COOL PLANTS

This range of cool plants have it going for them. Ranging from Dianthus 'Silver Star', Fuchsia, Nepenthes, Cyclamen, Pelargonium, variegated Senecio macroglossus etc, they are a group of plants that demand a cold treatment with a lower ambient temperature or drop in temperature for optimum growth and flowering.

By the way, the highland Nepenthes produced inflorescences of male flowers. Outdoors, the tall grasses, Cleome hassleriana, Verbena bonariensis, Tibouchina and Pistia stratiotes dominate the landscape on land and in water.

WATER GARDEN

This is an uncommon Amesiodendron chinense tree (Family: Sapindaceae) that I learnt in recent years when I planted it at HortPark. I love it so much that I planted it at a prominent location at the Water Garden such that visitors to HortPark would see it when they enter or leave the main entrance. A link on this unusual tree is shown below:

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200013180

Every time I past by the site, I would knowingly or unknowingly steal a glance at this beautiful tree, especially when the leaves are flushing red and lime green. Who can miss such a spectacular beauty amidst us?

I wish they are planted in more parks and streetscape areas.

As for the floating platform in the pond that was there previously, it was replaced by a ring of Pistia stratiotes.

GOLDEN GARDEN - POND

I am so glad that I created this natural pond at the Golden Garden behind the Hands-On-House. It may be small but it seems to be a haven for some dragonflies.

The pond is perpetually filled to the brim with water because of the high water table and this supports the growing of floating and submergent aquatic plants. Just look at the attached photos to see how well the Pistia stratiotes (common name: Water Lettuce; Family: Araceae), Cyrtosperma johnstonii (Family: Araceae) and other plants are growing here.

2 links are shown below:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistia
2. http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_Pistia_stratiotes.php