28 January 2013

PHALERIA MACROCARPA

These few trees (Family: Thymelaceae) with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory properties were looking terrible for a long time and it was only recently that after we removed the soil to expose the tree collars, fertilize the trees and mulch the tree bases with wood chips did they suddenly sprout a lot of new leaves, flower and produce numerous red fruits. There is still one amongst them that look horrible, so it is time to give it some tender loving care.

The plant looks slightly different from the Phaleria clerodendron within the same genera.





LITCHI CHINENSIS

These are two of the Lychee (Family: Sapindaceae) saplings planted in the garden. I hope the two young fruits do not get aborted but develop into bigger ones.


WHITE FLOWERS

It is not easy to grow coffee plants here and these are saplings of Coffea arabica (Common Name: Mountain Coffee, Arabica Coffee; Family: Rubiaceae) from the Ixora family.

The second is a white flower Thunbergia grandiflora (Common Name: White Trumpet Vine; Family: Bignoniaceae).

They are both found in the Colonial Garden.








PALM WEEVIL BEETLE

There were lots of cocoons of the Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Common Name: Red Palm Weevil, Sago Palm Weevil) found in the leaf sheath bases of the Phoenix palm. This is also the same beetle that damages a lot of Bismarckia nobilis palms. The adult beetle is about 5 cm long.



24 January 2013

CHINESE NEW YEAR DECOR

The outdoor decor at Bay South spans mainly along the Arrival Square all the way to the conservatories at the Canopy and Rose and includes the Chinese Garden and Supertrees dining area.
The plants that used are:
  • Celosia cultivars
  • Chrysanthemum cultivars
  • Cosmos cultivars
  • double petaled Hibiscus cultivars
  • Solanum mammosum (Common Name: Nipplefruit, Cow's Udder; Family: Solanaceae)
  • Ilex
  • Aechmea cultivar