_a20zfFOCXd5PsfAfnFiU7MGyzDhd4K1b-fAwMUfWGtL8vEMFqt_WJV1U87KWVzbF67o-lYOQM9EnBEWwxzPnONbPFxOS2ToW8o4Ez2u7w/s1600/IMG_8483.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624306640533236642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircaWrGHLaixSTKkjLH962R8R77ewpSn-hU_a20zfFOCXd5PsfAfnFiU7MGyzDhd4K1b-fAwMUfWGtL8vEMFqt_WJV1U87KWVzbF67o-lYOQM9EnBEWwxzPnONbPFxOS2ToW8o4Ez2u7w/s200/IMG_8483.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElcf7rtkXYLuHHNpLp9r3xHEU7xty4GSFh4uuybuZVNtYvgrRrShQgwmrmNq5qVKOKG4CNQL7bs8lcu2iWGhXe0jN_ik7Xxf0DEyiQi5eI-LAWbH4ZRZaYcvFXshB8QZWcnLW_mZkczQ/s1600/IMG_8482.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624306631704679554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElcf7rtkXYLuHHNpLp9r3xHEU7xty4GSFh4uuybuZVNtYvgrRrShQgwmrmNq5qVKOKG4CNQL7bs8lcu2iWGhXe0jN_ik7Xxf0DEyiQi5eI-LAWbH4ZRZaYcvFXshB8QZWcnLW_mZkczQ/s200/IMG_8482.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iiS_5-ybd7CValYJ4p68sky1anNSCescp3wTQzmDp-nizDIgMqO-u9W3n2TS0eS4J4YI2lTNIMfN8tiWBLJUUNt8tSRCyj7nDWDR4-PUHRF8hS1SQ77DLGqu9gSbN-dParFfEz-NkhQ/s1600/IMG_8480.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624306629489401362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iiS_5-ybd7CValYJ4p68sky1anNSCescp3wTQzmDp-nizDIgMqO-u9W3n2TS0eS4J4YI2lTNIMfN8tiWBLJUUNt8tSRCyj7nDWDR4-PUHRF8hS1SQ77DLGqu9gSbN-dParFfEz-NkhQ/s200/IMG_8480.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVZ7tTDHT2vs0dtrJ_uWCs83WkJ1XyGauRRf8yv4qA0yus5Va9BCJgVuwlN8vVtVnzUEM6B5tho3ay3tJzQdbyAlII_ir_4knsiHVwnksLQKPHf-juVW4dYmlVierisXY2moqugamkhs/s1600/IMG_7884.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624306619312376834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVZ7tTDHT2vs0dtrJ_uWCs83WkJ1XyGauRRf8yv4qA0yus5Va9BCJgVuwlN8vVtVnzUEM6B5tho3ay3tJzQdbyAlII_ir_4knsiHVwnksLQKPHf-juVW4dYmlVierisXY2moqugamkhs/s200/IMG_7884.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH73e9zmwXrf_XFe53O4ehQH0JVgbxJBICQa_2XF84CVihifbgkhC6fBToIOsvGhdqnVdwEb8AOznSeID9ka_omar_l6zYkakNGmwdwOZVMlf_Io65HXeffHxRFyUFc8a9XVxuYPFbaGQ/s1600/IMG_9431.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624307629641041442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH73e9zmwXrf_XFe53O4ehQH0JVgbxJBICQa_2XF84CVihifbgkhC6fBToIOsvGhdqnVdwEb8AOznSeID9ka_omar_l6zYkakNGmwdwOZVMlf_Io65HXeffHxRFyUFc8a9XVxuYPFbaGQ/s200/IMG_9431.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE52EOnqrV0pjEseP-ygB5LTZmEGhRpFGuHfFXkyzPJe4G15yc-fJlcOczWJ-Wn7srpB7qCvXB4N-pbmXmcv6TRRpTKIAG1YCAjo4RgnLF_J7xMxQbkj4JMGyUilocuZm98nkEHZFh5AU/s1600/IMG_9434.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624307627300254258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE52EOnqrV0pjEseP-ygB5LTZmEGhRpFGuHfFXkyzPJe4G15yc-fJlcOczWJ-Wn7srpB7qCvXB4N-pbmXmcv6TRRpTKIAG1YCAjo4RgnLF_J7xMxQbkj4JMGyUilocuZm98nkEHZFh5AU/s200/IMG_9434.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33yFIfnBm0K2Re7XfEuQSONI3StJRzIPnMlCH7eUDmgXVyIS8F3m64y5HKjaWp7wsDsWhqoeOW8XGBTYtSEAO2bMOJt16Q2hQw3jLJgc9qCE5SFW4sc3LaMzm-YsGWWsq6pdFSMlYHUY/s1600/IMG_9435.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624307620570475522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33yFIfnBm0K2Re7XfEuQSONI3StJRzIPnMlCH7eUDmgXVyIS8F3m64y5HKjaWp7wsDsWhqoeOW8XGBTYtSEAO2bMOJt16Q2hQw3jLJgc9qCE5SFW4sc3LaMzm-YsGWWsq6pdFSMlYHUY/s200/IMG_9435.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSOP2jeEBDzdJe3h9u6A9NbAI3sJHyYfiTCJ4_odZUEssgIC9FYXs1diwnflNv5WwiGEObv2txOPxy3rQ7ZujHc06DhJGoHC6GCH1uT9ohyK9Bt5yLJTS7JeDu3tjIXa5IkD1pWYcDXI/s1600/IMG_9421.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624307614045763090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSOP2jeEBDzdJe3h9u6A9NbAI3sJHyYfiTCJ4_odZUEssgIC9FYXs1diwnflNv5WwiGEObv2txOPxy3rQ7ZujHc06DhJGoHC6GCH1uT9ohyK9Bt5yLJTS7JeDu3tjIXa5IkD1pWYcDXI/s200/IMG_9421.JPG" /></a>russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-369135508935561732011-06-30T20:43:00.000-07:002011-06-30T20:55:10.466-07:00time for an update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyKH6ptGFnCzXI6JF84E1rsGENiTQq84kTvyqGox2fkF-JfSfVN9STSXTYY_7OuLaYFhLsYMImWh7VSkVszdNtwM9DD9tJFDCgL1dDvzjBsQ1oi9HUgP42iCtXM_52SDdsGE7SQD8oSs/s1600/IMG_8939.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyKH6ptGFnCzXI6JF84E1rsGENiTQq84kTvyqGox2fkF-JfSfVN9STSXTYY_7OuLaYFhLsYMImWh7VSkVszdNtwM9DD9tJFDCgL1dDvzjBsQ1oi9HUgP42iCtXM_52SDdsGE7SQD8oSs/s400/IMG_8939.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624225246274731938" /></a> The last post was dated 15 May 2011, which was the day I was meant to move into my new place. I ended up moving on 31 May 2011, which explains the hiatus as the last few weeks were understandably hectic. <br /><br />Now that I have more or less settled down, I am in a better position to provide an update of the progress with the new garden. My previous place had a garden space of no more than 700 sq ft, including the sidewalk outside the house. The current place has a garden space of about 3500 sq ft, so it leaves one with little imagination as to the amount of work which has to go into the garden. People who have dropped by for a visit often ask who’s my landscape consultant and how many workers I use. I get this incredulous look whenever I tell them it’s a one-man show; from the design and layout, to the sourcing and buying, the tilling of the earth, the planting of the large trees (admittedly with some help from the delivery guys), the laying of the granite chip garden path and finally, the monumental task of planting just about every plant I have. It’s tough work which has to be spread out over many weekends, but it’s satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable. Plus I get a pretty good work-out, not to mention a deep, glowing, albeit, farmers’ tan. <br /><br />I tend to be a little of a control freak when it comes to the garden and prefer to take my time to ponder about where to plant what. Having workers around me disrupts my ability to think and plan. I therefore generally prefer to work alone.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-72367559317862675372011-05-15T06:25:00.000-07:002011-05-15T06:46:52.991-07:00updates!i've been extremely tardy with my updates, mainly because work has been keeping me busy, plus most weekends are now spent fussing over the construction of my house. The last 6-months or so has seen me attending weekly site meetings, driving all over town in search of fittings such as lights, sanitary ware, iron-mongery and of course, not forgetting the all important plants and trees. <br /><br />Given that I do have quite a bit of land for the garden, I decided to go all out with my order. I went around checking out numerous nurseries but eventually settled for World Farm. I didn't like the boss at Goldenhill because he kept discouraging me from all my choices, preferring instead that I go for convenience. The last straw was when he told me I should just grow potted plants at the patio! Come on, he's not talking to a plant ignoramus here! And he kept changing his prices about the soil, especially after he came on site to check out the garden.<br /><br />I considered Pioneer and even selected my trees with the help of a very affable Mr Ng. However, I found their prices to be a little on the high side. Their large plumerias start from $500 whereas World Farm's start from $250 depending on species. Their tall bucidas are about $450 whereas World Farm's start at $350. By saving a $100 here and a $100 there, I end up saving thousands. <br /><br />So I settled for World Farm with the help of my friend Guan and the general manager Mr Lee whom Mr G seems to have quite good chemistry with. I've ordered quite a few palms and trees like the Phoenix Sylvestris, Euterpe oleracea, Cratophylum cochinensis, Livistonia chinensis, Fragea fagrans, Areca catechus etc. I'm also considering getting a lemon-scented gum (Eucalyptus citriodora) and the Copernicia alba from Eden nursery. Will see how it goes!russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-28408057177949401282011-02-02T22:23:00.000-08:002011-02-02T22:33:19.562-08:00new costus additions at SBG<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRUbqsVeDfRN1X76VMvTWw4xvLdgnrEoI1IYtLoVS4J5uACqTcqHAdxcSntzZe_EN3zvjtrpTiQ6EV1gxMKj496yuhtx-NU7Ux0Y5xcoCTJcwzx9BHBI8alHTjPgB7CXwE_WMrT1ubh8/s1600/IMG_1779.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRUbqsVeDfRN1X76VMvTWw4xvLdgnrEoI1IYtLoVS4J5uACqTcqHAdxcSntzZe_EN3zvjtrpTiQ6EV1gxMKj496yuhtx-NU7Ux0Y5xcoCTJcwzx9BHBI8alHTjPgB7CXwE_WMrT1ubh8/s320/IMG_1779.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569346466819697250" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUBLRMsTq3r20po1oOqeDB3NNtzNbF3nv5CFtGbNpnVLoPBWDDxLmOlphzSDbfdxcqYapTbu80rknTWbuXalQr3pHtQFBfMb-eX_laNOyFoms2DQ1ejH7h7iIa6xmmy3n_KlnqkHu7Nw/s1600/IMG_1777.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUBLRMsTq3r20po1oOqeDB3NNtzNbF3nv5CFtGbNpnVLoPBWDDxLmOlphzSDbfdxcqYapTbu80rknTWbuXalQr3pHtQFBfMb-eX_laNOyFoms2DQ1ejH7h7iIa6xmmy3n_KlnqkHu7Nw/s320/IMG_1777.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569346460941477474" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9fURqvVcElDpPGzHaMdpBbAC2PBBT3JZR8AA1QuHsBUBlp3Yeb5gEgUz0srwOb3tRhexPSJiM1ZEANJOHcvp3Dc3GxmBu0SYSTAVnaWuMPgQ-505aSkFQ9Xy3AgMiGgBuHKu9k8f4ks/s1600/IMG_1772.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9fURqvVcElDpPGzHaMdpBbAC2PBBT3JZR8AA1QuHsBUBlp3Yeb5gEgUz0srwOb3tRhexPSJiM1ZEANJOHcvp3Dc3GxmBu0SYSTAVnaWuMPgQ-505aSkFQ9Xy3AgMiGgBuHKu9k8f4ks/s320/IMG_1772.