2010 Archives

Impatiens walleriana: flowers/foliage in psychedelic colours

Impatiens walleriana (Impatiens, Busy Lizzy/Lizzie, Touch-me-not, Jewel Weed, Sultana) When mixed varieties are group-planted in garden borders, parks and the like, Impatiens will hold you spellbound with its carpet of psychedelic floral colours! It is one of the most popular and best known bedding plants worldwide for its profuse flowering year round and ease of [...]

September 2010: Monkey business at our backyard!

Our Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa) tree started bearing fruits since early July and got us really excited as it had been sometime since the last harvest. Though only numbered about half a dozen fruits that were somewhat much reduced in size since produced by an aging potted tree, we awaited eagerly to savour the ripened [...]

Pyrostegia venusta, ablaze with radiant orange blossoms

Pyrostegia venusta (Flame Vine, Flaming Trumpet, Orange Trumpet Creeper, Golden Shower) With such brilliance in its flaming orange-coloured blossoms, it’s inevitable that Pyrostegia venusta has been reputed as one of the most spectacular flowering vines in cultivation. A vigorous and rambunctious climber with tendrils, Flame Vine will produce abundant clusters of brightly coloured trumpet-shaped flowers [...]

Thunbergia mysorensis with fascinating slipper-like blossoms

Thunbergia mysorensis (Clock Vine, Lady’s Slipper Vine, Dolls’ Shoes) Wanna buy a pair of lady’s slippers, anyone? Aren’t they gorgeous! No wonder, it’s pretty obvious why this tropical climber has been lovingly nicknamed Lady’s Slipper Vine and Dolls’ Shoes! Even the other common name, Brick & Butter Vine suits it fine, seeing the similarity in [...]

Solanum macranthum with gorgeous tri-coloured blossoms

Solanum macranthum (Potato Tree, Giant Star Potato Tree) Truly an exotic and impressive tropical specimen! This Giant Potato Tree is a large bushy shrub that can grow into a medium-height tree, and be beautifully adorned with stunning flowers all year round! A rare treat indeed to see purple blossoms on a tree! And more amazing [...]

Delightful surprises in our tropical garden, August 2010

Gardening is food for our body, heart, mind and soul! We just love surprises! Garden plants simply love throwing surprises and we simply enjoy receiving them! Such cheerful givers they are! Oxalis triangularis : Our potted plant was dead! We were pretty sure of that and thus just discarded the pot with its soil still [...]

Dieffenbachia bowmannii Carriere: a floriferous beauty!

Dieffenbachia bowmannii Carriere (Dumb Cane, Spotted Dumbcane, Leopard Lily ) Dieffenbachias are very much loved as houseplants for homes and offices, simply because of their irresistible foliar beauty and their great tolerance for shade. Their splendid foliage variegation is so extensive that gardeners are now spoilt for choice! One cultivar worthy of mention is Dieffenbachia [...]

Fittonia albivenis (F. verschaffeltii) in a marvelous mosaic display

Fittonia albivenis (Mosaic Plant, Nerve Plant, Painted Net Leaf) No wonder this showy Fittonia species is aptly nicknamed Mosaic Plant! Its intricately-designed leaves with contrasting coloured veins will provide a marvelous mosaic display that will attract and captivate all season through! These beautiful ornamental foliage plants make great houseplants, especially if displayed on bathroom shelves [...]