This is a pond that one would see along the road leading to Labrador Nature Reserve. It was created by staff who wanted to try their hand at creating a natural aquatic habitat for dragonflies etc, complete with boulders.
Now in its place is an ecological pond with some interesting flora and fauna. Amongst the more common Cyperus, Typha, Nymphoides etc are the rarer Ludwigia and the yellow flower bladderwort, which is a carnivorous plant, Utricularia aurea (synonym: U. flexuosa; common name: Golden Bladderwort; Family: Lentibulariaceae). The leaf blades of the grass Axonopus compressus (common name: Broadleaf Carpet Grass; Family: Poaceae) are purplish in colour because of the difficulty in absorbing phosphorus under such perpetually wet conditions. This is a great outdoor classroom to learn all about freshwater habitats and ecology.
A few links on the plants are posted here for reference:
This lesser known Saraca declinata at HortPark is quite reliable in its flowering and the 2 small trees along the Broadwalk were blooming spectacularly again. At this size, they are already so showy. 
I saw some herbs being propagated in a tray of water and expanded clay. It looks quite effective because it prevents the small cuttings from toppling over.
Following up from the last post taken at the HortLawn area, there were lots of weeds growing on the turf grass Paspalum 'Sea Isle 2000'.
I grew the Afgekia sericea to replace some of the Argyreia nervosa (common name: Elephant Climber, Woolly Morning Glory; Family: Convolvulaceae) because they were not doing well and look how much the former has grown and overtaken the stretch of railings.
The mangrove tree Barringtonia acutangula (synonym: B. spicata, Eugenia acutangula; common name: Freshwater Mangrove, Indian Oak, Itchy Tree; Family: Lecythidaceae) is a showy tree especially when it is flowering.
This is a Sonneratia caseolaris (common name: Mangrove Apple; Family: Sonneratiaceae) from mangroves, associated with fireflies. These photos were taken after the rain, and the water droplets can be seen being repelled from the surface of the slightly leathery leaves.
This is a pond that one would see along the road leading to Labrador Nature Reserve. It was created by staff who wanted to try their hand at creating a natural aquatic habitat for dragonflies etc, complete with boulders.