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569346454465937970" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwSYAb4OFe_xrq56RE0gDT7fgx7Dk_D3HpP6768RR54yiEPdueeoBmWOwtXZXBFhh74R1TC2GpuNTPoVVsAH-NUTJ6gUnaBxb5EHfez5OjYkrPS_qppip0ETYexCjrS6LCsSq-e7PyPU/s1600/IMG_1771.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwSYAb4OFe_xrq56RE0gDT7fgx7Dk_D3HpP6768RR54yiEPdueeoBmWOwtXZXBFhh74R1TC2GpuNTPoVVsAH-NUTJ6gUnaBxb5EHfez5OjYkrPS_qppip0ETYexCjrS6LCsSq-e7PyPU/s320/IMG_1771.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569346445837676338" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fkvp7lsoARACWI5RDXVwX92MPv8WZgZ7lUrms_9wNaRYC_IgWbYVU_iZ_fLHVRCav_DOR1BUacdrq-Uy3XdVzLtiCHq_JEwbFo_anoV_rCPWSVl_Rfo5jw9NP4UxMjFAWed_vNy_xVE/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fkvp7lsoARACWI5RDXVwX92MPv8WZgZ7lUrms_9wNaRYC_IgWbYVU_iZ_fLHVRCav_DOR1BUacdrq-Uy3XdVzLtiCHq_JEwbFo_anoV_rCPWSVl_Rfo5jw9NP4UxMjFAWed_vNy_xVE/s320/IMG_1769.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569345840527636226" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4pNQ4gHjVs2wCEJTWmGL6A5XwDiPLkKEILi2R430JgfxEkpVTNcdHcUfN6brUvGHVrkkrL7wGH229Qtp7lDPzoPKvbEwxdZUOMRY13jd15oIS14dO24pbZwDzi8Qv4Im39hYFOR5EIM/s1600/IMG_1768.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4pNQ4gHjVs2wCEJTWmGL6A5XwDiPLkKEILi2R430JgfxEkpVTNcdHcUfN6brUvGHVrkkrL7wGH229Qtp7lDPzoPKvbEwxdZUOMRY13jd15oIS14dO24pbZwDzi8Qv4Im39hYFOR5EIM/s320/IMG_1768.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569345830474256354" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFY40s862FAZ4vCCWvhPO659Uy-t4xcJ1lDReELsplSjFKsz2TgshmSlnfzfis_RQPXuwttL-MJcXCBS8fHo455voA7FVgJBBF8bPBDYmgSt631Tapyja_4Y8TEmJvtxY73wlxMqs1jfo/s1600/IMG_1766.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFY40s862FAZ4vCCWvhPO659Uy-t4xcJ1lDReELsplSjFKsz2TgshmSlnfzfis_RQPXuwttL-MJcXCBS8fHo455voA7FVgJBBF8bPBDYmgSt631Tapyja_4Y8TEmJvtxY73wlxMqs1jfo/s320/IMG_1766.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569345826876495634" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X4bULDb0_B9zLOv4sXw1wom6GehK4C3NefBvF_m0EA420GjmpPj8H23bEhcqTLFkIWTRj2xquEbcADLfSLDnoTgUBe_nk7OH2cCumt6Ibe2lPJdAILgrfUbqdmuC2J4fqVAQYjM0CPc/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X4bULDb0_B9zLOv4sXw1wom6GehK4C3NefBvF_m0EA420GjmpPj8H23bEhcqTLFkIWTRj2xquEbcADLfSLDnoTgUBe_nk7OH2cCumt6Ibe2lPJdAILgrfUbqdmuC2J4fqVAQYjM0CPc/s320/IMG_1764.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569345822351151074" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've noticed a couple of new costus planted at the Ginger Gardens. Some had tags on them, while others didn't. I can't say I recognise any of the names, and I suspect that's because they are probably new hybrids. One in particular was huge as it had really large leaves and thick stems. Even the emerging shoots were thick. I wonder how large/tall they'll end up and how the flower would look like. It could be some form of C. guanaiensis. There was also a spiralling specimen with red hairy stems. Again, I have no idea what it is, but it looks suspiciously like something I have. Then there is the C. Alleni red form which has flowered. Although it grows fairly easily, it is quite slow to flower <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C4SA8zkpoSfCbUy0wlO-HJDmKX_XWMsW6sFUQrpU9rlFThya8jvTw9JP9n6gi9mfydTZE1_XfWFPUeb3hDDAlukg7MwqE-ncyd_1aGyakOXS-YPsdVoFAmj28NXH9I5UmTsy0DUvjc8/s1600/IMG_1985.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C4SA8zkpoSfCbUy0wlO-HJDmKX_XWMsW6sFUQrpU9rlFThya8jvTw9JP9n6gi9mfydTZE1_XfWFPUeb3hDDAlukg7MwqE-ncyd_1aGyakOXS-YPsdVoFAmj28NXH9I5UmTsy0DUvjc8/s320/IMG_1985.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569346723489233714" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Rds8N_9DNpQyyQVXz7NhcNSwQBrY7dDQMBEcgTLO9u4pT0FRbljHHRth4EpjSn3n3WObDET5tohH6RZmthFYY__TyVOzNovfvo42RZu-VB021JfIA8h4pgQeygvhTNTP6m1WV_Zi2UU/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Rds8N_9DNpQyyQVXz7NhcNSwQBrY7dDQMBEcgTLO9u4pT0FRbljHHRth4EpjSn3n3WObDET5tohH6RZmthFYY__TyVOzNovfvo42RZu-VB021JfIA8h4pgQeygvhTNTP6m1WV_Zi2UU/s320/IMG_1983.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569346718374943810" /></a>russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-22225020630026061312010-12-27T15:39:00.001-08:002010-12-27T16:08:49.825-08:00coastal plants<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOYO2r2xPRd0KPbnaJh95qQDDudnPnPN7kqvgaKaAFM1lMTnmozSUWEncY0dVP4eaIaGweZN-YTKUxi21mGIovNH0-11oQ5f0XJuedB2KuyuER-OR5rRxGdASEcKYivQ3KTJLGfhgWv8/s1600/IMG_8748.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOYO2r2xPRd0KPbnaJh95qQDDudnPnPN7kqvgaKaAFM1lMTnmozSUWEncY0dVP4eaIaGweZN-YTKUxi21mGIovNH0-11oQ5f0XJuedB2KuyuER-OR5rRxGdASEcKYivQ3KTJLGfhgWv8/s200/IMG_8748.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555515914064536226" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7j_3d-MxJJ0eQncoVXZzIvf0kFYbs2S1t2BuRFFldO5iFE2RgaKrdxRT0f8FPEc6GrA8fQL-ZaIjjm-WN-1jiV9ojGTgvJSGkIFTvRK91Umy1DcwvBJDGHTjCHpK3LQmEUKqucJuJcY/s1600/IMG_8812.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7j_3d-MxJJ0eQncoVXZzIvf0kFYbs2S1t2BuRFFldO5iFE2RgaKrdxRT0f8FPEc6GrA8fQL-ZaIjjm-WN-1jiV9ojGTgvJSGkIFTvRK91Umy1DcwvBJDGHTjCHpK3LQmEUKqucJuJcY/s200/IMG_8812.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555515912906410290" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu0pMmTMVPDFgr-Fs0KeqDglju6CfdaKOsLJTqxa1yIJBD6YYy1mfvF_Ow9iI51Reb43N2VrEebP8go7hZRQVjoasFgDUXyvJC8oWxIG66H6ucvJE-EsWJvgU0pvDe90G7-WfooeJwrI/s1600/IMG_8863.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu0pMmTMVPDFgr-Fs0KeqDglju6CfdaKOsLJTqxa1yIJBD6YYy1mfvF_Ow9iI51Reb43N2VrEebP8go7hZRQVjoasFgDUXyvJC8oWxIG66H6ucvJE-EsWJvgU0pvDe90G7-WfooeJwrI/s200/IMG_8863.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555515904680737346" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6TNgGEWfPbt0GBr2BLRsHyoc3jSZNKNrj0sgmYuH70CO4XByih3a4OOuw529c-YaQjVrKuc58ulb1xwEW26bCPkL8lc8JLF7LhoMRCvHreEu_j65mLxyHuhMwqxymKZJYWvwFkoGCeo/s1600/IMG_8772.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6TNgGEWfPbt0GBr2BLRsHyoc3jSZNKNrj0sgmYuH70CO4XByih3a4OOuw529c-YaQjVrKuc58ulb1xwEW26bCPkL8lc8JLF7LhoMRCvHreEu_j65mLxyHuhMwqxymKZJYWvwFkoGCeo/s200/IMG_8772.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555514970162248498" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RaWpwdMQslleLorOeBefdbHDqK2bus-sCtIa-lc95SKIm6WggJ6XEeH-Ou4JTo3ZXGmf7NECzeuXdERS_T9kftKX_5dTa0joerWSGBM-lHOUqyP9YXGd5jVuqVNDtB0F42_UT3Zb8vo/s1600/IMG_8756.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RaWpwdMQslleLorOeBefdbHDqK2bus-sCtIa-lc95SKIm6WggJ6XEeH-Ou4JTo3ZXGmf7NECzeuXdERS_T9kftKX_5dTa0joerWSGBM-lHOUqyP9YXGd5jVuqVNDtB0F42_UT3Zb8vo/s200/IMG_8756.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555514960998833666" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuQW_u7puu_ZB9ADujpNxbWSkp8IdbZzTL7gCMar4bw4GNYXoBW2FSi4fSgPF1hbHIploSexHzfKeaJK-0oXWbFTaRS1oMD7hXj5r4N7kphOkafRtIZEYF6d6mk9sClTxEbLuSve90p4/s1600/IMG_8746.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuQW_u7puu_ZB9ADujpNxbWSkp8IdbZzTL7gCMar4bw4GNYXoBW2FSi4fSgPF1hbHIploSexHzfKeaJK-0oXWbFTaRS1oMD7hXj5r4N7kphOkafRtIZEYF6d6mk9sClTxEbLuSve90p4/s200/IMG_8746.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555514957514267794" /></a><br />Over the Christmas holiday, I partook in a reef walk at Sentosa. The area I was checking out was flanked by tall cliffs which had all sorts of plants growing on it. Apart from the N. Rafflesiana, I have not been able to positively identify the rest, some of which have thick, shiny and waxy leaves to deal with the constant salt spray. I should start focusing more on our coastal plants, in particular our mangroves which are increasingly becoming endangered. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn64MPUBTAUjdtHsSGxLo7bOouOo1U8k0Syu1ZEZ470-BB_lqcIxd66yieL6ZfP-qcwY2c7az63LYjeMwi1Iyby5u9VeqkRqtN1Al93Egq0dWylflJ3RkhuIb_7icLmmIepJ6BxqoqJnw/s1600/IMG_8760.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn64MPUBTAUjdtHsSGxLo7bOouOo1U8k0Syu1ZEZ470-BB_lqcIxd66yieL6ZfP-qcwY2c7az63LYjeMwi1Iyby5u9VeqkRqtN1Al93Egq0dWylflJ3RkhuIb_7icLmmIepJ6BxqoqJnw/s200/IMG_8760.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555517586891884034" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43TtxCvu244OqKatJYrSEb4bWN9RVSUIlyuWbMo2FFSezgCV0seWIX3wZFebJ_KPHM-65LzjIfNlSAT63XU6ZsiMr6eaYAOtYEzs2ruoF1fE2_ext0r0X3qx1Yj-F5QiYcpwNnULLWlM/s1600/IMG_8850.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43TtxCvu244OqKatJYrSEb4bWN9RVSUIlyuWbMo2FFSezgCV0seWIX3wZFebJ_KPHM-65LzjIfNlSAT63XU6ZsiMr6eaYAOtYEzs2ruoF1fE2_ext0r0X3qx1Yj-F5QiYcpwNnULLWlM/s200/IMG_8850.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555517577243701506" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hVQxBmzfjnEL1FHvu_EmMLuJdamkEIBD42SHzluDGhJkTs2vy1pXnjr71Re-XT21Sg5MAnSIYcPEp-7rnPlX9_EWiIpp7_AuH6_d_0lzxB2nMCU3LJIM269KHaiQvY5pOIBCmELbifE/s1600/IMG_8741.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hVQxBmzfjnEL1FHvu_EmMLuJdamkEIBD42SHzluDGhJkTs2vy1pXnjr71Re-XT21Sg5MAnSIYcPEp-7rnPlX9_EWiIpp7_AuH6_d_0lzxB2nMCU3LJIM269KHaiQvY5pOIBCmELbifE/s200/IMG_8741.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555517567851602674" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght5M1RkDFykJW_UTETsTGesxPRwg9i9lZVpKhjwAxCx1CYPR7rFJFI957AkCxubsqC3jh3UbY5tgRWrBE2pP6q1StfoI6ddgKeF1_jxD8CvAysupW5hs16PO3A8NU8_4CC1L_ZYcbBJM/s1600/IMG_7409.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght5M1RkDFykJW_UTETsTGesxPRwg9i9lZVpKhjwAxCx1CYPR7rFJFI957AkCxubsqC3jh3UbY5tgRWrBE2pP6q1StfoI6ddgKeF1_jxD8CvAysupW5hs16PO3A8NU8_4CC1L_ZYcbBJM/s200/IMG_7409.