Year End Blooms

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

This One-Day-Yellow Desert Rose gave me a big relief! I pruned off its only stem two months ago for more stems to grow out. It didn't. Instead one stem grew back but with several blooms. My Flame Violet gave me a cheery year-end with its bright red flowers! I find that this plant really like the condition of the space below my porch....

Blessed Christmas!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

What Do We Love About Christmas? What do we love about Christmas;Does our delight reside in things?Or are the feelings in our heartsThe real gift that Christmas brings. ...

Reflection... and Award Fulfilment Time!

Friday, December 18, 2009

It's the end of the year and time to reflect upon the year's happenings. This year is the only year that I have became a full-time homemaker after spending many years working in corporate offices. Gardening gave me great pleasures and networking since started blogging (this is my 100th post!) about plants in February this year. I have found many friends (that's you!)...

Dragon Seedlings

Dragon Seedlings

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

I stumpled upon some potted greens on a rack at the Grocer Supermarket at Bangsar the other day. The green was so fresh and nice, just like vegetables ;-) I thought that they were edibles. But later, I discovered that they were ornamental plants.The plant is the dragon fruit plant from the Hylocereus Undatus family and is said to be an effective bio-purifier....

A Neat Garden (Really!)

Thursday, December 10, 2009

A trip back to Ipoh recently, gave me the opportunity to introduce to you the garden where many of my plants come from. This garden belongs to my sister-in-law, Janice.If you observe closely, you would definitely agree with me that it is quite an extra-ordinary garden, especially for those who stay in terrace houses in Malaysia :-DOther than the bed of plants infront...

Cryptanthus... Time For A Little Twist

Friday, December 04, 2009

This black cryptanthus has been delivering pups non-stop since I got it a few months ago. The two pups in the pics below are the second and third ones. The first one has already been given away. Now it is time to 'twist' the second one out as it has reached one third of the size of the mother plant. See, I have...

Chalice Vine

Monday, November 30, 2009

I noticed this beautiful vine with huge yellow cup-shaped flowers in my mom's neighbourhood.Those outstanding flowers gave the plant its common name, Chalice Vine. Chalice is a golden goblet or footed cup used in Catholic churches for holding sacramental wine for Holy Communion. Take note of the similarities... ...

Same Shrub But Different Colour Blooms

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

These blooms are from the same Ros Kampung shrub! I was delighted when the new bud opens up to a different colour. Below is the picture of the spent flower and the later bloom. First the cream-pink, then the pink one blossomed. I think it is pretty cool :-D Actually I have suspected it to be so when the first flower (the cream-pink...

Bird's Nest Leaf

Bird's Nest Leaf

Friday, November 20, 2009

For those who know Chinese characters, then you could probably read on the leaves the word '人' or man (in dark green). In Cantonese this herbal plant is commonly called yin wo yip (Bird's Nest Leaf). Its botanic name is Polygonum Chinense.According to some people, this plant is good for the lungs (just like the real bird's nest!). Just pluck some stalks and...

Oh My Seeds!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Some of my blogger friends have recommended that I grow Plumeria. Actually I do like the beautiful Plumeria flowers that I have very often seen at private gardens and nurseries.My concern however is the limited space I have and I am one of those who like to have lots different plants in my garden. So when I heard about the dwarf variety, I...

Butterfly Pea Vine

Butterfly Pea Vine By The Roadside

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The shrubs below were seen by the roadside, just outside an old nursery that's not in operation anymore.The condition of the plant was really good and its stems looked strong with lots of flowers and pods too. A man there told me that many strangers have stopped by and help themselves to the flowers.This is one common sun-loving plant that can been seen...

Plant The Right Trees, MBPJ

Thursday, November 05, 2009

I just found out that my mail to StarMetro Mail (The Star) was published on 4 September, both in the papers and online! I wrote this letter after the tree infront of my house sheded almost all its leaves in mid-August. It was a shorter version of my mail but they really did a good job editing it and not missing the gist...

One Pretty Shrub

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Here is one shrub that loves the sun very much and dislikes any fertiliser. Once when I applied some fertiliser, almost all its leaves fell off. But I am not sure if you have the same experience though.The young leaves are pink and white and when they grow older, they turn green and white. It is a slow growing plant for me as...

Blooms In Town

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

I came across this newly landscaped curb outside Houz Depot at Kota Damansara, near my house. It is a combination of yellow and pink Lantana and orange Ixora. Both are hardy plants! ...

Carissa Macrocarpa

Stacks of Coins

Saturday, October 24, 2009

The coin-like round leaves of Carissa Macrocarpa give it its common name, Coin Plant. During Chinese New Year, this is one of the many popular plants that many nurseries will stock up as many Chinese like to adorn their homes with plants that carry symbolic meanings of good fortune, happiness and prosperity.Personally, I like this plant due to its remarkably shiny and dense...

