AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

Time flies, it seemed not long ago that they showed the last movie and here the ensemble of Avengers were gathered to look for Loki's scepter, which contained one of six infinity stones that held strong powers that were capable of destroying earth.

The stellar cast of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel Jackson continued to play the key superhero roles and the new cast included James Spader as Vision, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Quicksilver and Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch. I must say that Joss Whedon continued their usual Marvel directing and production standards and brought to the big screen an action-packed blockbuster movie of superheroes versus a legion of artificial intelligence beings but somehow, I felt that everything is the same other than the storyline. Everything is predictable in that none of them would die and regardless of how bad the situation was, all of them would eventually overcome all odds to emerge the final victors. Like my ex-boss used to say, same story different day. This seems more like a fairy tale with happy endings. So there is nothing too unexpected and even the death of the new character Quicksilver made no difference as the audience has not warmed up to him yet.

However, I am glad that Scarlet Witch is the latest addition to the ensemble of predominantly male superheroes because I really dislike Scarlett Johansson. I am going to incur the ire of many more people when I say this but I also do not like Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo. The tension and budding romance between the Black Widow and the Incredible Hulk was completely unbelievable and unbearable to me.

The very brief easter egg segment was also boring and completely non-revealing about the next movie, which I will still look forward to despite the lack of pleasant plot surprises. 

Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver joined the cast of superheroes

Captain America and Thor

Ultron was bent of eradicating humans to save earth

HIBISCUS AND NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

The first set of photos were taken on 15 Oct 2012 and these two Hibiscus were displaying the symptoms of severe nutrient deficiency. They were in a very bad state and the younger and older leaves were all showing interveinal chlorosis and possessed yellowish leaves. There were barely any flowers.

Now, after months of treatment to incorporate straight fertilizers in Nitrogen, chelated Iron and Magnesium as well as organic fertilizers to the soil, the two Hibiscus have recovered significantly and are now spotting lots of flowers, at least when compared to before. 

Nutrient deficiencies in Iron are commonly seen in acid loving plants such as Wrightia religiosa and Gardenia etc.

IRON CROSS

Just look closely at the raised "spines" on the surface on this leaf. Does it occur to you that this is actually a leaf if I did not mention it?

Commonly known as Iron Cross Begonia (Begonia masoniana 'Iron Cross'), it is actually rather commonly sold in plant nurseries together with other rex Begonias.

Begonias are just one of my favourite plants but I have never purchased this cultivar before because I have other favourites. But somehow this one attracted me recently and I bought it. My corridor is too windy, so I hope it would grow well and not succumb to the strong wind conditions that dry the air and reduce the high humidity relished by this group of plants.

Does it occur to you that the leaves look like asymmetrical hearts?