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555517979045514626" /></a>russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-55662851572420635422010-12-12T06:22:00.000-08:002010-12-27T15:39:02.671-08:00afgekia update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTKZY4POjYONBsvK6csvP2xH847qIatiHa9Yz-IIVTLrSXHK2KrVJqJYjgajnwKbK2AOU3fYPJFL-gGJP0s1RsXhxd3ZFzmAfUYFl5U1545R9lU9C43x8RfYRoWCXo1ARyW5s2A8cygk/s1600/IMG_8392.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTKZY4POjYONBsvK6csvP2xH847qIatiHa9Yz-IIVTLrSXHK2KrVJqJYjgajnwKbK2AOU3fYPJFL-gGJP0s1RsXhxd3ZFzmAfUYFl5U1545R9lU9C43x8RfYRoWCXo1ARyW5s2A8cygk/s400/IMG_8392.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549802009438071874" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMz4K7PXfm0H65IvbJtxjY0VSGS7D8MWh0F9CZKjTAHgi3wpJeXCZgLc2Gyu-TY_TmWIhgRk6bLTDkvAK421KOQF-D_dLBeoendUjJFRKbrZBVXVsiv2iKp4izpJy1l2SQ5E-rg5SgGM/s1600/IMG_8383.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMz4K7PXfm0H65IvbJtxjY0VSGS7D8MWh0F9CZKjTAHgi3wpJeXCZgLc2Gyu-TY_TmWIhgRk6bLTDkvAK421KOQF-D_dLBeoendUjJFRKbrZBVXVsiv2iKp4izpJy1l2SQ5E-rg5SgGM/s400/IMG_8383.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549801465680803682" /></a> I saw this Afgekia growing very well on a trellis at the hort park. In fact, the car park area there is lined with different sorts of creepers on metal trellises. It's really good that they have these as it gives people like me ideas as to the type of creeper I want, and the location I intend to grow it. Seeing how dense the foliage can get, I think the Afgekia will do well on a fence or a green wall at my new place. Trellises are better left for plants with hanging flowers like the jade vine.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-48754711807679798502010-12-12T06:13:00.000-08:002010-12-12T06:18:23.320-08:00Alpinia pleuranthodium (pink pearls)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAFELP9kxJSMCyZE9tHWVidQjzf3hOcBSu44YT21RladLDWJdeN9g_ursYpBOraCiyLdhsyvIO7PASkehHY_F_YSb8kq4w5iJ_VniUBP5sRPjbNdfP7uUfQlbxi9dGG8ulfXT-N2nmZY/s1600/IMG_8276.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAFELP9kxJSMCyZE9tHWVidQjzf3hOcBSu44YT21RladLDWJdeN9g_ursYpBOraCiyLdhsyvIO7PASkehHY_F_YSb8kq4w5iJ_VniUBP5sRPjbNdfP7uUfQlbxi9dGG8ulfXT-N2nmZY/s400/IMG_8276.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549799053153336706" /></a> This is one of the lesser known or seen alpinias. I chanced upon this growing at the botanic gardens several months ago. It's not a frequent bloomer, but like many alpinias, it has a gingery fragrance. Unfortunately, not a lot is known about this plant.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-42803410557296237132010-12-12T05:53:00.000-08:002011-06-30T19:43:34.569-07:00alpinia formosana (pinstripe ginger)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQDcAbk0EOW3_-UZsJPVkBSa82ff7-AYaivRLHGcMMq3rjRUa84doQR7a_tMcUl0Ptp50n7ZkQ3a1iS-GNl8Vc4-HXwcKKiAVEyyuNnYBICV2xNL1WDYTwjkQk66dMPVIm2RldsgyUf8/s1600/IMG_8455.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQDcAbk0EOW3_-UZsJPVkBSa82ff7-AYaivRLHGcMMq3rjRUa84doQR7a_tMcUl0Ptp50n7ZkQ3a1iS-GNl8Vc4-HXwcKKiAVEyyuNnYBICV2xNL1WDYTwjkQk66dMPVIm2RldsgyUf8/s400/IMG_8455.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549795073651347602" /></a> Whilst potting around the garden, I noticed that my Alpinia fomorsana was blooming for the very first time. I've grown mine from a rhizome (which I imported from Aloha) in a pot for the last two years. The plant is about 1.2 to 1.5 metres tall and appears to do very well in our climate. The flowers are porcelain white with pink tips and have a strong gingery fragrance. However, unlike it's showy cousins the alpinia zerumbet, this species is grown more for its outstanding foliage consisting of glossy green leaves with fine white pinstriping. It grows well in pots, but probably produces larger inflorescences if grown in the ground. This species is often mistaken for the Alpinia vittata which is quite common in our nursery trade.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-20510486887879130082010-10-20T04:37:00.000-07:002011-06-30T20:33:20.557-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZkOTKZ5ICqButr73uDcZYzfVH7bUDdcUi9RI3vJj4ZLlQ6PylAvBpX8zh2Kc1ucA4zj2V-p4UH20_13JLqFLt3H6S3XySwUIWUx_IfURv4suF0tJLSvx5B3GyBxVx_hn7u6s4e8-X5U/s1600/Photo0076.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZkOTKZ5ICqButr73uDcZYzfVH7bUDdcUi9RI3vJj4ZLlQ6PylAvBpX8zh2Kc1ucA4zj2V-p4UH20_13JLqFLt3H6S3XySwUIWUx_IfURv4suF0tJLSvx5B3GyBxVx_hn7u6s4e8-X5U/s400/Photo0076.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530091250412906530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHzMtkZcKBRlVqQDHhr1kY91V5PyWrANtcxX7B_fKmNhrBQ0zS00X9tL54AMvXE2feVFjjD4CxsctVIJJBaIuVOD5NufJsKLflaYeS8gmkHcGkZFnLRZgVBuTe9RsHw5pR3_BwjQBZc0/s1600/Photo0072.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHzMtkZcKBRlVqQDHhr1kY91V5PyWrANtcxX7B_fKmNhrBQ0zS00X9tL54AMvXE2feVFjjD4CxsctVIJJBaIuVOD5NufJsKLflaYeS8gmkHcGkZFnLRZgVBuTe9RsHw5pR3_BwjQBZc0/s400/Photo0072.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530091242599247474" /></a><br /><br />I still have not managed to ID this species of costus. NParks should really make it a point to positively ID all their plants and have them labelled.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-49960763397056722902010-10-19T06:03:00.000-07:002010-10-19T06:39:38.570-07:00goldflame honeysuckle (Lonicera x heckrottii )<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJElk2Epj6b39zPxxF0yMPLR3aTGyfWBTQluluJg4k4ia4txqi94IvtlhJkBIRM92WcTHYBmgbs8hp6uDImAXvr-m3rSITSXLpWzaAxR3bek7ccLpkkjHB3uWZov_yxpF1oFqOzrd0mc/s1600/lonicera_heckrottii.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJElk2Epj6b39zPxxF0yMPLR3aTGyfWBTQluluJg4k4ia4txqi94IvtlhJkBIRM92WcTHYBmgbs8hp6uDImAXvr-m3rSITSXLpWzaAxR3bek7ccLpkkjHB3uWZov_yxpF1oFqOzrd0mc/s400/lonicera_heckrottii.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529742278410800098" /></a> A few weeks ago, I chanced upon this lovely honeysuckle specimen at World Farm. Known more commonly as the Goldflame Honeysuckle, this twining climber bears sweetly fragrant, tubular carmine flowers that open to reveal creamy, yellow throats above pairs of round, blue-green leaves. <br /><br />It can be trained to climb fences, trellises or arbors but a support must be provided for them to climb on. Heaviest blooming occurs in full sun in well-drained locations and slightly acidic to neutral soil conditions. Although it thrives better in hardiness zones of between 4 and 9, it does appear to grow fairly well in our humid tropical weather, though regular watering will be required to prevent the leaves from going limp.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-41166716193716055302010-10-18T19:24:00.000-07:002010-10-18T20:14:44.120-07:00creepers and vinesI have a soft spot for creepers and vines, not just because of the way they twirl around delicately but more so because of the majestic flowers they produce, which are often either borne singly or in large clusters. <br /><br />Vines are usually divided into woody vines such as the sandpaper vine (Petrea volubilis), rangoon creeper (Quisqualis Indica), passiflora and thunbergias, and herbaceous vines such as morning glory. Vines climb in a variety of methods. Some, like the rangoon creeper and jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) climb by twining their stems around a support while others like Passiflora use tendrils which twirl on anything they can hook on. And some others use twining petioles, clinging roots (Cup of Gold, Solandra maxima), thorns which pierce for support (climbing rose), hooked branches or adhesive pads (Shingle plant, Raphidophora celatocaulis). <br /><br />Vines are useful when you have a fence which you want covered to screen off for privacy. You can also train climbers over pergolas or trellises or against bare walls or anything which you want covered. It is often employed by landscape designers to soften buildings or areas which are very built up. <br /><br />So far, i've amassed quite a few different species of vines and creepers which I will use at my new place. As the new place is a corner semi-detached house, I have quite a long stretch of fence (made of Galvanised steel) which needs to be covered. I will probably cover it with something vigourous, like the rangoon creeper (Quisqualis Indica) or the different species of passifloras which I have. For the pergola area leading to the front door, i'll probably plant something elegant, like the jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys). The double-storey feature wall trellis (recycled from the cast iron grilles of the existing house) will probably feature either the sandpaper vine (Petrea volubilis) or the Afgekia sericea. The Cup of Gold (Solandra maxima) and Odontadenia macrantha will probably end up where the "nursery" area is going to be, together with the more delicate passiflora amethyst. Some of the walled areas will be covered with the Shingle creeper (Raphidophora celatocaulis). I will have to find a place for the <a href="http://www.nichegardens.com/catalog/item.php?id=1619"> Lonicera x heckrottii </a>, Aristolochia labiata, and the leafy vine with long aerial roots!russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-54204199030116248692010-10-09T07:56:00.000-07:002010-10-18T19:21:57.366-07:00afgekia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN33jcvMfuHvsviB4tosDgCDj8UqQrm4GHIvnpkJjRGClEqToD1Y_Wv1Bsz7MjhW8bN7xctQgnUbFJf-2ZjfBvcIadSAAg8ejFrqOBwnOKhMjx06ndjhjU8BRrvFmbePXovC5-3-NAEww/s1600/IMG_4376.