ACACIA AURICULIFORMIS

This is well-known as a fast-growing invasive weed from Australia that grows pervasively on our reclaimed lands due to its ability to withstand poor soils. However, it is not a tree that is appreciated by many because of its soft brittle branches that snap easily.

But, I for one, adore this tree for its spikes of yellow flowers. When the tree is covered with countless inflorescences, the sight is especially spectacular. Well, at least to me.

The curved, leaf-like structures are not the true leaves, but are in fact phyllodes, or modified leaf stalks, which serve the same function of leaves for photosynthesis. The slightly crescent-shaped phyllodes gave rise to its specific epithet auriculiformis or in simple English auricle due to its vague resemblance to a ear. Hence, the common names are also known as Earleaf Acacia, Earpod Wattle. The other common names include Auri, Black Wattle, Northern Black Wattle etc.

These photos were taken beside the Pasir Panjang substation inside HortPark. Within a couple of years, I am sure this weed would be huge enough to soften the substation building.

A link on this tree is posted below:

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/acacia.htm

ORCHID

This was one orchid that I bought on the last day of the SGF 10 from a taiwan booth.

I was told by the seller that this is a mildly variegated 巨兰. When I googled it, as I suspected, the name refers to the Grammatophyllum speciosum (common name: Tiger Orchid). Whether it is really so remains to be seen. Interestingly, this morning my colleague showed me a huge clump of flowering Tiger Orchid.

I had wanted to use it in HortPark but until the day I handed over the site, I still did not manage to do that. Hopefully, the entire clump would be transferred, without any damages, to HortPark for the public to admire its beauty and long lasting inflorescence spike of flowers. And be rest assured that I would definitely showcase its flowers soon in the upcoming posts.

NB on 23 Dec 10: I have been wanting to update this post but always forgot to do so. I feel so stupid to think that this is a Grammatophyllum. On hindsight, the growth of the pseudobulbs do not represent those of the Tiger Orchid at all. Why didn't I realise this earlier. But I am not experienced enough to tell what orchid this is. So I would just have to wait till it flowers, that is if it doesn't die on me first.

FIDDLEWOOD TREE

The Citharexylum spinosum (synonym: C. quadrangulare) was flowering profusely in HortPark's Carpark Garden last week. I adore this tree so much that I planted them along the entire periphery of the carpark along the fencing area. So now they were rewarding me for my efforts.

But it looked like I wasn't the only one appreciating and taking in its beauty and fragrance. Up I looked, and there they were. The butterflies were having a silent party of their own. The social butterflies were flitting from flower to flower and from tree to tree extracting the nectar from the countless freshly bloomed white flowers.

There was the familiar Autumn Leaf, Chocolate Soldier, Painted Jezebel butterflies etc. Then there was the unsuspecting Leopard butterfly, whose photo I caught, checking out the Lantana camara flowers at the carpark planters.

With this, I suppose I need no further proof that the Fiddlewood Tree is a nectar plant for a range of butterflies. Convinced now?

BARRINGTONIA ACUTANGULA

I mentioned a few days ago that I would post about these 2 apparently different yet similar looking Barringtonia acutangula trees. It seems like one of them could be the subspecies but I do not know which is the one.

3 days ago, I showed this tree at the Carpark Garden. The first 4 photos in this post were taken from this particular tree. Observe the developing fruits and the more pointed leaf tips. The leaf margins are also more wavy and are slightly serrated (toothed).

From the 6th photo onwards were shots taken of the second tree sandwiched in the raised planter between the driveway leading up to the Visitor's Centre and the ramp leading up to HortMart from the Broadwalk.

In this second series of photos, observe how different the fruits look and the leaves have a more rounded tip with an entire margin. The beautiful chains of pendulous red flowers were just amazingly gorgeous, weren't they?

The 5th photo showing the two different leaves placed beside each other was deliberately placed in between both sets of photos from two different trees to separate them.

SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 10

This is the information counter where you go for information regarding the SGF 10 event.

With its long, extending and far-reaching tentacles, the SGF 10 reached out to a huge audience of visitors and was another huge success after 3 shows since Dec 07.

Good bye, SGF 10. Good bye, Suntec City. After hosting 3 shows, it is time for you to relinquish your obligation. I look forward to the next show at the Gardens by the Bay (GB) event grounds.

SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 10 - LEVEL 6

The mystical and whimsical worlds at SGF level 6 are coming to an end.

Do the 1st and 2nd photos look familiar? It was like looking through a kaleidoscope, albeit this was a triangular one. This was the display by the Avatar man of NParks.

As for the 3rd photo, I like the colour and textural contrasts between everything in the photo.

Why was there a man sitting amongst one of the displays? Was he part of the display too? You decide.

SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 10 - LEVEL 4

These are the last 2 photos that I am posting at level 4 of SGF 10.

What is so special about these photos? The close interaction between humans and plants and their inseparable interdependence on each other.

Can one do without the other?

SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 10 - FLORAL WINDOWS

This is the last of the Floral Windows posting. What can I say?

SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 10 - FLORAL WINDOWS

For those who are familiar with Mr Jun Ichi-Inada, he had a display at level 6 of the inaugural SGF in Dec 07. The theme was related to space and there were numerous bromeliads hanging down from the ceiling.

For this show, he had 3 small displays - Ms Flower's Home, Mr Otaku's Home and Mr Green's Home. I actually liked these displays although they may not be practical.

Ms Flower's Home was sprawling with hanging baskets of plants like a mini-jungle and this is really not for the average person. On the other hand, Mr Otaku's Home was cleaner, with lots of vertical poles and sharp-pointed foliage plants. There was a stark contrast in terms of the two designs, and this was seemingly reflective of the differences between the female and male genders. Photos of Mr Green's Home is not shown here. It was the one with the moss theme and was decorated predominantly with living mosses, to inspire in his children a love for greenery and natural things.

SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 10 - LADIES

There were 2 prominent ladies who were the centers of attraction at 2 displays on level 6. I am sure whoever visited the show would not fail to notice their presence.

The first - I named the bridal Poison Ivy, because she had a full head of long flowing beautiful hair grown from the Common Ivy (scientific name: Hedera helix cultivars) that can be found in almost all commercial nurseries across Singapore. Are the plants poisonous? Definitely not. So fret not and enjoy the site of this beautiful green, and yellow, bride and bask in her glow. She looked kind of emotionless though.

Ah, the second lady was also very prominent because she was so pale and unabashedly comfortable in her own skin. She was perched at a high vantage point, with a small heron perched on her shoulder, on a huge rock and seemingly brushing her hair. She had a smile on her face and it kind of showed the happy state she was in. The funny thing was, I overheard two ladies in front me muttering that she looked more like a man than a woman. It tickled me pink, and not white as ash, unlike her.

What were the 2 ladies looking at? If this was like the movie 'Night at the Museum', what would they do when they come to life at night?