I have not been to this part of East Coast Park for a while now. I paid a visit there because the Marine Cove ceased their operations a few days ago and I was there prior to that to capture some photographic memories of this place before it was gone.
Who can forget the iconic McDonald's there which was opened around the 80s. It was a popular haunt for the regular park goers, who would never fail to eat there after a day of fun-filled activities such as cycling, skating, swimming and so on. I think this could be one of the first few, if not the first, McDonald's with a drive-in and which started the 24 hours operation. In fact, the Marine Cove should be the most visited and busiest commercial entity at the park because of the presence of McDonald's. All other activities and F&B outlets there drew on the walk-in crowds to McDonald's.
Other areas of the park around Marine Cove were light in visitor numbers when I was there. The McDonald's was one of the last few F&B tenants to shut their doors before the area is redeveloped to freshen up the place after about 30 years since it was built. Following the Seafood Centre, Big Splash, Golf Driving Range and many others, this was one of the latest facilities to be taken over by NParks as part of its redevelopment master plan.
So adios, the next time I take photos of this place, it would be of a different look but I am certain the nostalgic memories of this place would always remain in the minds of those who live in that area and love the place.
Today's weather - sunny
This is a new structure that was built beside the Yishun Pond. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to check it out but I must say it is an interesting lookout point.
The landscape at the Visitor's Centre and some parts of the gardens is slowly shaping out in the way I wanted it to be. Although it is still not complete, but I am at least comforted by the mass flowers and butterflies drawn to the areas.
It should look better over time but is it good enough for this interim garden, I wonder?
Some lovely plants featured here are the following:
- Impatiens walleriana (naturalized form)
- Pseuderanthemum andersonii
- Strobilanthes dyerianus
The first two photos are of the uncommon yellow shaft Lipstick Palm.
The Torenia polygonoides (common name: Malayan Eyebright; Family: Scrophulariaceae) weed can sometimes provide a beautiful groundcover of plants. Perhaps some nursery grower can try cultivating them for ornamental purposes.
The recent weather also seems perfect for the flowering of the pink flower Aeschynanthus (common name: Lipstick Plant; Family: Gesneriaceae).
It is amazing that the Bauhinia tree is almost covered with lots of thin-petaled pink flowers.
Whilst looking out for more plants, I came across this Cerbera odollam (common name: Pong Pong; Family: Apocynaceae) with a long and beautiful curved branch, that reminded me somewhat of the curved branch Tembusu at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and which was immortalized on our Singapore $5 note. I want to plant this tree at the Fragile Forest if I can have my way.
Under the shade netting, the Dendrobium secundum orchids were blooming in masses.
I was collecting plants and suddenly saw caterpillars of the Autumn Leaf butterfly on the variegated Asystasia groundcover. I have often seen this butterflies' caterpillars on Pseuderanthemum and Graptophyllum shrubs but this is the first time I am seeing it on this particular cultivar. So it seems it has adapted to feed on this plant species too.
Nearby, the Phyllagathis rotundifolia beckoned me with its beautiful foliage. I simply love the textural veins, leaf shape and purplish leaf bases of this groundcover.
Then, I saw the Pleated Ink Cap Fungus (scientific name: Coprinus plicatilis) on a batch of soil. The semi-transparent umbrella-liked caps look so adorable when viewed close-up. When they occur in clusters, they look even more lovely.