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN33jcvMfuHvsviB4tosDgCDj8UqQrm4GHIvnpkJjRGClEqToD1Y_Wv1Bsz7MjhW8bN7xctQgnUbFJf-2ZjfBvcIadSAAg8ejFrqOBwnOKhMjx06ndjhjU8BRrvFmbePXovC5-3-NAEww/s400/IMG_4376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526065909257121938" /></a> I saw this specimen at the hort park and this is my first sighting of the pink variety. So far, i've only managed to see the purple one growing at Lyndi's garden. <br /><br />Not a lot is known about this creeper other than the fact that it originates from Thailand. Luckily for me, a trip to Ang Mo Kio nursery on Friday proved most fruitful as they had just brought in a new albeit young batch of plants. This will definitely go on some trellis at the new place, along with all my other creepers and vines.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-69424000969698368892010-08-25T07:38:00.000-07:002011-06-30T19:47:45.275-07:00collection of Mt Tenggar plants<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV0TNdJm28-6KBpYUvAPesPWAKbSyLVgCUIlqTvaljVuV7H8EvQu8NW9pmPhcNBYI3vVK0gbUQ7rXG7rM_Y_IS9PL4ADvDv9SodRdDTJLmrdsJuFErYud_2R6FTBfGy4V1uqj6AcKxrA/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV0TNdJm28-6KBpYUvAPesPWAKbSyLVgCUIlqTvaljVuV7H8EvQu8NW9pmPhcNBYI3vVK0gbUQ7rXG7rM_Y_IS9PL4ADvDv9SodRdDTJLmrdsJuFErYud_2R6FTBfGy4V1uqj6AcKxrA/s200/IMG_2031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509359923095299250" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqxNpYOoUlZipq1RYELRNH0SVuDD_qXU0eZDJvDz8WWf5MSV6xQVodcD5RYbzNbmyqHdU5bkGvwADiZW446Tn192izRATENFsP51qT1FGKAa_rEvuN6VRyj3h0hEMyKm13z0HK1Vf7No/s1600/IMG_2166.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqxNpYOoUlZipq1RYELRNH0SVuDD_qXU0eZDJvDz8WWf5MSV6xQVodcD5RYbzNbmyqHdU5bkGvwADiZW446Tn192izRATENFsP51qT1FGKAa_rEvuN6VRyj3h0hEMyKm13z0HK1Vf7No/s200/IMG_2166.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509358983327103426" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlOinCW6fLm-N9gMkIGezQ4iK7XJhlzfskcCrwFu-y1479s26QJ2kGuwASUapQlRm2-XVu0wf40iXAzYAy9lQNySKBEW-1f_KwxmNMrmTLlzqvKddoR1qDoSSlQR2Da6egbAkto07-OI/s1600/IMG_1995.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlOinCW6fLm-N9gMkIGezQ4iK7XJhlzfskcCrwFu-y1479s26QJ2kGuwASUapQlRm2-XVu0wf40iXAzYAy9lQNySKBEW-1f_KwxmNMrmTLlzqvKddoR1qDoSSlQR2Da6egbAkto07-OI/s200/IMG_1995.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509358976055187426" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYfZdEHgDYoZO_cb5ExTSdQz0KnvrXGl2xzEgDvI3mcLhXumOCSLxNgrGaPzReAZUlYyeNWAq5Xlu6f0yIro9OdvqxK7Hzu951FRLkpGM3mfzZTdREwmzuBEETkK2tOXPMfBwTIsDt7k/s1600/IMG_1986.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYfZdEHgDYoZO_cb5ExTSdQz0KnvrXGl2xzEgDvI3mcLhXumOCSLxNgrGaPzReAZUlYyeNWAq5Xlu6f0yIro9OdvqxK7Hzu951FRLkpGM3mfzZTdREwmzuBEETkK2tOXPMfBwTIsDt7k/s200/IMG_1986.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509358966152712386" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTSzzXpTTP_xZ6NomMAN-kghOWy-zGlSI6gtnfn4JaP3XTkyP18DmW7SCUxvtgqtrLfelJwXxJM9kd9nDwVi-vIXu_StI0FvJQN9CeaqAy920t6cYlSrt9zeZqLNbXHGopnlM66gDtAg/s1600/IMG_3456.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTSzzXpTTP_xZ6NomMAN-kghOWy-zGlSI6gtnfn4JaP3XTkyP18DmW7SCUxvtgqtrLfelJwXxJM9kd9nDwVi-vIXu_StI0FvJQN9CeaqAy920t6cYlSrt9zeZqLNbXHGopnlM66gDtAg/s200/IMG_3456.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509358958175974082" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxmElkUrn5uK0x4atJLVAjmQhE1zEhF45iQv986N4iNzemp0k2CSY4wfR6-BnbZlY-Bh01pRT5ekv70nperSRUFRi6GvsYLqhFdaexSz_TEpBK5A8ZUyVfUDghe0Dmgxju2xa9Rk_EdI/s1600/IMG_3587.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxmElkUrn5uK0x4atJLVAjmQhE1zEhF45iQv986N4iNzemp0k2CSY4wfR6-BnbZlY-Bh01pRT5ekv70nperSRUFRi6GvsYLqhFdaexSz_TEpBK5A8ZUyVfUDghe0Dmgxju2xa9Rk_EdI/s200/IMG_3587.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509358950679274994" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSomHLETtXlOQlusBGMSAAhNShIwdD4AsWCPZHM4hJ3IaDquRKpTejTvJZYmyrKf2zWTFp-i4Ovjoku2cRY1duUN5H_ghyphenhyphenTb33QmcG2ZrKiZuuUwhN4T1Nw5ytGy1jnQQ7TTsxPrsQKWE/s1600/IMG_3458.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSomHLETtXlOQlusBGMSAAhNShIwdD4AsWCPZHM4hJ3IaDquRKpTejTvJZYmyrKf2zWTFp-i4Ovjoku2cRY1duUN5H_ghyphenhyphenTb33QmcG2ZrKiZuuUwhN4T1Nw5ytGy1jnQQ7TTsxPrsQKWE/s200/IMG_3458.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509357691455395442" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lHaje5Rc1vFggtl9R4Wvo18oA7j0vrVFRjgq36gpjoXGdK6QxRpmp0ZszDBCR8_kRPSvBGkkuJlxlwYm8Yuku9aNxTd7Dwc8Anm_oxP8tZw-NHTyWFfWvuNJFRV2pucBFpRXPYWLkss/s1600/IMG_3544.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lHaje5Rc1vFggtl9R4Wvo18oA7j0vrVFRjgq36gpjoXGdK6QxRpmp0ZszDBCR8_kRPSvBGkkuJlxlwYm8Yuku9aNxTd7Dwc8Anm_oxP8tZw-NHTyWFfWvuNJFRV2pucBFpRXPYWLkss/s200/IMG_3544.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509357685321162354" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bTQiBQdYO-UuNpx8D0xdnkq8lTJ4vohJzcfqg2EVSZoCHQiD3etqhZya44Tsbi9YZpme73yHtPJ8bFD1kydAXO-kdaVp0dFaYXtnss10Mmo0uADB-Yxtytx3Mb6I6BctGaiYb765Z04/s1600/IMG_3338.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bTQiBQdYO-UuNpx8D0xdnkq8lTJ4vohJzcfqg2EVSZoCHQiD3etqhZya44Tsbi9YZpme73yHtPJ8bFD1kydAXO-kdaVp0dFaYXtnss10Mmo0uADB-Yxtytx3Mb6I6BctGaiYb765Z04/s200/IMG_3338.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509359964230548354" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImptWnd6T_TKVsk5nyozcIdSOTF4S3HAYQJNCZzaIsqPlOE25eDARsPfdmcISeP0O1DJRdtYG4kWw4-W2vYXs5YaBV3tyBr5mQ_2ucfWzbv8zjJStjNB9_GEq20H3lZdnkCWMx3R6Oic/s1600/IMG_3278.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImptWnd6T_TKVsk5nyozcIdSOTF4S3HAYQJNCZzaIsqPlOE25eDARsPfdmcISeP0O1DJRdtYG4kWw4-W2vYXs5YaBV3tyBr5mQ_2ucfWzbv8zjJStjNB9_GEq20H3lZdnkCWMx3R6Oic/s200/IMG_3278.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509359956402932898" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZncVHaxM3NKm5KTRwS1NbcBiHH-ys2Tz0fD2upBW4ffRvmUhiYiwBW2n0XTE4LzjY4jyLxUgoHXTONLEfedMDEl4IiOE-tVX4yYA2yGMv1wDLfk8ZGGEzzQKKtFACgJ5Ig6SSRinlmc/s1600/IMG_3161.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZncVHaxM3NKm5KTRwS1NbcBiHH-ys2Tz0fD2upBW4ffRvmUhiYiwBW2n0XTE4LzjY4jyLxUgoHXTONLEfedMDEl4IiOE-tVX4yYA2yGMv1wDLfk8ZGGEzzQKKtFACgJ5Ig6SSRinlmc/s200/IMG_3161.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509359940833929762" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXJTfWDLDlM8_u20WQqeArt3fpfPBgvg5KGUdKvG5zmjWsrw7wvkviGOBWrIEGamOmJnrU4WjEb0RR2aYAt3n5flBpdFYuMmbkvgG_f_su-QOsgIoQSAz6D1tjclE0BammIVWLWv0a-Y/s1600/IMG_3588.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXJTfWDLDlM8_u20WQqeArt3fpfPBgvg5KGUdKvG5zmjWsrw7wvkviGOBWrIEGamOmJnrU4WjEb0RR2aYAt3n5flBpdFYuMmbkvgG_f_su-QOsgIoQSAz6D1tjclE0BammIVWLWv0a-Y/s200/IMG_3588.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509357665426954354" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2x8dAEvLouMv8Koh62tgpsOy2RH4I5zloQWHtkMGKSIT59BUd2kf-XZw9UH4zuNfS6S6JtufyI-tDuzwWUP7OYsmLUwA-14Nz7FXlH44BP8rMb-UGVRTC0S9oi_HcPfcEONTAyqBMNWQ/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2x8dAEvLouMv8Koh62tgpsOy2RH4I5zloQWHtkMGKSIT59BUd2kf-XZw9UH4zuNfS6S6JtufyI-tDuzwWUP7OYsmLUwA-14Nz7FXlH44BP8rMb-UGVRTC0S9oi_HcPfcEONTAyqBMNWQ/s200/IMG_1981.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509357657194309218" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4232fjjHgWDbWcbzY1C9gGoYQXgUYS9jS3E1jT6A-KDlgoCnKAWU2aj4CtvmsCESHS-SDziNBbLitKRIWFmvfAiZJT8_M7WLxFqmKA8ZZ61g38ZmfUOZ_b-SX5pCjMG6CWbB6QpCKgg4/s1600/IMG_3158.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4232fjjHgWDbWcbzY1C9gGoYQXgUYS9jS3E1jT6A-KDlgoCnKAWU2aj4CtvmsCESHS-SDziNBbLitKRIWFmvfAiZJT8_M7WLxFqmKA8ZZ61g38ZmfUOZ_b-SX5pCjMG6CWbB6QpCKgg4/s200/IMG_3158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509359935049958434" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnRci9ZMJcp3UhoQzMe6Oz6UKT_vlaDEaVLJDbh8QGsASV1pmKcaHmWsJGb9P6x1LbZQBGiCsOPArCeIvRhyphenhyphenypp9HPFnUsfo5REfwNcFhp2cLwDvezMEIzSG7lmH69R4HpLp8HcL77tQ/s1600/IMG_3551.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnRci9ZMJcp3UhoQzMe6Oz6UKT_vlaDEaVLJDbh8QGsASV1pmKcaHmWsJGb9P6x1LbZQBGiCsOPArCeIvRhyphenhyphenypp9HPFnUsfo5REfwNcFhp2cLwDvezMEIzSG7lmH69R4HpLp8HcL77tQ/s200/IMG_3551.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509357673835080882" /></a><br /><br />These are a collection of images taken during my recent trip to Mt. Bromo in Surabaya. The most common and by far the most spectacular flowering species has to be the brugmansia. They were planted everywhere in different shades of yellow, orange and white. Like in Cameron Highlights, Brugmansias typically do better in cooler climates, which explains why mine used to flower towards the end of the year, during the wet season. Unfortunately, I had to give my plant away as it is highly toxic and therefore posed a danger to my dogs.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-37054138948513262352010-08-20T08:05:00.001-07:002011-06-30T19:50:40.591-07:00random<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOIXN78VB9eVc2ko3Nz3D_aq-J9u-Bof0KJOnek7OsDd5UVHwtdQFGc2B0T8JfjDTPedpwrV5OOH7MbGkhK1QvpNKjGDR81s9ungbyE0jVmO1xacTm34C5N4C6KbZ912_mpH4lWM9dWc/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOIXN78VB9eVc2ko3Nz3D_aq-J9u-Bof0KJOnek7OsDd5UVHwtdQFGc2B0T8JfjDTPedpwrV5OOH7MbGkhK1QvpNKjGDR81s9ungbyE0jVmO1xacTm34C5N4C6KbZ912_mpH4lWM9dWc/s400/IMG_2666.JPG.