My Poor Ground Orchid

Thursday, October 22, 2009

When I was with some friends at Cameron Highlands a few months ago, we saw lots of purple ground orchids and bamboo orchids growing wildly at the slopes by the side of the road. We stopped to dig out some to bring home... When I reached home, I just put a little soil into a pot and planted the orchid into it, just...

Begonia 'Martin's Mystery'

Garden Highlights

Sunday, October 18, 2009

I took some pics of my garden for this week's highlights. I love to match red and green foliages together like these two begonias that are under my front porch... My roses are doing quite well with the help of sunshine, fertiliser and water. ...

Paya Indah Wetlands

Discover Paya Indah Wetlands

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

When I was at the Paya Indah Wetlands (near Dengkil town) recently, I came across some banners (pic below) that was put up by AEON. Their staff just planted 25,000 trees! Paya Indah Wetlands is an incredible place for those who are really passionate about nature preservation. ...

Mistress of the Night

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Would you want a nicely shaped shrub as pretty as this one?I snapped some photos of the above plant after spending about 5 minutes figuring out how the gardener could have trimmed and shaped this plant. Also it was interesting to see those paired pods growing from below the canopy of leaves. ...

No Appointment Needed

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

I had a bad headache last weekend. When I got better on Monday, I picked up some of my gardening stuffs that I had planned to do. So I started pruning my croton, gloxinia, cuphea and yellow desert rose and propagated a number of cuttings that I have gotten from my own garden and nursery. In the evening, some birds gave me a...

Chinese Hatplant

Chinese Hatplant

Sunday, October 04, 2009

The plant below is a fairly new one I have in my garden! It's called either Chinese Hatplant or Cup and Saucer plant. The botanic name is Holmskioldia Sanguinea. ...

One-Day Yellow Desert Rose

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

When I was at a nursery about two months ago, I came across a yellow-flower Desert Rose and I immediately liked it very much.When I asked the nursery owner for a young yellow plant, he offered me this one that has no flower on it. Since it was the last plant, I just believed him and paid for it. ...

Croton Mother-and-Daughter

Watching Over Them

Friday, September 25, 2009

Something is growing out of the soil of my pot of Sweetheart Hoya Variegated. I have to keep an eye of these patches of green. I hope they don't come to take over my two pretty leaves. Before I prune my slow growing Croton Mother-and-Daughter again, I better snap a photo first for record. The stems at the top are growing longer and...

Another Gift From Auntie

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Each time when I see a pot of plant hanging at the fence that separates me and my neighbour, I know that my neighbour's mom (I call her auntie) has just dropped me another gift.This time it's another sympodial orchid in a slightly bigger pot (but still small) compared to the yellow oncidium I posted earlier (hanging next to it). Again, no blooms...

Chinese Fringe Flower

Growing Up

Friday, September 18, 2009

I have been blogging for about seven months now and still enjoying every bit of it. I have learnt a lot about gardening, plants and blogging. It has been quite an experience... thanks to you!! As I walk to inspect my plants, I am happy to find new shoots growing out from my Chinese Fringe Flower plant that I have pruned a week...

All Yellow This Week

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Yellow blooms seem to be the flavour in my garden this week...I have an orchid plant that was given by my neighbour's mom many months ago and this is the first time I see its flower. This variety of oncidium has a refreshing yellow colour. It's a pleasant surprise for me for this week. This little Portulaca plant which was a cutting I...

Brazilian Red Hot Alternanthera

Ground Cover or Just Another Weed?

Friday, September 11, 2009

This plant is sometimes called Hookweed and is often used in landscaping as groundcovers here. It's a plant of the species Cyathula Prostrata. I was attracted to this plant when I was standing at an office building. This Hookweed was used to create the outline of a path. ...

Latest News!

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

The weather was so unpredictable last week. It was cloudy yet with not much rainfall. However, it was quite an exciting week for my garden.I had earlier bought a Gloxinia as a gift for a friend's birthday. Then when I went shopping with my girl friend Debbie, I bought one for myself too. I thought it would be good to know how long...

Little Bird Plant

My 'Little Bird' Story

Saturday, September 05, 2009

This is a new plant that is quite popular here of late and a number of nurseries have this Little Bird Plant in their stock nowadays. The plant has flowers that take the shape of a 'little bird'. If you observe closely, it does look like a 'little bird' perched among the bracts. At a wet market, while I was admiring the plant...

Sarracenia's New Pitcher Tube

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Sarracenia grows in the strangest way. The new pitcher tube grows not only twice the height of the old ones but the lid opens up in an interesting manner. Take note of the top... it has not opened yet. ...

I Love Malaysia

Monday, August 31, 2009

To commemorate our Merdeka (Independence) Day, today I bought a hibiscus plant to add to my garden. I found a yellow one (our national flower is red hibiscus though!) that I like very much :-) To all Malaysian bloggers, happy Merdeka and enjoy the holiday! ...