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White Mussaenda – our garden star for April 2012
We just couldn’t manage to tend to our garden plants due to my illness. Despite being almost neglected, our babies thrived well with nature taking care of them. Our tropical climate with heavy showers and abundant sunshine did the job for us, thank goodness!
The White Mussaenda tree…
that is botanically named Mussaenda philippica ‘Aurorae’, as seen, is the happiest of the lot. Truly our garden star for the month of April 2012. Spectacular and sparkling with its off-white crowning glory, it is a sight to behold and truly uplift our spirits!
This tree was given a bald crop last October when it was heavily infested with mealy bugs. We did think of removing the whole tree altogether then. Fortunately, we decided against it and it’s rewarding us wonderfully.
 BEFORE: White Mussaenda tree on the extreme right that was heavily pruned down to half its height |
 AFTER: White Mussaenda is currently back to its glorious beauty, illuminating the whole frontyard |
We’re giddy with delight at the resulting appearance! It has never been so beautiful and stunning before. This attractive blooming tree is really a hot traffic-stopper that illuminates our garden, and especially remarkable in the late evening… wow!!
Is this Begonia ‘Eureka Green Leaf Pink’?
How lovely to come across this volunteer plant (sprouted itself) in one of our pots, sharing space with the young Bougainvillea ‘Aiskrim’. A pretty-looking plant that grows rather fast, spotting bright green leaves and pink flowers.
I last saw this Begonia species umpteen years ago, during my teen years. Hence, this attractive volunteer is surely a most welcome treat!
Tags: flowering plants, foliage plants, our garden, outdoor plants, perennials, trees
May 7th, 2012 at 10:45 am
I’m so glad to hear from you about your speedy recovery.
And that the garden had graced you with wonderful showers of blooms.
I had those Begonia and it had sprouted from my cactus pot and somehow also appeared from the corners of the bricks and moss.
Not sure that they are specifically from the Eureka collection hybrids – What is safe to say is that they are the Wax Begonia.
Propagating them is quite a challenge – usually I often trim and older stalks and replant them as they mature.
Out of 7 stalks – 3 to 5 manage to regenerate.
Leaving them – just like that – they end up maturing to death.
Watch out for whiteflies & mealy bugs – they just get attracted to them.
Do take time to collect the seedpods – there is a fine sand like seeds that these scatter and the chances of sprouting new begonias are very high – depending on the humidity factor. (brickside, drainside, water dripping area)
May 7th, 2012 at 10:47 am
Hope this posting detail might help:
http://jamesmissier.blogspot.com/2009/07/wax-begonia-begonia-semperflorens.html
May 7th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Glad to see you blogging again. Hope you’re all set with high spirits and strength to tackle your illness.
May 14th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
@ James : Thanks, dear friend… our merciful and loving God is good all the time and has answered our prayers. I’m much stronger now.
Thanks… appreciate too the extra info you’ve shared on begonia culture and will follow the link provided when I’m free.
@ Cheah : Yeah, I do desire to blog again but somehow my spirit is willing but the flesh is weak! Thanks for dropping by and giving me a booster! :-)
May 16th, 2012 at 1:49 am
You have an interesting blog. i stumbled on your blog when googling for tips on growing pandan, in a pot on a balcony in Netherlands. I have taken to growing Malaysian ‘food’ plants that are difficult to get in NL, eg pandan, curry leaf (murraya koenigii), the unfortunately but popularly named kaffir lime (citrus hystrix), etc.
I am not a religious person, but in my own way, i wish you well and that you will regain and maintain your Joie de vivre, and the joys of your gardening.
sj chin
May 18th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Thanks for your compliment on our blog, sj chin.
Wish you all the best growing those wonder plants that add exotic flavour to food.
Your much appreciated well wishes warm my heart and I know they’ll come true as they’re sincerely given, thank you. God hears our kind intentions regardless of our spirituality. :)
May 22nd, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Thanks for the lovely comments in my blog.
The purple plants ID is Purple Queen or Purple Heart
(Tradescantia pallida)
Very easy & very hardy plant – they tend to crawl out of their pot. The only set back is that if they are water-logged – they tend to rot.
May 22nd, 2012 at 8:51 pm
My pleasure, James…. just couldn’t resist commenting on your blog posts showcasing your lovely garden. ;-)
Thanks for the purple plant’s ID and info.
May 24th, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Your garden looks very neat and sparkling clean. The white mussaenda full of blooms now. In the before picture, I could hardly notice it. A toast to your recovery and good health, Jacqueline!
May 25th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
Thanks, A.Belle! Hmm… looks like our nature is being reflected in our garden setting as well, huh!
Cheers and a toast to your good health too, my friend!
May 30th, 2012 at 6:43 am
I must have missed a few posts! sorry you were ill, and I hope you bounce back to your former health. God bless you for the love and kindness you show to all.
May 31st, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Hello, may I ask about the Hydrangea plant? I know this is out of topic, but your Hydrangea plant was so healthy! (really jealous actually) I have that plants too, but my Hydrangea kept having a dead shoot after it gave their flowers :(, plus the plant getting a lot of black spot around the leaves, which make the plants growth stunned for a months…. :’(.. I do not know how to handle this disease, please give me any suggestion and prevention for this disease..
June 1st, 2012 at 8:59 pm
@ Gillian : Thanks, Gillian, appreciate your well wishes and blessings. I’m recovering very well, indeed.
@ Ash : Thanks, Ash! We normally prune down the stems when the flowers are spent to get a bushier shrub that result in more blooms. Re black spots on your hydrangea leaves, you may want to read the article at Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture for insights. Hope this helps.