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507508443962852546" /></a> Was surfing <a href="http://msgreenfingers.blogspot.com/"> Ting Ting's blog </a> and came across an entry with this image of Ting Ting and my friend Jason. They were featured in the August edition of Appetite magazine on urban gardens. The photo of Jason was taken in his cool-house which is his pride and joy. He tried convincing me to get one set up at the new place, but the thought of hefty electricity bills, coupled with the impact on the environment was enough to deter me. I can see the attraction in having a cool house because it opens up new possibilities for the avid tropical gardener, but it comes at a price. It all boils down to priorities. I think I will simply go with a simple 'cage-like' structure which would function as my nursery and holding area for my hanging and shade-loving plants. <br /><br />Perhaps some day they would feature my garden. But what should I pose with? My bromeliad collection perhaps?russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-16824347531040615932010-08-18T05:39:00.000-07:002010-08-18T07:15:31.225-07:00pitcher update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dkI2HeTuo0W0dxJJ-hmAM2e43oGwxYDeNrqJSd7ZOL9gPA6Mo1ZklCM_Gh_xYcxg0JKR6VNxe83L0vwO683jyAVVToijc7ulMYzl7myDqvRty6aT7QAuSR08YCi7xAVaDFjIz1JxHvE/s1600/IMG_1841.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dkI2HeTuo0W0dxJJ-hmAM2e43oGwxYDeNrqJSd7ZOL9gPA6Mo1ZklCM_Gh_xYcxg0JKR6VNxe83L0vwO683jyAVVToijc7ulMYzl7myDqvRty6aT7QAuSR08YCi7xAVaDFjIz1JxHvE/s200/IMG_1841.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506748415599618066" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZPL5sXWY1KUxgx7nTWXFb5-gksrvfzq-blX56Jd7rTXNOI2aZ1mFfIoI7Wnfls7ZbuYReORb8gG2OID-R6LgpwKMkfKzO6nwqr0hk3VBCkdGzY5F4Y8-wG7dMQvJq7NrYJ0Qy35Vny4/s1600/IMG_1843.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZPL5sXWY1KUxgx7nTWXFb5-gksrvfzq-blX56Jd7rTXNOI2aZ1mFfIoI7Wnfls7ZbuYReORb8gG2OID-R6LgpwKMkfKzO6nwqr0hk3VBCkdGzY5F4Y8-wG7dMQvJq7NrYJ0Qy35Vny4/s200/IMG_1843.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506743815644787442" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qXQ2Uyyr2Elb6KPmXAIyHoKIjU4YBhEt63ZEJdiADWlHLMAZICygmF5mp8jqdA5U1TC4V99GnYAk1ApelECpoKoPaqHvzu3-vwPco1DhatV1Sg1gWhSyBzyfrGcH4m7Gq4dSnfT570A/s1600/IMG_1845.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qXQ2Uyyr2Elb6KPmXAIyHoKIjU4YBhEt63ZEJdiADWlHLMAZICygmF5mp8jqdA5U1TC4V99GnYAk1ApelECpoKoPaqHvzu3-vwPco1DhatV1Sg1gWhSyBzyfrGcH4m7Gq4dSnfT570A/s200/IMG_1845.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506743813799101698" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9xLvTEPkj7aItPzswZ-KO_Hx1NJfW_zB8aWIgLE7B6kknpixOYX2QzYpHJJCHx5kbYTXhEloi5pOk7t9PYfil0X6GPFaBIRtKpNvA7u6_tCrEHLBOy4FQxLcigzCkqbOEa8oHHJ6tCU/s1600/IMG_1848.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9xLvTEPkj7aItPzswZ-KO_Hx1NJfW_zB8aWIgLE7B6kknpixOYX2QzYpHJJCHx5kbYTXhEloi5pOk7t9PYfil0X6GPFaBIRtKpNvA7u6_tCrEHLBOy4FQxLcigzCkqbOEa8oHHJ6tCU/s200/IMG_1848.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506743801158923394" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc4d8VYB-LUJ6V7NYx1rljiYmNlfI_xla9HV2IGJeQxlyW46Fxm0nCj4iCzSvu59p08RaJonTMDFZHatjDoMzb94TD9CaSlgTLf0eikaXBRNcuP0Dd89nbGk1H9WVig4I63_54xtEJxg/s1600/IMG_1853.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc4d8VYB-LUJ6V7NYx1rljiYmNlfI_xla9HV2IGJeQxlyW46Fxm0nCj4iCzSvu59p08RaJonTMDFZHatjDoMzb94TD9CaSlgTLf0eikaXBRNcuP0Dd89nbGk1H9WVig4I63_54xtEJxg/s200/IMG_1853.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506743796098111426" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRCAB8hPIx3NtIZ0FKZl72rHmcvLzwDs5u1IQkRAwWvyojQdHSQpTH7-bpIcw9lE4Z0qOFpmte1eeFQTmi19GtzPtLGf6X_1bTDxYkUDKWcmJv1U8rR8Wyzr07lCWC054OmuaEHw_SPY/s1600/IMG_1864.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRCAB8hPIx3NtIZ0FKZl72rHmcvLzwDs5u1IQkRAwWvyojQdHSQpTH7-bpIcw9lE4Z0qOFpmte1eeFQTmi19GtzPtLGf6X_1bTDxYkUDKWcmJv1U8rR8Wyzr07lCWC054OmuaEHw_SPY/s200/IMG_1864.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506743789062078850" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT4E1QxHu8uVBTm2SmBuKqPl6a0ddFXrT-UDtuapKhPeO0aiWRC2MReHWSiyx-4mZbNaYYY3nS6xEkGGAiVfXAwUYS5c3cBrZzoCN1Bq09Dw4w8o5_yVNXXw9CM_gyD5l8QkjIwcPENY/s1600/IMG_1842.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT4E1QxHu8uVBTm2SmBuKqPl6a0ddFXrT-UDtuapKhPeO0aiWRC2MReHWSiyx-4mZbNaYYY3nS6xEkGGAiVfXAwUYS5c3cBrZzoCN1Bq09Dw4w8o5_yVNXXw9CM_gyD5l8QkjIwcPENY/s200/IMG_1842.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506741769187296658" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u1OpjkdvJZ2axMKTayWpM1P1QiMZYa3szxLvoblHh27v7syoqGY7Q6O7HQw3RtUWqv7qcdhjyahRJkltO3jtGaQ7LKKXarhhGbdbbiMdCLtDs9gW-JFg7p2gro5Dryk3Isl_A0jNbc0/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u1OpjkdvJZ2axMKTayWpM1P1QiMZYa3szxLvoblHh27v7syoqGY7Q6O7HQw3RtUWqv7qcdhjyahRJkltO3jtGaQ7LKKXarhhGbdbbiMdCLtDs9gW-JFg7p2gro5Dryk3Isl_A0jNbc0/s200/IMG_1839.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506741754543277474" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8K4iVQS6bZYIkksRsCOc7F8nw-LC5ZMZRSdG0CVrFsmR4UlvKW1Fyj8evXVtLKMTlvU0v4SJW4PRRoqp1bHt495vWH8V4oMlQjU63WyR0Y85yd6mqUbTMsW4OJB72qHFluIM9xmzEsc/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8K4iVQS6bZYIkksRsCOc7F8nw-LC5ZMZRSdG0CVrFsmR4UlvKW1Fyj8evXVtLKMTlvU0v4SJW4PRRoqp1bHt495vWH8V4oMlQjU63WyR0Y85yd6mqUbTMsW4OJB72qHFluIM9xmzEsc/s200/IMG_1835.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506741747646854418" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pZGNV_GmuVomNLEC8QOgZthsqjlsWMHsZ525fhbEOPJeXmb_7j8DXJPRvQ8-fjq5KLhnN7NwZNK0A36WXn0SDNZtj54MA5bX685FXYhKI_uT4cWaeW3NWzRk8ZdcMR4TartOCAk7CKQ/s1600/IMG_1834.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pZGNV_GmuVomNLEC8QOgZthsqjlsWMHsZ525fhbEOPJeXmb_7j8DXJPRvQ8-fjq5KLhnN7NwZNK0A36WXn0SDNZtj54MA5bX685FXYhKI_uT4cWaeW3NWzRk8ZdcMR4TartOCAk7CKQ/s200/IMG_1834.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506741741087574866" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhFG6zN7RHtzy-ESMO9mqg0eTahefrGxT843faxl94qae21Z9GyJxZmVus_Bc5r5Syigep-dh9ZGewfjLxqjXpqzKibZpqzbP_2Ipdb_jhLGrTst_fmSNgR_7OyOa3hyphenhyphenaSsIY9KBcRbI/s1600/IMG_1833.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhFG6zN7RHtzy-ESMO9mqg0eTahefrGxT843faxl94qae21Z9GyJxZmVus_Bc5r5Syigep-dh9ZGewfjLxqjXpqzKibZpqzbP_2Ipdb_jhLGrTst_fmSNgR_7OyOa3hyphenhyphenaSsIY9KBcRbI/s200/IMG_1833.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506741733795839442" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWi2XecTUxjr_OXHEJcrK84Rinm_mNxiCteX6avDfpw8XNHzyA7Rv8JtSPCHOsSAJ3cL3IQyr1zxl9oaUjBEAUDedA7_snpYJ2N6gZAV046pgpHyWAN8oQ8vjFg0EvYODlKQ3H691pCU/s1600/IMG_1832.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWi2XecTUxjr_OXHEJcrK84Rinm_mNxiCteX6avDfpw8XNHzyA7Rv8JtSPCHOsSAJ3cL3IQyr1zxl9oaUjBEAUDedA7_snpYJ2N6gZAV046pgpHyWAN8oQ8vjFg0EvYODlKQ3H691pCU/s200/IMG_1832.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506729232536633474" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAMFy7E9jYHOFPj1nWwXe0h4AydPj_w-veljdpwBnZoz7nuarLO6kss-O7XWv87lBaVdKX-4EOI2svcMC1mqsHB5s9GbFndsQWkv6o-X-FzyyhC7iVplkuCA4Vb_uO39A-3M3OK1x1EI/s1600/IMG_1830.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAMFy7E9jYHOFPj1nWwXe0h4AydPj_w-veljdpwBnZoz7nuarLO6kss-O7XWv87lBaVdKX-4EOI2svcMC1mqsHB5s9GbFndsQWkv6o-X-FzyyhC7iVplkuCA4Vb_uO39A-3M3OK1x1EI/s200/IMG_1830.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506729221944398002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaWSFLO9PtAaIGg0gnPoCe2EgeqqHcEHvfD4xtvQgJv7JGPk5_jpGZnMl7cA5PlKaqdpTwFMuSIt1qhtnnfGR2uR5QJ7AysENgpUrnzMCrr2sg4BCgD04w1aWRDFQ2-aNlam_wt7gu1c/s1600/IMG_1829.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaWSFLO9PtAaIGg0gnPoCe2EgeqqHcEHvfD4xtvQgJv7JGPk5_jpGZnMl7cA5PlKaqdpTwFMuSIt1qhtnnfGR2uR5QJ7AysENgpUrnzMCrr2sg4BCgD04w1aWRDFQ2-aNlam_wt7gu1c/s200/IMG_1829.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506729215414953122" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqV1gbB4NQdDOqZZzXRkSnQHTy8Kxwe_UsEsqvu6Zya4mUZewOYeJjxpKAeyqIqjLa_Ffe1gxv4a0RYEtyBiUvsmJfPeYY7VKjhUzQf9Q9BlYPQwSKl6xKKiVqzeF_U8QUs5PwiELnl4/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqV1gbB4NQdDOqZZzXRkSnQHTy8Kxwe_UsEsqvu6Zya4mUZewOYeJjxpKAeyqIqjLa_Ffe1gxv4a0RYEtyBiUvsmJfPeYY7VKjhUzQf9Q9BlYPQwSKl6xKKiVqzeF_U8QUs5PwiELnl4/s200/IMG_1827.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506729205638938658" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIIX7BorPzi9p7dtc1QdkY_iytqwKzv_UJLPUBHtYupA0uqol7fo7nJjHprWFrKXMV1r4aas5t4uB2qGgKPHH3LerVKjg0KYUDLXwx6UiKWyB9m5rIVS6ZifBDZSsZ8vBPyhjjjo4hw8/s1600/IMG_1826.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIIX7BorPzi9p7dtc1QdkY_iytqwKzv_UJLPUBHtYupA0uqol7fo7nJjHprWFrKXMV1r4aas5t4uB2qGgKPHH3LerVKjg0KYUDLXwx6UiKWyB9m5rIVS6ZifBDZSsZ8vBPyhjjjo4hw8/s200/IMG_1826.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506729199276372594" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I thought I would carry out an update on the pitchers at home. My love affair for pitchers (nepenthes) began with a pot of N. truncata I got from World Farm. It always starts with that one pot, doesn't it? Soon, I found myself getting another, and then another and before I know it, I have 10 different specimens hanging in my backyard. But it doesn't quite end there, because you end up collecting more, from other nurseries, garden shows, other collectors and so on. I even hand-carried some I bought from Chatuchak market in Bangkok on my flight home. <br /><br />At the time, I was also fascinated by other savage plants such as sarracenias, venus fly traps, sundews, butterworts and even created a carnivorous plant terrarium, complete with 3 high intensity daylight fluorescent tubes. To-date, I probably have more than 20 different species and hybrids, most of which were bought and some were given by fellow pitcher-loving friends like Lyndi and Jason. <br /><br />Pitchers are easy to care for, and contrary to popular belief, they do not really need to feed on insects to survive. Insects provide additional nutrients which help it to grow. They seem to be thriving relatively well, but would probably do better in a coolhouse environment. