GMELINA PHILIPPINENSIS CHAM.

This plant from the Family Lamiaceae has interesting leaves and appears to be a scrambler with thorns to help it scale to greater heights.

CLERODENDRUM BUCHANANII CULTIVAR

This slight variant of the Clerodendrum buchananii (Family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae) with splashes of white on the upper lip and throat of the flowers is more appealing to me than the common red flower species. It just brightens up an area of green foliage whenever it flowers.

KHOO TECK PUAT HOSPITAL - PART 1

I do think greenery is important and for a hospital to be surrounded by so many beautiful plants in such a lush landscape is simply amazing. There were studies that show that greenery is therapeutic and patients who look at the greenery around or in the hospital daily has a speedier recovery. Don't ask me for scientific papers to back that up though.

Just look at the grandpa and his grandchild toddler sitting by the pond. A walkway at level 4 is bursting with colours from the always reliable Lantana camara. I have not seen the Turnera ulmifolia (common name: Yellow Alder; Family: Passifloraceae) and T. subulata (common name: White Alder) planted for a while now and I guess people don't like to plant them because they are fantastic bee-attractors! I, for one, love to see the congregation of honey bees on the flowers but I dare not be near them for fear of being stung. It's a paradox.

Ah, and how can I forget about the beautiful Clerodendrum thomsoniae (common name: Bleeding Heart; Family: Lamiaceae)? I posted about the C. speciosum earlier but I have always love this plant but never tried planting it outdoors. Anyway, this led to me seeking the plant out and I did, yesterday, but I will talk about it in a separate post.

PLECTRANTHUS AMBOINICUS

I am not particularly fond of culinary or medicinal herbs and spices, so I am not really interested in the Indian Borage, Mexican Thyme or Mexican Mint from the Lamiaceae (Labitae) Family.

These 2 are not the typical green types but have folded variegated leaves and a slight silverish tinge respectively. Just months ago, my mum just boiled the normal green variety in hot water and served it to me to control my cough. I couldn't remember whether it worked or not though.

A link is shown here for reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plectranthus_amboinicus

LAVANDULA DENTATA (L.) VAR. CANDICANS (BATT)

This is a silver-fringed Lavender from the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) Family. Also known as the Gray Leaved French Lavendar, the leaves are remarkably silverish-white and tomentose (furry or felt texture).