Getting Measured !

My daughter is rather attached to this caladium. Perhaps it could be because she dug it out from the fields some years back and took it home.  Those were the days before I started gardening. So the plant actually went to my mother's garden, until we took some baby plants  to grow here.  A friend had told her that this plant was known as  "Horse Face"  (Beh Bin - in Hokkien) as the leaf resembled the face of a horse.  Since then she had always been fascinated by the plant.  

Somehow with the rain the caladium seems to thrive ...... ! My daughter said she had never seen the leaves growing this big - must be a record ! So the next thing  I know, she was running around with a ruler and camera. These are the results.

Horse Face Caladium

Water lily - these are fragrant too .....

St Christopher's Lily

Jatropha Podagrica

Cardwell Lily or Christmas Lily

Blooming Season for the Murraya Paniculata ?

This morning as I walked around the neighborhood, I cannot help but noticed that the Murraya Paniculata (aka lakeview jasmine, orange jasmine, Chinese Box) that I spied  were blooming in abundance ! One can detect the fragrance of these blooms from a distance away even before the plant was seen.  Just follow the scent.  The fragrance of the blooms is really beautiful especially coupled with the early morning fresh air.  Although the murraya paniculata actually blooms all year round,  I have not noticed that they bloomed in such abundance at one go this time !  This is why I am thinking  perhaps there is a blooming season for this plant or is it to do with the weather which of late has been blowing hot and cold ? One day scorching hot, the next raining cats and dogs !

These are some shots of the lovely and fragrant blooms taken from my garden.  

 I have these murraya p. grown on the ground and in pots as well. The blooms from the potted plants are smaller.  These plants take to heavy pruning, and seems rather robust. - grows back fast.  When the new shoots appeared they are light green and what a contrast to the dark green mature leaves. 

   

Five Days of Rain .......

Strong Winds !

I want to record the continuous rainfall that went on and on non-stop, for the last 5 days straight. I read in the papers that some places were flooded and families needed to be evacuated.  Sad especially when I think of how cold it was (about 26 Deg C, cold when the  normal temperatures always hover around 30 deg or so). How these people must have suffered  the wet and cold discomfort, aside from worrying about safety and other matters.  For those of us not affected  the cold is a luxury to savor as we  snuggle under warm blankets in bed at night,  without the air-conditioning or ceiling fan on for a change .....! Nice for a change from  the usual blistering scorching sun and heat .... Aside from a temperature drop, the strong winds or at times just  gentle cool breeze  does serve to flush the stale polluted air away .... somehow the air feels cleaner and fresher and generally one feels so good, if not for the restless that comes from  being house bound !

Crinium Jagus (St Christopher's Lily) revisited ...

This bulb plant (see post dated 25th March 2011) is becoming my number  1 favorite ... the scent is captivating, the blooms are snowy white but best of all it seems to be blooming regularly once in 3 months ....The flowers are a joy to behold being so prominently large and showy.  This is the 3rd time since it first bloomed in March, then mid June this year.  So this time I decided to capture its progress from buds to bloom over a few days .... do share  my delight.....!

And what is this ? Looks like a floating rubber toy, doesn't t it ?  I found it this morning in my watering can ......
 

Puffy Toad .... !

SELAMAT HARI RAYA  and HAPPY MERDEKA  ! Have a wonderful holiday break ....!

Flying Visitors ....

"Flying Visitors" to the garden are always a welcome sight  -  I never tire of watching them 'play ' in the garden whenever they visit.  It is especially delightful to hear the birds singing merrily when announcing their arrival  and to follow the flash of  bright colors of the butterflies when they appeared.  Their movements are fast,  but once or twice I get lucky when they paused long enough for me to get my little camera to 'shot'  at them ..... ! Take a look at these recent visitors ... 

I tried to capture this butterfly when in flight as its wings were so beautiful, but alas it was  too fast for me....!  It looks like it could be the Lime Butterfly, but I cannot be too sure ....

These small birds are dropping by frequently these  days - seems like there must be  a season for birds as well ....! They often come as a group ---- and always chirping merrily away. 

Feeding on Sunset Bells

' Pole Dance' 

Am I turning into a bird-watcher ? Another fascinating pastime .......