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgxnkpV056cAuGTBnJljeJr3xrNFVZjZbH83rdA2TaUHehlNxbvt0uA0KayF4J3nWSQ2-zjNqP-benyUlf-HmwX_aW41y0VclaGeCg7MJuHXF04Lcp8G3d0fQbCv_BhhWSPwB-YNSfA0/s1600/IMG_6453.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgxnkpV056cAuGTBnJljeJr3xrNFVZjZbH83rdA2TaUHehlNxbvt0uA0KayF4J3nWSQ2-zjNqP-benyUlf-HmwX_aW41y0VclaGeCg7MJuHXF04Lcp8G3d0fQbCv_BhhWSPwB-YNSfA0/s200/IMG_6453.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506747273575270114" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7CnYh8oYsYMTSdd68DorvaodhbOT2wQwbaqiRiVvq20CNgDKUCijSS3NzkTFd208Nq8uCOmj8lsZK0yvUU22Rppc79womR95wDUXP8t-ekNZwtrin16IGKyRp9Lp5NlL4flGJcAL1YI/s1600/IMG_4953.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7CnYh8oYsYMTSdd68DorvaodhbOT2wQwbaqiRiVvq20CNgDKUCijSS3NzkTFd208Nq8uCOmj8lsZK0yvUU22Rppc79womR95wDUXP8t-ekNZwtrin16IGKyRp9Lp5NlL4flGJcAL1YI/s200/IMG_4953.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506747268162455426" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNOWcxKg4BsLR6i_ZL92bqLR6KCb3bTPPRwWMK-3_6rmiOZTEryrdvxCZxVAQis5v_FhAKhPTq9CheLdyBJbO9GBKhHZ_c3vvDKKaLrTBbNxvHkLPjt1P8PY19OpAMqrvE5CniUIQrhk/s1600/IMG_5392.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNOWcxKg4BsLR6i_ZL92bqLR6KCb3bTPPRwWMK-3_6rmiOZTEryrdvxCZxVAQis5v_FhAKhPTq9CheLdyBJbO9GBKhHZ_c3vvDKKaLrTBbNxvHkLPjt1P8PY19OpAMqrvE5CniUIQrhk/s200/IMG_5392.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506747259826003650" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUvem5_mJq0kT01PQeRoMxV8ypAqsOtDJMkD51KX98_sEYR421ffE5ti7NDBw0hz_rwzjqNRLbkiL-Vrr9hn9NqZ8hsDrJU21cCRw_mpIaduQ1OZXBGe5CxVjHQ6D04JDCJZFFfkr8Q0/s1600/IMG_6450.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUvem5_mJq0kT01PQeRoMxV8ypAqsOtDJMkD51KX98_sEYR421ffE5ti7NDBw0hz_rwzjqNRLbkiL-Vrr9hn9NqZ8hsDrJU21cCRw_mpIaduQ1OZXBGe5CxVjHQ6D04JDCJZFFfkr8Q0/s200/IMG_6450.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506747253225993122" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMtvvudJjXXttpxdxoGkDWjRxjHgSAtYUPdjXDR_lbFabT7mlZMVfOZNRIBXezCOQbxjI3a_iqn_PE36Oq1yN3zmGWUQWDitZnXR84bFrWSgCyW9buDqpSegPndEyJNTeYJA_-BIM4yM/s1600/IMG_6404.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMtvvudJjXXttpxdxoGkDWjRxjHgSAtYUPdjXDR_lbFabT7mlZMVfOZNRIBXezCOQbxjI3a_iqn_PE36Oq1yN3zmGWUQWDitZnXR84bFrWSgCyW9buDqpSegPndEyJNTeYJA_-BIM4yM/s200/IMG_6404.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506745960255972994" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlKiqGBHjuN1mOX3GqrRf2URtu5Omeer-4_lcTz9z2zbtoProCZUVJ-3Nt_2CPF0u_AJhSM550knNqQGZDj_CIYZ6YIcLEYmRAjKctVtkwwbLnXP_7IOpGvIFD-Jz7bYiPlVOGiQVRfE/s1600/IMG_6400.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlKiqGBHjuN1mOX3GqrRf2URtu5Omeer-4_lcTz9z2zbtoProCZUVJ-3Nt_2CPF0u_AJhSM550knNqQGZDj_CIYZ6YIcLEYmRAjKctVtkwwbLnXP_7IOpGvIFD-Jz7bYiPlVOGiQVRfE/s200/IMG_6400.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506745958639507970" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQLMpE4fWFOWX6-ii6gJAtuRxXEsV0b_Df7-aOtwhxnDeHxJ7n2x9izSEQBLnl4QeXLo19PIyu-ecG1TtaTxdzthjqJlX7myirEUXzQhywof3cT1cuG-6pYXC1pzfiaZSMd47AbP_JPI/s1600/IMG_6429.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQLMpE4fWFOWX6-ii6gJAtuRxXEsV0b_Df7-aOtwhxnDeHxJ7n2x9izSEQBLnl4QeXLo19PIyu-ecG1TtaTxdzthjqJlX7myirEUXzQhywof3cT1cuG-6pYXC1pzfiaZSMd47AbP_JPI/s200/IMG_6429.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506745949574979714" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IgPDpqGQIBcv4T3KMYvNLAeiXwu4m_-YEijvxy3jCRMqJiloD_nr2mJfFyDs9t4HaEFoaq-GG9ds9J2XB-StJC91iYP2XeL0_DuxDDZcfCj0yuf7KfrwdjjcFbgaYZxHzSbaXq3qO1s/s1600/IMG_6422.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IgPDpqGQIBcv4T3KMYvNLAeiXwu4m_-YEijvxy3jCRMqJiloD_nr2mJfFyDs9t4HaEFoaq-GG9ds9J2XB-StJC91iYP2XeL0_DuxDDZcfCj0yuf7KfrwdjjcFbgaYZxHzSbaXq3qO1s/s200/IMG_6422.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506745939386521106" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxSLNo_pP5J98X8pDl2b8jDeojoAGlWosRxBZv7YfKNUQhEvHUQpw4d3VQ6xi0vGyovTNdfBxhSwLbF7WtFD2iw-okfj4-pm1FYHqW8gJ-p0Malp_k-bgxKdoG37qGKJoTA2_K_nrv9g/s1600/IMG_0407.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxSLNo_pP5J98X8pDl2b8jDeojoAGlWosRxBZv7YfKNUQhEvHUQpw4d3VQ6xi0vGyovTNdfBxhSwLbF7WtFD2iw-okfj4-pm1FYHqW8gJ-p0Malp_k-bgxKdoG37qGKJoTA2_K_nrv9g/s200/IMG_0407.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506745927391019298" /></a>russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-20402075880184768682010-08-18T05:22:00.000-07:002011-06-30T20:26:13.448-07:00small but rare<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOwjrIH2dcpBelsRoHmuSbf8tqbQV3nV-9xuUGBsA-StzAQx9BwwJEO-f7RpKcG7eNz6_B-tDGj-zPd1A9Gtv_KIY_czycw6Mkov2my-k-BXk_HskYXZTdozMuZreOn_DrELFRInN0lA/s1600/IMG_1680.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOwjrIH2dcpBelsRoHmuSbf8tqbQV3nV-9xuUGBsA-StzAQx9BwwJEO-f7RpKcG7eNz6_B-tDGj-zPd1A9Gtv_KIY_czycw6Mkov2my-k-BXk_HskYXZTdozMuZreOn_DrELFRInN0lA/s400/IMG_1680.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506724610724855026" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJzw7lpBXFPkuJG-MFzX_GkRJmVzF-Tox6g6xPobWOKkdTmwEHnVg1m6uojjTMUgQRi0gGzWSABNcMdkrz-t5UYXwIOThuz2yCnwjLC2b1jyUbfrcdJ-lzVQUrcU_e89YO3BRD8pktR0/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJzw7lpBXFPkuJG-MFzX_GkRJmVzF-Tox6g6xPobWOKkdTmwEHnVg1m6uojjTMUgQRi0gGzWSABNcMdkrz-t5UYXwIOThuz2yCnwjLC2b1jyUbfrcdJ-lzVQUrcU_e89YO3BRD8pktR0/s400/IMG_1674.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506724600515692290" /></a><br /><br />This precious little gem is a Phalaenopsis appendiculata var. alba. It was given to me by one of Singapore's most prolific orchid collectors, Jason Ong. I saw it for the first time during the recent Singapore Garden Festival as J had used two in his display. They're very costly, considering the fact that the flower is no bigger than my finger nail. Still, this is truly a collector's plant which I fear, are in the wrong hands, namely mine. So far, it is still blooming, but the real challenge lies in keeping it alive and growing it. * Update, as of 1 July 2011, I am happy to announce that this is still alive! <br /><br />Like most Phalaenopsis, the appendiculata alba is an epiphytic plant, with fleshy roots and a short stem completely covered by imbricating leaf sheaths. There are a few fleshy leaves which are elliptic or oblong which are about 7 cm long, 3,5 cm wide. The flower stalk is much more shorter than the leaves. The flowers are produced in succession and are no bigger than 8 to 10 mm.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-50338256960789747132010-08-18T05:02:00.000-07:002010-08-18T07:17:58.668-07:00golden banana<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCn6HemgrlypsVUIqdQpSg6ozyMgj5S2Wx8HMcF88QilImIpjpa_TCyhfKartbDTLkd4Zdthjmqfj1hmBWZFn8CY567fsJiXPnTBaDXwqL9dGV84J_2_JTDpoxYJhqoyesI_PRkK8xRs/s1600/IMG_1801.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCn6HemgrlypsVUIqdQpSg6ozyMgj5S2Wx8HMcF88QilImIpjpa_TCyhfKartbDTLkd4Zdthjmqfj1hmBWZFn8CY567fsJiXPnTBaDXwqL9dGV84J_2_JTDpoxYJhqoyesI_PRkK8xRs/s400/IMG_1801.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506719764922624306" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSP-jjsaM4ZwSmhiVU0rNia4_0XrloUFOMJfm1m7tY11NXyGCcl0BAOHLFWPK4O96nV16hYkjAymeCXZQuOjmNjhmaTWojnG1Wz9BzJlQEHZZE8X3EsfALv3X2W84-mdtz_vRqdyIfT4/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSP-jjsaM4ZwSmhiVU0rNia4_0XrloUFOMJfm1m7tY11NXyGCcl0BAOHLFWPK4O96nV16hYkjAymeCXZQuOjmNjhmaTWojnG1Wz9BzJlQEHZZE8X3EsfALv3X2W84-mdtz_vRqdyIfT4/s400/IMG_1789.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506719756610526226" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcoh7p6RLmMvvRAJIRsW2YLhUyzrp7xtIlSfAafa0-GbZveNXIxxDJnO7ZdSdCyql89c7DurE-TxoF7STzEYkTpZb429AvM5WsPI8g8JZxqXz0LGJV-BB84pnNYqj1GFLdz9m3i0WZsM/s1600/IMG_1798.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcoh7p6RLmMvvRAJIRsW2YLhUyzrp7xtIlSfAafa0-GbZveNXIxxDJnO7ZdSdCyql89c7DurE-TxoF7STzEYkTpZb429AvM5WsPI8g8JZxqXz0LGJV-BB84pnNYqj1GFLdz9m3i0WZsM/s320/IMG_1798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506720562762295458" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJyQpjcHPXTPq3p3KT9OhkECWYXhEfMF2OxvwB8HPqcyFW0n2Q8jReninIThgxQ6hqD7vBWdzjDXXaTI6NN-7nTdo40J_3l1bwSUDZDtK5Btk75-v1NI6C6irD17yGfW3kgGzkT2t0As/s1600/IMG_1791.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJyQpjcHPXTPq3p3KT9OhkECWYXhEfMF2OxvwB8HPqcyFW0n2Q8jReninIThgxQ6hqD7vBWdzjDXXaTI6NN-7nTdo40J_3l1bwSUDZDtK5Btk75-v1NI6C6irD17yGfW3kgGzkT2t0As/s320/IMG_1791.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506720559622846498" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_woUKKf1NPYTODzmzcVhK23ySt8xrmlDLcg8jixpx5l1S1o2YEaimtxUtZbhGRKlvpYCUUthJucw8yLgohbsxG9O_bmOLeDTHDpHtUv374Zk14IrmgFGjDhw9dQakbkTuXxKb8X74WM/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_woUKKf1NPYTODzmzcVhK23ySt8xrmlDLcg8jixpx5l1S1o2YEaimtxUtZbhGRKlvpYCUUthJucw8yLgohbsxG9O_bmOLeDTHDpHtUv374Zk14IrmgFGjDhw9dQakbkTuXxKb8X74WM/s320/IMG_1769.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506720545846573490" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60s1uboS61dITeLPwCg6epfXmIEBrtGNeLXvcEoSqhpFgCEowBUdeQC28LngZeatZkF0_XiNMn6l0h0FW50DkME-CJI9W43ldRcJCSbbHOe9diu8BXXVdjj_LEblsjx8aKdNoT04ENSI/s1600/IMG_1763.