HOYA

This seems like a very familiar epiphyte growing in a crevice on the tree trunk and I suspect it is a Hoya although I am not entirely sure of the species. Let us see how it grows.

HOYA

I think this is an epiphytic Hoya but then why is it planted in the ground?

HOUSE PLANTS

My Acalypha reptans is growing so well and I am so happy to see it everyday when I walk past the common corridor.

The Hoya has also started to flower again. How wonderful!

ISTANA FRONT LAWN

I love the greenery in front of Istana's Front Lawn. Whenever I walk past the area, I get drawn to the Calathea loeseneri (common name: Brazilian Calathea; Family: Marantaceae) with its sweet pink inflorescences. The link on the Calathea is shown here for reference:

http://www.plantcare.com/encyclopedia/calathea-loeseneri-2051.aspx

On the center Rain Tree was another beautiful Hoya that was tied and grown on the tree. Then there was also the brilliantly coloured but demanding Costus curvibracteatus that is not easy to grow. However, if it grows well, it can be very, very immensely rewarding to just look at it. And did I say I love to eat the fleshy orange bracts?

HOYA MINDORENSIS

I didn't manage to get good photos of the unopened buds of the Hoya inflorescence. But this is how it looks like before the flowers develop further with more intense coloration.

HOYA MINDORENSIS

This unusual Hoya mindorensis from the Apocynaceae Family beside the Hoya 'Ruthie' flowered recently. Look at the interesting small hairy-like red blooms. They look so pretty upon close inspection.

A link on the plant is shown here:

http://www.collectorscorner.com.au/Cacti/CactihoyaList3.htm

HOYA 'RUTHIE'

I did not pay attention to this corner of this Ficus microcarpa tree until this Hoya 'Ruthie' (common name: Aloha Hoya; Family: Apocynaceae), a cross between H. 'MM' and H. sussuela, flowered recently. The floral buds must have developed for quite some time before the blooms opened.

Looking at the large waxy red flowers, it is not hard to imagine why this genus is commonly referred to as Wax Plant, Wax Flower or Wax Vine. This is probably one of the Hoyas with larger flowers.

Some links on this cultivar are shown below:

1. http://www.myhoyas.com/Ruthie.htm
2. http://www.bigislandgrowers.com/AHcomp/AHruth1.php

THAILAND - CHIANG MAI

These pair of cute puppies were so lovable. Actually, I guess the Thais love dogs since I saw quite a number of them everywhere.

This was the beautiful sunrise that I saw from the hotel. The actual red sun reminded me of the salted egg yolk and I was hungry for it then. And that was the hotel I stayed in on the second level.

In the Kampthien Market, they also had lots of painted Hoya kerrii (common name: Sweetheart Hoya; Family: Apocynaceae) on sale everywhere. There was also the beautiful purple flower Cestrum which could be Cestrum x cultum 'Cretan Purple' (Family: Solanaceae). 3 links on the plants are attached below:

1. http://www.rareflora.com/hoyakerii.htm
2. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/118554/
3. http://www.bustaniplantfarm.com/cestrum-x-cultam--cretan-purple-.html