LIME PUPA

I have a bad feeling that you are not developing normally. Although I am new to butterfly breeding, I have seen quite a few pupae already.

Somehow your pupa case turn brown soon after you pupated. In fact, I saw some black liquid oozing out and dripping onto the leaves below.

What happened to you? Are you parasitized by something? I am watching you everyday and hope that someday you will emerge fine. I cross my fingers.

ION

I saw two huge supertrees at Orchard Ion the other day. Or should I say, two artificial trees with super huge trunks and branches that were supporting the extended roof of the iconic development along Orchard Road.

The development is not completed or opened to the public but the multi-faceted colourful display screens and the supertrees etc already captured my attention and imagination.

Initially, I thought why did the developer or architect choose this tree structure? Then I saw the real trees that were planted and which probably gave rise to this unusual design concept.

The trees that were planted are cotton trees. I have never seen any development thus far using this tree as the focal point, much less this species of planted tree of such a tall height. So this is really unique. I am not sure if this tree is really suitable for this location, only time will tell. But kudos to the courageous architect for choosing this interesting tree for the development at this most important crossroad.

You can sort of see the tiered branched effect now. To know how big and majestic this tree can grow to, just look to Singapore Botanic Gardens' grand bandstand for the idea. It would eventually have a massive trunk and take on an imposing look.

If you are lucky, you may encounter a 'snowing' effect after the tree blooms are pollinated and the fruits release the cotton wooled seeds. I think it would look nice during the Christmas season when this happens.

I am already looking forward to this year's Christmas!

BOUGAINVILLEA

Do you know that the multi-coloured papery leaf-like structures of Bougainvillea are modified leaves known as bracts and are not the flowers?

The actual flowers are the three small whitish structures within the colourful bracts. This beautiful, reliable and easy to maintain plant comes from tropical America but can be found almost anywhere in Singapore, especially the espressways and overhead bridges.

Here are just some snapshots of the beauty of this commonly planted shrub.

GOLDEN TREE

I usually don't think much of or pay attention to street lighting or even bother to take a second look at it.

Somehow on 19 June 09 as I made my way home, I saw this Yellow Flame tree at the bus stop and it was lit up by the street lamp. It looked like a golden orange tree! The photograph didn't quite capture the actual lighting and the beauty, but it's still a pretty sight to behold.

Now I have to learn to appreciate street lighting more. I really need to consciously learn to stop amidst my busy schedule and smell the roses.

BAT

I found you on the grass patch on 19 June 09. You looked so small and inconspicuous.

I didn't know how long you were dead but it must not have been too long because you were not decomposed yet.

How old were you? What happened to you? Were you attacked by something? Was that why you were not with the rest of the group?

Good bye, my little friend!

WEEDS

This pretty flower is not a white rose, although it reminds me of one.

It is actually the flower of a weed, that I found growing amongst the grasses. The flower was actually taken at close range and is only half a centimetre across. But it stood out from the low lying grass blades.

We often overlook such beautiful weeds. In fact, most have small dainty flowers, if we care to stop and admire them. Imagine that we are ants and these would be giant flowers standing in the field of tall grasses.

Such wild weeds are often ignored because they do not immediately capture our attention, but they are beautiful in their own subtle way. Perhaps we should try to conserve some of these weeds for education before they disappear from our world without us even realizing it.

If we can learn to appreciate the beauty of all things big and small, then there will be no weeds in this world.

Until such a world exists when all, regardless of whether we are strong or weak, pretty or ugly, are treated as equals, some of us may also be regarded as weeds in our own families and society. I can only live in hope that this world do exists in our time.

MOSSES

When you look up the trunk of this tree, what do you see? The small lumpy growths are actually clumps of mosses that have been dried out by the recent dry weather.

If you look at them close up, they are made up of beautiful individuals. I collected some back and hopefully with some watering, they will recover their original lush green look.

BEGONIA

i love Begonias, especially Cane Begonias because it is a combination of two things - a bamboo-like plant which i like and a flowering plant.