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60s1uboS61dITeLPwCg6epfXmIEBrtGNeLXvcEoSqhpFgCEowBUdeQC28LngZeatZkF0_XiNMn6l0h0FW50DkME-CJI9W43ldRcJCSbbHOe9diu8BXXVdjj_LEblsjx8aKdNoT04ENSI/s320/IMG_1763.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506720537685389522" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This was given to me as a pup over two years ago. I grew it in a pot and neglected it somewhat, occasionally feeding it with bonemeal. I'm surprised how it has survived, given that many other musas which are supposedly easy to grow have died in my care including Musa velutina, Musa uranoscopus, Musa Thai Red and the Musa white variegated. The only musas I have left today are Musa ornata, Musa, laterita and Musa Sumatrana (Blood Banana).<br /><br />The Musa siamenisis or Thai Gold Banana a newly discovered species from Southern Thailand. It is considered rare in cultivation. It is closely related to the more common Musa laterita and grows to similar heights. This species grows to about 6 to 8 feet tall and is best grown in medium to full sun, though mine has appeared to flower under a canopy of tall trees. It enjoys rich soil and regular applications of organic fertiliser. I tend to feed it with a handful of Australian bonemeal. The rhizomes form quickly, and when planted in a pot, tends to fill up almost the whole pot. Like the Musa laterita, it has runners and will pup some distance from the mother plant. For this reason, this species is best grown in a container or a confined space.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM4Yz7iKq05wlFEcJDIAxkHLYH9HYaIobOZYEFqx5PSB35a_vBBFbkg-IpGWBQTqTDur3Mm7_z3XmHaOh4J-e3irzErQvPPTkYM5Eggn_X3ua8E5je-mUGAYN9a2U1ytoCGtdYlOr-pc/s1600/IMG_3532.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM4Yz7iKq05wlFEcJDIAxkHLYH9HYaIobOZYEFqx5PSB35a_vBBFbkg-IpGWBQTqTDur3Mm7_z3XmHaOh4J-e3irzErQvPPTkYM5Eggn_X3ua8E5je-mUGAYN9a2U1ytoCGtdYlOr-pc/s400/IMG_3532.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506753611004880594" /></a>russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-67175286904633381212010-08-08T05:31:00.000-07:002010-08-18T04:46:10.014-07:00Melastoma malabathricum - Singapore rhododendron<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLvA5pwd0FOq4fEKH_jVo3d83KHaOl9iXejOcN2o1NhQpS0p7rIJvGaV-Muwbk9a-8TtEe9ayivDXOP6nkr1MdEirEttjD7N9Jm1_EGJ70rRShfJuhjkk0BTBiN_QkiOtKhnJGtcYa_s/s1600/2309145317_6fa920179b.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLvA5pwd0FOq4fEKH_jVo3d83KHaOl9iXejOcN2o1NhQpS0p7rIJvGaV-Muwbk9a-8TtEe9ayivDXOP6nkr1MdEirEttjD7N9Jm1_EGJ70rRShfJuhjkk0BTBiN_QkiOtKhnJGtcYa_s/s320/2309145317_6fa920179b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503018309430609634" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghwXhkZURXCiUj8d_7clKkk8OCFYSLPzWSIvNGI-lXY8gwsgg7f5fPZ6W30Kwzy4XBdWxxFW92juMPZbzHM04CiYaMedtlidUvMtdSIIkw5GjfFChhdAtbNPWfJmCA-tj1fwKzsp0B_Q/s1600/3310809007_56db6f4709.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghwXhkZURXCiUj8d_7clKkk8OCFYSLPzWSIvNGI-lXY8gwsgg7f5fPZ6W30Kwzy4XBdWxxFW92juMPZbzHM04CiYaMedtlidUvMtdSIIkw5GjfFChhdAtbNPWfJmCA-tj1fwKzsp0B_Q/s320/3310809007_56db6f4709.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503018308325892322" /></a> One of the plants which is native to Singapore is the Melastoma malabathricum or Singapore rhododendron. It is found throughout Singapore, usually growing wildly along roadsides and in particular, wastelands. I chanced upon these growing in the garden at my new house. There were possibly various species but the more common ones had pink and white blooms. I like how it grows into this dense and compact shrub which makes it ideal as a potted plant. In fact, this plant has medicinal qualities, which explains why AMK nursery is selling them at the herb section. <br /><br />An <a href="http://www.greenculturesg.com/articles/july08/july08_melastomam.pdf"> article </a> by Wilson Wong of GreenCultures 20 August 2008 is reproduced below:-<br /><br />Melastoma malabathricum, commonly known as the Singapore Rhododendron, is a flowering shrub that can be found growing locally in wastelands. As a result, it is not surprising to know that most Singaporeans regarded it as a weed and this plant is seldom considered as a candidate for planting a home garden. The Singapore Rhododendron belongs to the Melastoma family, Melastomaceae. It is alternatively known by its Malay name, Sendudok. <br /><br />Although the name “Singapore Rhododendron” may make M. malabathricum sound as if it can only be found here, the plant, in fact, has a wide <br />distribution around this part of the world. It has been reported to be found growing wild in the Indian Ocean Islands, throughout South and South-East Asia, China, Taiwan, Australia and the South Pacific Ocean. <br /> <br />For those who have seen M. malabathricum before, they would have noticed that it is a showy plant that seems to be perpetually in flower, even under <br />challenging environmental conditions encountered in wasteland, where the sun is glaring and nutrients and water are lacking. It deserves more attention and can be a potential fuss-free flowering ornamental plant to grow in the garden. A shrub that usually grows to about 1 m, the reddish stems and leaves of M. malabathricum are rough to the touch as they are covered with fine bristles. Each leaf is long and narrow and pointed at both ends. It has 3 distinct ribs and the fine bristles can be found only along on the ribs located on the leaf’s underside. <br /> <br />The attractive flowers produced by M. malabathricum, measuring up to 7 cm in diameter, are produced in a cluster at the tip of each shoot. Each flower <br />has five petals and the most common flower colour is deep mauve. Occurring less commonly is the white flowered cultivar that is known as M. malabathricum ‘Alba’. <br /><br />The flowers are interesting as they have two types of stamens – the anthers of five outer stamens, arranged in an outer ring are larger, curved and <br />violet in colour while the remaining five located in an inner ring are straight and yellow in colour. <br /> <br />Fruits of M. malabathricum are technically classified as berries and when they are ripe, they break open irregularly to reveal the soft, dark purple, sweet <br />but rather astringent-tasting pulp and numerous orange seeds. The seeds are tasteless and can be eaten and they stain the tongue black. The name <br />“melastoma” is Greek for "black mouth", a name appreciated by generations of children who have eaten the berries. <br /><br />Melastoma malabathricum has medicinal properties particularly the white flowered form and is a pretty candidate to grow in a tropical medicinal garden. It <br />is a well-known herb where its leaves, shoots and roots are prepared in various ways and used to treat stomachache and diarrhoea. The roots and leaves of the M. malabathricum are applied to lesions and wounds to help with the healing process and also in the treatment of haemorrhoids. <br /> <br />This beautiful, medicinal shrub may sometimes be confused with the Rose Myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tormentosa), which is another medicinal plant. Both shrubs <br />have leaves that have three prominent ribs and are rough to feel. They can be easily distinguished easily as the leaves of the Rose Myrtle end with a blunt tip whereas those of M. malabathricum are pointed. <br /><br />To add to the confusion, the fruits of both shrubs have a ring of persistent calyx lobes. The fruits of the Rose Myrtle are larger and when they are ripe, the <br />fruits turn greyish purple in colour. On the other hand, the fruits of M. malabathricum are usually smaller in size and when they are ripe, the fruit’s rind <br />is reddish brown or green in colour. <br /><br />The flowers of M. malabathricum are also larger than those of the Rose Myrtle and can be told apart from the latter’s via the appearance of the anthers. <br />Melastoma malabathricum has ten distinct anthers whereas those of the Rose Myrtle are far more numerous and fine. Only the flowers of the Rose Myrtle <br />change colour with age – they are pink when freshly open and fade to almost white. <br /><br />A flowering shrub that should be grown in any eco-garden, M. malabathricum is a plant that attracts many birds including the yellow vented bul <br />bul, flowerpeckers, doves and pigeons which consume the ripe fruits and help to disperse its seeds. Squirrels and monkeys are also fond of the fruits. The plant is the host for caterpillars of butterflies such as the Common Sailor (Neptis hylas) and the Grey Count (Tanaecia lepidea). <br /> <br />Although the plant has earned itself a “weed” status, in addition to its use in sustaining wild life, it has an important contribution to the wasteland it colonises because it helps to prevent soil erosion. Research has shown that M. malabathricum is a plant that is very efficient in absorbing aluminium ions from the ground where it is grown. Hence it has the potential to be used to remove aluminium from soils that have been contaminated with the metal. <br /> <br />For garden use, M. malabathricum is a full sun plant, judging from its growing habit, i.e. open wasteland. In order for the plant to grow healthily and <br />flower profusely, the shrub needs to be planted in a location where it can receive direct sunshine. <br /> <br />This flowering shrub is not fussy about soil type and M. malabathricum can also be grown in areas with clayey soil but it definitely does better in soil that <br />is fertile and friable. It should be noted that its roots should be consistently moist and plants should not be allowed to dry out between watering. It is a suitable candidate as a marginal plant for bogs and water gardens. <br /> <br />Plants should be pruned back to shape them and because of its self-seeding habit, shrubs in bloom should have their spent flowers removed <br />promptly, that is, dead-heading, is required to limit fruit and subsequent seed production. <br /><br />Although it is a plant that is adapted to nutrient-poor conditions, M. malabathricum would definitely benefit from a regular dose of a general fertilizer <br />to promote healthy growth and produce a profusion of flowers. Plants can be easily propagated from seeds if they are taken from fresh, mature fruits. Alternatively, a faster way to get new plants is to grow them from stem-cuttings. <br /> <br />Melastoma malabathricum is seldom bothered by pests and diseases. Being a host plant for certain caterpillars, do expect some damage to the plant’s <br />foliage when it is the season where butterflies start to lay their eggs. The plant is the host for caterpillars of butterflies such as the Common Sailor (Neptis hylas) and the Grey Count (Tanaecia lepidea). <br /><br />Being among the first to colonise wasteland, the plant helps prevent soil erosion and to allow regeneration of vegetation in such places.