TABEBUIA HAEMANTHA

I came across this relatively new and uncommon Tabebuia haemantha in mid 2007 in a Malaysian nursery. Back then, the nursery was not selling it as they were trying to propagate more of it.

I purchased and planted a low spreading one at the Irrigation Pond across the Event Lawn. It is very free flowering.

Anyway, this particular tall one was planted by my colleague outside the nursery office recently. I didn't manage to take a close-up photo of the flowers on 8 Feb 10, but managed to take these photos instead.

GLORIOSA SUPERBA

The Gloriosa superba used to be more common in the past. But they were no longer planted anywhere these days.

The last time I saw it was at Pulau Ubin last year and it was planted amongst a resident's fence. I pulled out some rhizomes with the permission of the owner and tried growing them at home. Most died, but there is one stalk left.

Anyway, I saw this clump at the Garden's-By-The-Bay prototype glasshouse, grown by my colleague. Aren't they just beautiful?

BIRD NEST

These photos taken on 8 Feb at HortPark's Car Park Garden show a bird's nest on the climber Millettia reticulata (Tropical Wisteria).

When I peered in, there were no chicks. I wonder if this nest was just constructed recently or abandoned after the chicks hatched. I must pay more attention to this nest now since I have given the contractor the instruction not to remove it.

WASP EGGS

These are the eggs of a wasp. But I am still trying to find out more details of this wasp.

COSMOS BIPINNATUS

I have been in love with this annual Cosmos bipinnatus from the Asteraceae Family for a very long time.

The good thing is they come in an assortment of vibrant colours e.g. red, orange, yellow, white, purple, pink, and they are just so showy and would not fail to grab someone's attention in a landscape.

Unfortunately, they do not last long and we just planted them at HortPark's Car Park Garden area to spice up the place. I hope they would greet driving visitors and give them a surprise as they park their cars.

PSEUDOGYNOXYS CHENOPODIOIDES

Don't you think the trellis looks so pretty with this orange climber?

I definitely love it.

BEAUMONTIA JERDONIANA

Do you realize that there are 2 separate plants here taken at 2 areas of HortPark? They were planted for at least 6 months already.

The top photo taken across the Hands-On -House shows the common Beaumontia jerdoniana (Nepal Trumpet Flower, Easter Lily Vine) finally sending up a vine up the trunk of the Pterocarpus macrocarpus. I cannot wait for the big flowers to bloom. I saw the largest specimen of this climber at a plant nursery in Thailand.

So when I came across the variegated Beaumontia in Chiang Mai in January 09, I couldn't resist but bought one plant for planting. This small plant really struggled to survive in this open area below a similar Pterocarpus next to the HortMart and Silver Garden area. I cannot wait for it to climb up the tree and bloom!

I always look at them when I drive past the Broadwalk and it is such joy to see them finally growing better than before under the harsh open conditions.

GREVILLEA

I suppose this is the first occasion I am showcasing so many photos in a single post. Everything is more or less captured in the top most photo.

When I took the photos yesterday, I couldn't resist taking so many photos because there are just so many interesting parts of the inflorescence, flower and pollinated fruit to feature.

Just look at the developing inflorescence which starts out with a velvety light green before it turns pinkish, with the individual flowers gradually splitting open from the buds to reveal the embedded red petals and long curled stamens carrying the yellowish anthers at its tip.

After pollination, each individual fruit develops into a laterally compressed circular and brown velvety structure, reminiscent of a clam. Interesting the curled stamens remained throughout the development of the fruit and add a different dimension to the appearance of the plant. I wonder if this structure actually has any critical function to play in aiding with the pollination of the flowers or the seed dispersal?

SPRING

These photos were taken yesterday at the Garden of Seasons. They were supposed to represent spring.

The bulbs have not flowered so I couldn't showcase them here.

The top photo showed the double-petaled red Portulaca grandifora (Japanese Rose) and the pinkish white larger flowered cultivar. Which do you prefer? I prefer the former because they do look like miniature roses to me.

The next set of 2 photos showed the uncommon miniature Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius). Don't the flowers look pretty?

The final set of 2 photos were those of the blue Salvia farinacea. Blue flowered plants are really uncommon. This Salvia is so different from the more common red, peach, purple Salvia splendens on sale during the Chinese New Year season. Are they lovely?

GARDEN OF SEASONS

Hmm, these are the photos of the completed garden. I am not too pleased with the design but I guess I just have to live with it.

The top two photos were taken on 4 Feb 10 and the bottom two photos were taken on yesterday 8 Feb 10.

WHAT'S UP

Do you spot something in the photo other than the Tabebuia tree and the sky?

I guess not right? Now look at the second photo? Yes, no?

Now look at the third photo. I am sure you wouldn't miss it now.

Yup, I heard and then spotted this small cute crimson-crested woodpecker yesterday around 8 am calling and hiding amongst the thick crown of leaves of this tree. It was difficult to actually capture the photos of this bird. In the end, I saw not just one, but two, of woodpeckers.

Hmm, it made my day! Aren't they just beautiful?

PUSSY WILLOW

I forgot to mention this earlier but I purchased this Pussy Willow (Salix caprea) from IKEA on 21 Jan 10 together with the other numerous plants.

Anyway, these photos taken on 6 Feb 10 showed the newly sprouting leaves and flowers.

NTUC

NTUC started bringing in plants for sale together with the new year goodies etc recently. I am glad that these days, some uncommon plants e.g. Jacobina carnea, are also more readily on sale.

This photo was taken on 5 Feb 10 around 10 plus at night when I went out to buy some lighting replacement parts.

On impulse, I purchased a red Vinca rosea (Periwinkle) cultivar.

DARKNESS

Do you recognize this place?

The photo was taken on 5 Feb 10 at 4 plus afternoon at Singapore Botanic Garden's Botany Centre. Darkness descended on the place to signal the approaching rain.

GARDEN OF SEASONS

This topmost photo was taken on 1 Feb 10, the day when we were supposed to implement the landscape change. I took this photo to remind myself of how this garden looked like before I tear it apart.

But due to some issues, this change was pushed back to 4 Feb 10, when these 2 latter photos were taken. The contractor took a while to remove this tree which was wrongly brought to the site. Anyway, this tree was planted near the Visitor's Centre and I will highlight it when it recovers from the planting and start to sprout new leaves!

TAILED JAY

This Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon) butterfly photo was taken on 3 Feb 10 near the forest edge across the Ginger Garden.

Though this butterfly is not as showy compared to the other more colourful butterflies, we still need to do our part to protect the forest to conserve them to ensure the continual survival of all butterflies on our little island.

PALM VALLEY

These photos of the palm valley at Singapore Botanic Gardens taken on 3 Feb 10 are amazing.

The background of conifers, particularly the Araucarias is my favourite. I have always love this columnar tree for a long time now.

FULL MOON

These photos were taken on 29 Jan 10, the 15th day of the 12th month on the lunar calendar.

It is a good two weeks before the approaching Chinese New Year.

PTEROSPERMUM ACERIFOLIUM

This is a beautiful big-leaved tree planted at Singapore Botanic Garden's roundabout leading to the Visitor's Centre or Raffles Building.

These photos were taken on 28 Jan 10. The big leaves with silverish undersides contrast very well with the small-leaved yellow rain tree in the background of the last photo.

Silver and gold for the upcoming CNY, anyone?