John&Jacq~s Garden

Posted by Jacqueline on January 31st, 2010 in Our Garden

We had planted a beautiful Hawaiian Ti (Cordyline terminalis) before, probably about a decade ago. It grew from a stem cutting (also known as ‘log’) that was presented by a dear couple who returned from holidaying in Hawaii then. But was eventually discarded when it became leggy and unsightly.

Seeing a vibrant variegated pink/maroon beauty during our recent vacation to Felda Residence Hot Springs, Sungkai in Perak, has surely rekindled in us a strong yearning for one!

We’ve never seen this variety of the Ti Plant before with such intense colours, the shocking pink on the glossy foliage is absolutely striking and truly spectacular, in fabulous contrast with the dark maroon and in lovely random blotches. I believe this is Cordyline terminalis ‘Red Sister’
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Posted by Jacqueline on January 27th, 2010 in Plants database

Cordyline terminalis (Ti Plant/Tree, Hawaiian Ti, Good Luck Plant/Tree)

We’re definitely going to reintroduce Cordylines to our garden again. Gosh, we didn’t realize how gorgeous they can be until we saw this striking variegated pink/maroon beauty at Felda Residence Hot Springs recently!

It sure would brighten up our plot, adding contrast and interest to our current landscape
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Posted by Jacqueline on January 19th, 2010 in Garden Visits

Malaysia’s largest and most well-maintained hot springs is Felda Residence Hot Springs in Sungkai, Perak. It’s better known by its previous name, Sungai Klah Hot Springs Park or Taman Rekreasi Air Panas Sungai Klah (TRAP) in the Malay language than its new commercial name.

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Posted by Jacqueline on January 6th, 2010 in Random Thoughts/Topics

For a change, we’ll start off the New Year 2010 with a post on our affectionate miniature pinscher, Maxi, whose lovable ways have never failed to uplift our spirits everyday!

Like our garden plants and flowers, he provides us countless delights and pleasures, yet different from plants, in that we can interact and communicate with one another so playfully and joyfully that he is reckoned as an additional member to the family.
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Posted by Jacqueline on December 22nd, 2009 in Random Thoughts/Topics

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Posted by Jacqueline on December 19th, 2009 in Plants database

Hylocereus undatus (Red Pitaya, Dragonfruit, Night Blooming Cereus, Belle of the Night)

What a stunning beauty, most deserving to be named ‘Belle of the Night’. John and I felt blessed indeed to have enjoyed the rare appearance of two flowers one lovely night more than a year ago on the Hylocereus undatus that is planted by our neighbour. Housed in a large container and located outside between both our homes, it climbs skywards to almost 6 m, using the street lamp post for support.
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Posted by Jacqueline on December 1st, 2009 in Our Garden

How timely that our tropical garden in November 2009 was in top form to present me with enough photography opportunities to try out my relatively new point and shoot camera, Canon PowerShot SX200 IS! My dearly beloved, John, presented me an early Christmas-cum-40th wedding anniversary-cum-birthday gift during the last week of October. Hehe…too bad that all these special days will fall so closely one after another that one expensive gift costing RM1,630 fits all 3 occasions!
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Posted by Jacqueline on November 29th, 2009 in Plants database

Calathea makoyana Peacock Plant (Peacock Plant, Cathedral Windows)

Undoubtedly, the foliage of Calathea makoyana is striking and beautiful to say the least, giving it the accolade of being called the Peacock Plant or Cathedral Windows!

Haha, it itself seems to know that for a fact too!
From morning to late afternoon on bright sunny days, it will show off its lovely light green leaves that are marvelously marked and trimmed with bold and dark green blotches and lines.
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Posted by Jacqueline on November 24th, 2009 in Random Thoughts/Topics

Just sharing what I’ve recently discovered when I set my mind to learn what I’ve missed out on WordPress.

John&Jacq~s Garden website had been initially set up by our elder son, David, using WordPress as our blogging tool and publishing platform. Thus, I’m not as familiar with the technical aspect of it (especially the template, etc.) as I do with Blogger, the other publishing platform that I use for my other blogs.

Ever since it was first set up in September 2006, I have been focusing on just presenting as many articles as I possibly could and getting them properly categorized. I’ve never bothered to learn about the layouts of the site or how to improve its appearance as a whole….that’s too technical, I thought?
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Posted by Jacqueline on November 16th, 2009 in Our Garden

Proiphys amboinensis (Cardwell Lily, Northern Christmas Lily) really had us intrigued when it flowered for the first time last April after 7 years and sent me on a search mission for its correct ID.!

An attractive foliage plant with large heart-shaped green-coloured leaves, embossed with lovely venation and will produce fabulous white blossoms unexpectedly to amaze you!

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