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-60143685724974710712010-08-07T08:52:00.000-07:002010-08-07T21:30:17.305-07:00Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi fma. chattaladae<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoG-iD6bSURrqgI0hj8ZMI96rDhMHktJ_b5qBcWpNZKDVxe6oFNyXoq2iicqqTRmt7mN8x9vbiPTDdDV_PmK_1_C94cfrHey5oBPbBOzU9bbxvDgDmqFPkDq_wT_FCQ7xDAldzivv12f8/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoG-iD6bSURrqgI0hj8ZMI96rDhMHktJ_b5qBcWpNZKDVxe6oFNyXoq2iicqqTRmt7mN8x9vbiPTDdDV_PmK_1_C94cfrHey5oBPbBOzU9bbxvDgDmqFPkDq_wT_FCQ7xDAldzivv12f8/s400/IMG_0022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502696624165058082" /></a> I grow orchids, but do not consider myself a serious orchid enthusiast. For a start, I am only familiar with the more popular orchid genera; dendrobiums, vandas, cattleyas, phalaenopsis etc, but am hopeless when it coms to the full latin names of species or hybrids and can never remember, let alone rattle off names the way "some" orchid people do. Admittedly, my forte lies with bromeliads and costuses. <br /><br />So Jason has been passing me some of his "prized" collection, and I keep telling him that he's taking a big risk, placing these under my care and supervision. Anyhow, one of the more rare and interesting plants he has given me is the Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi fma. chattaladae. <br /><br />You can read about the story of the discovery, identification and conservation of this rare and beautiful form of Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi from this <a href="http://www.chattaladae.com/"> website </a>. It is often confused with the more common Phal 'red' cornu-cervi which has been mass produced and often passed off or sold under the 'chattaladae' label.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-73580751561411387092010-08-06T23:34:00.000-07:002010-08-07T04:25:35.742-07:00Schaueria flavicoma - "Golden Plume"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij74jbowSVIo01uBIaSotgjZ2DOkpS7Xy6hCjTYXQjaK6rNSNhySR1NppMxeJfLSpudO5H9z73c5SmEh0N4t1UdqkUFPHkCvRzswn6erYY7T62M9-MHFjRk7FswbCx-gdwqLfFVamGl8Y/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij74jbowSVIo01uBIaSotgjZ2DOkpS7Xy6hCjTYXQjaK6rNSNhySR1NppMxeJfLSpudO5H9z73c5SmEh0N4t1UdqkUFPHkCvRzswn6erYY7T62M9-MHFjRk7FswbCx-gdwqLfFVamGl8Y/s200/IMG_0066.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502553049856554610" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSUIBAXHsfOf3hRMfs1cgtIG44LkmuMoZMClcNzsnJoZDQKMbM4HhfCwWuTAF06G4wkYyG1WbuG5o5khyphenhyphenLoYwkQPHm8M7PoAZaDLDi5zvm5q-3SO5QB3zFxnpK_80EaK9o2VoBI4sL6M/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSUIBAXHsfOf3hRMfs1cgtIG44LkmuMoZMClcNzsnJoZDQKMbM4HhfCwWuTAF06G4wkYyG1WbuG5o5khyphenhyphenLoYwkQPHm8M7PoAZaDLDi5zvm5q-3SO5QB3zFxnpK_80EaK9o2VoBI4sL6M/s200/IMG_0063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502553043635243778" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcz8QFMOA3UNu955QFPvTEs6FEhKM9QggueWz50mz9_YRYZNk1WG7diFiP87Hlb40DS9lzI13S5orlEGG-C1_vHOe3NE3mLz0kEru1ty_egirEQS6w0NE3CPbK1roDTSqp4jGB640pFs/s1600/IMG_0060.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcz8QFMOA3UNu955QFPvTEs6FEhKM9QggueWz50mz9_YRYZNk1WG7diFiP87Hlb40DS9lzI13S5orlEGG-C1_vHOe3NE3mLz0kEru1ty_egirEQS6w0NE3CPbK1roDTSqp4jGB640pFs/s200/IMG_0060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502553031866392242" /></a> <br /><br />This is a fairly new introduction to Singapore and NParks has been using these to landscape some of the parks and public spaces such as the Hort Park. Originating from Brazil, the Schaueria flavicoma or Golden Plume belongs to the Acanthaceae family of plants. It is an evergreen shrub which can grow to about 3 to 4 ft and is best grown in part shade. It requires regular moisture (dislikes dry hot weather) and prefers well-drained, neutral to slightly acid pH soil. I noticed that it doesn't flower all the time. <br /><br />I transplanted some cuttings to another pot and placed them in a different area and both are flowering at the same time. As it has been raining quite substantially, bringing down the temperatures slightly, I suspect that they probably flower more readily in cooler, wetter conditions. Anyhow, they are fairly easy to grow and seem to thrive quite well on neglect. Propagation is best done through stem cuttings, just below the nodes.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4544110520053060497.post-58752297517670829992010-08-06T08:09:00.000-07:002010-08-07T08:58:30.755-07:00variegated hebe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekRSqKi0YAKjZdbh-EXDVDG4gpLmC4uUM_rD2Jm2eg56Al8Ixb0mNvcwNfB-DjDWg72UZakj9gLXlV1ZDY7EZ40MxzFundF1Zlu06Vp7-yoh16J_b2WwfBz_zNoqfs_MT_qo0AwoNBDI/s1600/IMG_8968.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekRSqKi0YAKjZdbh-EXDVDG4gpLmC4uUM_rD2Jm2eg56Al8Ixb0mNvcwNfB-DjDWg72UZakj9gLXlV1ZDY7EZ40MxzFundF1Zlu06Vp7-yoh16J_b2WwfBz_zNoqfs_MT_qo0AwoNBDI/s200/IMG_8968.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502697473887295282" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOjSa_VDZVF9xIMqPWVrf18UUSiih9eqdhyxPuP2My9eIzE-y4Oa9aOGm6bSf5Cxjx5_VqJo08FT9PgYoowRg352BCIBpEuSp_duyIvz37vRa2TPTrVe6IUBSoDRDdQsf4oZAAZdzRwM/s1600/IMG_8872.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOjSa_VDZVF9xIMqPWVrf18UUSiih9eqdhyxPuP2My9eIzE-y4Oa9aOGm6bSf5Cxjx5_VqJo08FT9PgYoowRg352BCIBpEuSp_duyIvz37vRa2TPTrVe6IUBSoDRDdQsf4oZAAZdzRwM/s200/IMG_8872.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502315069803593154" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0W3E-kFDzMnpxZNM16114DyIP-8eQOyWuzWER8uW3N7R4QDefhon-5mNdrLU2Cy6NrB0IN2XqxvKObdU8BJwJWyRdOZzb47n5lt0ldeTP3R_dzDyEw7K9uHbWiDiBkiZDf0ONsjUWIg/s1600/IMG_8976.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0W3E-kFDzMnpxZNM16114DyIP-8eQOyWuzWER8uW3N7R4QDefhon-5mNdrLU2Cy6NrB0IN2XqxvKObdU8BJwJWyRdOZzb47n5lt0ldeTP3R_dzDyEw7K9uHbWiDiBkiZDf0ONsjUWIg/s200/IMG_8976.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502315060540397106" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARa5CSZwzP2ZK6xumub0rnro2cBRVQ7RwCWhXw3h-ieHuc3O5vmqzipbls3rwE9FARsjdFoaKgIfP72bSIBlq0vNIFPcZ9r2TOyWEgOqxcdZeYHzMOMnKb0ILKcciRmGWFYNafM6KscA/s1600/IMG_8971.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARa5CSZwzP2ZK6xumub0rnro2cBRVQ7RwCWhXw3h-ieHuc3O5vmqzipbls3rwE9FARsjdFoaKgIfP72bSIBlq0vNIFPcZ9r2TOyWEgOqxcdZeYHzMOMnKb0ILKcciRmGWFYNafM6KscA/s200/IMG_8971.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502315053340472690" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzffKI6FnmrR61Bm9uCM7cxVXDhvPxbHKWsnq_-nORXio5qZKO9R5YP16R641vPDLptSJFHCa3S5Eoinobpwg5f-CubabNQil9EbisqDP28_SElrdoyOWDXZ-jotrbiOCrtYPVRM3uSQ/s1600/IMG_8893.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzffKI6FnmrR61Bm9uCM7cxVXDhvPxbHKWsnq_-nORXio5qZKO9R5YP16R641vPDLptSJFHCa3S5Eoinobpwg5f-CubabNQil9EbisqDP28_SElrdoyOWDXZ-jotrbiOCrtYPVRM3uSQ/s200/IMG_8893.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502315044815415970" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DTTX14_eJQMj09C92ROh3ZrAxDs7ZGQiOITjkREE5ZiT17W1Q0bp5PMNXiS-8Mfiesb0sFD6QObxxMUl_7c_7Mh6GBZ1lw6vX14ADSXnD-1HRA4FbySngqo1XXcXVNv59ZYPWY-1HMY/s1600/IMG_8891.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DTTX14_eJQMj09C92ROh3ZrAxDs7ZGQiOITjkREE5ZiT17W1Q0bp5PMNXiS-8Mfiesb0sFD6QObxxMUl_7c_7Mh6GBZ1lw6vX14ADSXnD-1HRA4FbySngqo1XXcXVNv59ZYPWY-1HMY/s200/IMG_8891.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502315032565768658" /></a><br /><br />Hebe ‘Franciscana Variegata’ forms a fairly compact, rounded evergreen bush, about 2 ft (60 cm) high and wide. The variegated leaves are thick, oval-shaped and irregularly blotched with cream; 1.2–2 in (30–50 mm) long. The flowers are violet, fading to lilac or white.<br /><br />The parents of this hybrid are Hebe elliptica and Hebe speciosa. <br /><br />If this Hebe gets too straggly, I just cut it back as severely as guilt will allow, and it always rejuvenates successfully. Some specimens over the water race were cut to ground level, and a few months later were well on their way back to good health.russelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05086396106547465638noreply@blogger.com0