TERMINALIA ALATA

These photos were taken on 7 Apr 10 at the Display Plots.

I don't remember seeing the flowers of this tree but at least I managed to capture the flowers this time round.

BLACK AND WHITE

These black cap and white stalks mushrooms are so beautiful and were sprouting from the thick compost mulch at the bases of some Ochna intergerrima trees at the display plots.

They were taken by me at a low elevation and high zoom. Sometimes, I wonder how the view would be like for us if we are reduced in size to miniatures living amongst the smaller creatures, just like in some cartoons.

FREEDOM LAWN

My colleague recently talked about this new wave of freedom lawn and it reminded me of these photos that I took recently on 5 Apr 10.

I first saw the allure of these flowering weeds (or more specifically grasses) on that morning when they were all flowering and waving their inflorescences against the sunlight. It created such a beautiful landscape that I couldn't help but took out my camera to capture these shots.

Frankly, when I showed these photos to someone, she didn't know it was taken in Singapore and specifically at HortPark because of the overgrown weeds. We all know this is not to be tolerated and a few days later, the grasses were mowed and this sight of illuminated grasses was a thing of the past.

CESTRUM

These photos were taken on 5 Apr 10 at the Floral Walk.

I planted this Cestrum for quite some months now and whilst it is not as showy as the C. aurantiacum, or fragrant like C. diurnum and C. nocturnum, the light purple flowers are still refreshing to look at.

Now I need to give it more time to develop into a bigger and taller shrub so that I can observe its potential.

313 SOMERSET

I took these photos on 4 Apr 10.

I heard about this during a recent workshop so when I was in the area recently, I looked up and there they were - the columns cladded with greenery.

With my 15x zoom camera, I managed to get a close-up photo of the green column without actually going up to the floor. From the distance, it did not appear that the plants had completely covered the column. I attributed this to the fact that it was relatively newly planted and the plants do need time to grow. What is interesting about the design is the columns can be rotated so that the plants can be exposed to sufficient sunlight periodically for better growth.

OF BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES

I love birds. So I was naturally very excited to see this mural put up by the Jurong Bird Park in the North-East line MRT station on 3 Apr 10.

Frankly, I have not visited the JBP for a long time but when I did, I always have a great time. I remember fondly the aviary containing birds that seemed to roam so freely. That was where my primary school classmate got a deep gash on the sole of his foot when he walked on the sharp rocks below the waterfall. The crown crane also reminded me of how gifted my other primary school classmate was because he drew a most beautiful hand drawing of it back then. In fact, he had parrots and cockatoos in his house then at Bukit Merah. Their logo used to be a coloured wing that I found to be simple yet befitting of this attraction. Now they have it replaced.

Anyway, I love these colourful birds. Interestingly at Australia recently, I noticed their ibis were just gathering and walking amongst people along the Brisbane esplanade, just like our mynahs, without displaying any fear of humans. Hmm, they are such sociable birds.

This red parrot also captured my attention since I just took the photos of a live one the day before.

Then I saw butterflies on the mural! And an extinct one too. I was delighted to see the Clipper above the Bird of Paradise. Then there were the Tiger and Eggfly beside the pelican and crowned pigeon. Interesting!

By the way, the landscaping that was depicted is natural and nice too. Would I visit this attraction? I would love to.........

RAIN

It was raining on 3 Apr 10.

At this crossing, I was amazed by the flurry of movement when the pedestrian traffic lights turn green as the umbrellas at both sides of the road converge together and diverge and go separate ways towards the middle.

TERMINALIA MANTALY

This is a beautiful tree with distinct tiered layers and is often confused as the Bucidas buceras.

One simple distinguishing feature between the 2 are their flowers. The inflorescence of this tree species are typical of most Terminalia trees, as evident by the sprigs of creamy flowers.

These photos were taken on 3 Apr 10 at the River Galleria across North Boat Quay.

PARROT

I saw this red parrot at Serangoon Gardens on 2 Apr 10.

Isn't it just lovely? I just love the rainbow colours on its feathered wings. Why did nature produce such a colourful bird? It must not have many predators in the air if it has such vibrant colours as advertisement.

XANTHOSTEMON YOUNGII

Taken on 1 Apr 10, I spotted this flowering Xanthostemon youngii at the Arbor Garden. This has to be one of the more showy Xanthos.

Just looking at the numerous red clumps of flowers made me feel good. Maybe they can market this as a chinese new year plant if the growers can programme it to flower on cue.

CLERODENDRUM SPLENDENS

I posted about this plant recently and this photo was taken on 1 Apr 10, showing the fully opened flowers.

Somehow, when it was at Chiang Mai, I recalled the flower colours were red and not purplish-lilac. But anyway, this is not uncommon considering the different site conditions e.g. temperature differences, and it looked just as interesting, albeit there were fewer flowers on the plant here in Singapore.

DELONIX REGIA

The month of March 10 ended for me with this flowering Red Flame at the Flora Stitches. The photos were taken on 30 Mar 10. Planted a few months ago, this was one of two struggling ones amongst a group of eight.

After waiting and pining for it to sprout new leaves, it suddenly showed a growth spurt and produced so many beautiful flowers!

GREEN SKIN

This reminded me of green skin. If humans are plants, would we look like that with flowers sprouting at different parts of the body.

This was taken at Tangs Vivo City on 26 Mar 10.

The idea is absolutely refreshing! I know I love it!

PHALERIA CLERODENDRON

I posted about this small tree before. So just sit back and appreciate the beautiful cauliflorous and fragrant white flowers that seemed to occupy every inch of the trunk and branches.

Too bad the flowers don't last beyond a few days. Well, sometimes it is true that good things are shortlived.

These photos were taken on 25 Mar 10.

INDIGOFERA

This is such a fascinating plant from the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) Family that produces upright pointing inflorescences. Why does the plant do that?

BUTTERFLIES

This Tree Nymph photo was taken soon after it eclosed on 24 Mar 10. Aren't it pristine? This is truly a beautiful black and white creature.

This is one of the species that we managed to breed successfully. Unfortunately, we do not have enough host plants at the moment to support the breeding.

The lower photo shows a pair of amorous Leopard Lacewing butterflies mating. They are such focussed creatures. At the caterpillar stage, they are eating monster machines that spend most of its time chewing leaves. At the butterfly stage, they spend most of their short adult lives looking for a mate to breed until they die. The slighter larger and duller-coloured female is on the right.

LOROPETALUM CHINENSE

The Loropetalum at HortPark flowered again recently.

I took these photos on 24 Mar 10. Aren't the pinkish-purple flowers beautiful? They provided a stark contrast with the green leaves in the surrounding and definitely grabbed my attention from afar.

LEUCOPHYLLUM FRUTESCENS

Known by its common name Barometer Bush, Ash Plant etc, this is a most unique plant with small silverish leaves from Mexico.

How can anyone miss this plant, especially when it rewards us with such beautiful and contrasting purple flowers, that formed a nice carpet from these photos on 24 Mar 10.

It is so strange that most silverish leaved plants have purple or yellow flowers, and I wonder why?

HORSFIELDIA IRYA

This dioecious tree has flowered several times in the last few years. It is located at Singapore Botanic Garden's near the HQ building.

I took these photos on 22 Mar 10. Anyway, I was informed that this is the male tree based on the yellow flowers. Interesting?