PASIR PANJANG

This is a new building along Pasir Panjang Road. The plaza space is amazing with its open areas, sculptures etc. They were still planting up the remaining areas and everywhere I turned, there is always a water feature. How wonderful!

EUCALYPTUS CLADOCALYX 'VINTAGE RED'

This grafted tree sapling Eucalytpus cladocalyx 'Vintage Red' was purchased from its native Australia. It was one of two plants planted beside Pasir Panjang Road entrance's substation at the park.

But hardly anyone noticed it because of its small size and dark bluish-purple coloured leaves. It seems like this is the only bluish-magenta-red coloured Eucalyptus tree around. Apparently, the colour of the leaves depends on sun direction and foliage age. The dark coloured bark also peels off over time to reveal a greyish colour.

This grafted tree can grow up to 20 m tall in well-drained soils and the 2 attached photos taken from the web show how dense the foliage can be and the variation in the leaf colour. The latter photo reminds me of the colour of vintage wine, and presumably that was how the name was given? Hopefully, the one at HortPark would grow quickly so that it would not always be so obscure.

There are also 2 links below to provide more information on this tree:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_cladocalyx
2. http://advanced-trees.bestplants.com.au/vintage-red.html

CASSIA SIAMEA

This small to medium-sized Kassod Tree from the Fabaceae Family (Leguminosae) along Pasir Panjang Road is very free flowering and frequently produces clusters of floral buds, which over time, open up to reveal the yellow flowers within.

In terms of size, it is definitely bigger and taller than the more common Cassia surattensis (common name: Sunshine Tree) although the flower production is never close to the latter.

Like most of the Cassia plants, the leaves are also host plants to some of the sulphur butterflies. So it is worth growing in a garden.

IXORA SUPER KING

Someone said to me recently that how can we win when all we have are old plants?

I beg to differ. These photos of the Ixora 'Super King' taken on 22 Feb 10 would explain why. They were old plants from our nursery that I planted out at the Pasir Panjang Road entrance to HortPark a long while ago.

But they looked bushy, healthy and were flowering very well. So who says old things are no good?

ERANTHEMUM WATTII

This is a species that I planted for the first time just before the Clean and Green Singapore 09 at HortPark's other entrance at Pasir Panjang Road next to the substation.

The unusual purple-coloured flowers were taken on 26 Jan 10.

CLOSURE

I was sad to notice that the yong tau hoo stall along Pasir Panjang Road that I frequented for the last 6 months or more was closed for good.

I went back on Christmas and New Year's eve and noticed the stall was closed and I had a nagging feeling that there was something wrong.

It was confirmed yesterday when even all the metal cabinets etc were all removed from the site.

Sad, sad, sad..... It was one of my favourite cheap soup and breakfast stalls. Where else can you have a light yet filling breakfast at $1.60? Maybe that's why they close because their price is so cheap.