BAY SOUTH

I didn't realize that the coach bus area was planted with this Melicope elleryana tree until I saw its pink flowers.

On the western mound, I spotted a flock of 3 Black Naped Orioles hiding in the crown of the Maniltoa browneoides tree.

BRIGHT & DARK

The view of things from almost the same spot at 2 different directions or angles can provide drastically different pictures. In this case, one is bright and one is dark.

Sometimes, we just need to look at things from a different angle and perspective if it seems too bleak and perhaps we can find solace or consolation somehow. Like they say, behind every cloud is a silver lining.

Anyway, the Maniltoa has turned almost green now.

MANILTOA LENTICELLATA VAR. LENTICELLATA

This spectacle would not be here forever and it would be gone in a few days time. Meanwhile, let us just appreciate the tree for all of its pink beauty.

MANILTOA LENTICELLATA VAR. LENTICELLATA

Love was in the air and Valentine's Day beckoned to all of us in its full display of rosy pink leaf flushes when we reached the office on 14 Feb 11. It was a totally different picture just days before when the tree shed its leaves completely to reveal an almost empty crown with few leaves.

Physiologically, lots of internal processes were pushing the tree towards the production of new pinkish leaves that made it stood out amongst a background of green foliage.

I was informed that this is a Maniltoa lenticellata var. lenticellata (common name: Silk Handkerchief Tree, Cascading Bean; Family: Fabaceae/Leguminosae), and it was the only one of this size that we had. We have not come across another one of this variety elsewhere in Singapore. At least not yet. In fact, we had been working with the research institution to see if they are able to do a tissue culture of this tree, so that we can eventually propagate it in masses and plant it out in our landscapes.

A link on the species is shown here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniltoa_lenticellata

BROWNEA GRANDICEPS

These are the new pendulous leaf flushes of the Brownea grandiceps tree, that are similar to those of Maniltoa and Saraca trees. The leaves are densely spotted or patchy in coloration and turn uniformly green and erect as the leaves age over a period of days. If this is not interesting, I don't know what is.

MANILTOA LENTICELLATA

This is an unusual handkerchief! The first photo was taken on 17 Feb 10 whilst the rest were taken on 22 Feb 10 of the same Maniltoa tree outside our nursery office.

At almost the same time last year, this tree produced masses of new leaf flushes that covered the entire tree. It was a true spectacle. My colleague noticed this tree flushing recently but what you see here is just a fraction of what happened last year.

Anyway, I like the fuschia pink handkerchiefs and the inconspicuous but fluffy white flowers that adorned part of its crown. Soon the pink would be gone and the limp leaves would turn green as they become tougher and more upright.