But do you know some plants have separate male and female flowers? I don't know Begonias have different flower sexes until a friend showed it to me. Interesting?

The ones you see in the foreground are the male flowers and the ones in the background are the female flowers. Confused already?

Fret not. The female flowers look like this. Behind the petals appear to be this winged sac, which is apparently the ovary carrying the seeds. Can you spot the difference now? Nature must have its purpose and reason for producing different sex flowers.

TARENNA

An interesting plant resembling the Ixora but is actually not an Ixora.

Belonging to the same family as Ixora, this shrub produces beautiful white flowers that turn to yellow over time.

It emits a faint fragrance.

What I also like about this plant is the interesting stamen with joined anthers that thrust out of the individual flowers like arrows on a bow.

Can you imagine an army of warriors poised to shoot the arrows in unison?

BUTTERFLY GARDEN

HortPark's new theme garden 'Butterfly Garden' opens yesterday.

They have two locally extinct species of butterflies on display. Come visit the garden to see some 20 species of butterflies within an enclosed area.

This is the only time when you can really get up close and personal with the butterflies.

GOLDEN HILL

The hills are alive!

I mentioned in an earlier post that the Tembusu trees are in their flowering season now.

Just look at the yellow patches in the canopy layer and you can tell straightaway where the Tembusu trees are. Seldom have I seen such a sight where all Tembusus are in such a spectacular bloom islandwide.

Wow, such is the beauty of nature!

THREE WHITE AND A PINK

Such large petaled variety of Japanese Roses are uncommon and they seemed to come in few coloured varieties only.

Don't you sometimes wonder why nature produces flowers in such varied forms? What is the purpose? Does it help in survival of the species?

GARDENIA

It is not often that we can capture such a pristine shot of a Gardenia flower, which looks almost like a white rose!

It looks so refreshingly white, pure and clean. It's a masterpiece of the plant world.

LITTLE SPARROW

I love sparrows and seldom see them around these days. Though not as beautiful as robins in the northern hemisphere, with their black cheek patches, they looked so so adorable.

I guess their habitats and food sources are disturbed by other bigger birds such as mynahs and crows to the extent that their population is dwindling.
I just hope there won't come a day when they become extinct.

DEATH OF COMMON ROSE

I cannot imagine what you must have gone through before you gave up and life seeped away from you.
It must have been real hard trying to squeeze yourself through the case and at the same time, pump blood to your wings.

Even before your life began, it ended. I will give you a good burial to honour your death. Good bye, my little friend.

IMPATIENS

I love Impatiens but always have problems growing them for long.

This beautiful clump of variegated petaled impatiens caught my eye and whilst it does not have as many flowers as the commonly sold impatiens, it looks vigorous enough to be cultivated here.

Another lovely plant brightens my day!

FICUS VACCINOIDES

This is a different and uncommon species of Ficus from those that you commonly find on our pedestrian overhead bridges and retaining walls.

It does not seemed to creep up walls as well but has interesting small reddish fruits.

I think it looks nice if planted in small containers.

TEMBUSU

It is the Tembusu flowering season again. Everywhere you go, you are likely to see the Tembusu trees in flower and fruiting.

Walking underneath them is an enjoyable experience as you get to breathe in a whiff of their fragrance.

Do you know the red berries are relished by some birds?

RED FLAME

The Red Flame is so pretty when it is in bloom. I couldn't help but took a snapshot of this beautiful and spectacular tree.

It used to be more common along roadsides but due to the soft branches, they were removed from many sites.

What a pity! Are all beautiful things flawed in a certain way, I wonder?

PARTY OF FIVE

I filmed this gregarious party of butterflies, in Feb 09, congregating on this interesting Artemisia plant. I never knew they were attracted to the dried flowers until I saw this. Apparently, they are all males feeding on some plant biochemicals that are essential to help them in the breeding process.

Hope you are all as intrigued as me by this!