THAILAND - NONG NOOCH TROPICAL BOTANICAL GARDEN

The lawn looked as if it was overrun by a flock of geese but the truth was, they were all fake sculptures made from concrete. How interesting!

Then from the newly constructed skybridge, I had a good view of the silver garden. The range of plants include the silver Copernicia baileyana, Bismarckia nobilis, variegated Alstonia scholaris, Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus and white flower Plumeria pudica etc. It was just amazing and provided a stark contrast with the colourful range of plants in the formal garden that I mentioned in my previous post.

The sky was also slightly hazy and this somehow seemed to raise the heat a few notches higher. But otherwise, it was a really enjoyable view of the place.

ACACIA PODALYRIIFOLIA

From a distance, one would not miss this outstanding tree with silverish white leaves. I think I mentioned it before that I saw them along some of the highways but initially thought it was a species of Eucalyptus.

However, at the Roma Street Parkland, I was able to have an up close and personal encounter with this natural beauty. Upon close inspection, I identified it as Queensland Silver Wattle (Acacia podalyriifolia). I planted at least 1 of them at the Silver Garden but never in my dreams did I imagine it to be so huge. It was really wow!

Whilst the inflorescence stalks are many, none of the flowers were in bloom yet. From online images, the flowers are supposedly yellow, reminiscent of other Acacia flowers. It is interesting why such velvety and silver-leaved plants e.g. Crossostephium chinense (Chinese Wormwood), Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus (Silver Buttonwood), have yellow flowers whilst other metallic silver-leaved plants e.g. Hemigraphis colorata, have purplish flowers.